Homeschooling And Distance Learning During COVID-19

Have your kids’ schools closed and you’re left not knowing what to do? Read on for tips to help cope with homeschooling and distance learning during COVID-19.

Homeschooling. Let’s be real…it wasn’t in the plan for most of us. We were content with sending our kids off to school every weekday, and going on to work without a second thought. Then we all reunited at the end of the day. There may have been after-school activities, dinner, and homework for maybe an hour or two. Bedtime eventually came around. And we repeated the whole thing again the next day. Homeschooling just wasn’t for us. We didn’t have the time. Or the patience. Or the financial means to be able to stay home with our kids.

Then Coronavirus COVID-19 came into the picture.

Social distancing and this pandemic have thrown things completely out of whack for our families. Schools are closed – likely for the rest of the school year. Teachers have spent their Spring Breaks changing in-person lesson plans to online assignments. We’re all still figuring this thing out.

In our house, we have a Kindergartener, 3rd grader, 6th grader, and 9th grader. Add to that the 2 year-old who can only stay occupied with one thing for literally 2 minutes. My hubby’s home with the kids, while I still have to work as an “essential” employee 4 days a week. Luckily, my 6th and 9th graders are pretty self-sufficient. My Kindergartener has been able to finish all her work without any problem – just needing a little guidance. My 3rd grader is the toughest – with the most work everyday so far. And she’s also my kid that would much rather be dancing or drawing than doing schoolwork.

The struggle is real.

Our kids’ first “official” week of learning at home is now coming to an end. I’ll share with you the things we’ve implemented to help us survive homeschooling and distance learning during COVID-19 so far. I won’t say that we’re quite at the ”successful” point. But, we’re at least making it as painless as possible for all involved!

So here goes…

Get dressed

Studies have shown that we’re all more productive when we “dress the part”. My kids are all expected to get dressed and brush their teeth and hair before they start their tasks for the day. I know this helps them accomplish much more than they would if they laid around in their PJs all day. If you’re working from home and need to be productive, I recommend you do the same!

Make a schedule

Most of us do better with some sort of structure. The same goes for our kids. I recommend starting each day with a morning routine. It can be similar to what they normally do when they’re actually going to school. I don’t make my kids get up quite as early as they would on a regular school day, but they also can’t sleep in until noon!

Go through you kids’ assignments for the day and come up with a schedule that you know will work (older kids should be able to do this on their own). Don’t be over-ambitious. Be sure the schedule reflects your child’s needs and personality. It doesn’t have to be the same for every child. If one child has a tendency to lose focus, then I recommend planning his toughest subject first. If another child needs motivation to keep going on to the next task, then plan his easiest subject first, and build on it.

Don’t forget to build this schedule around any live videos your child has to watch and assignment due dates. Once they get in a good routine, they’ll likely be able to follow the same schedule everyday. One good thing about homeschooling, though, is that you can alter the schedule however you want. If your child wants to take a nap and come back to their work later in the evening, that’s absolutely fine. As long as the work gets done!

I highly recommend grabbing my printable Daily Schedule Template and Sample Schedule as a part of my Balanced Mom Toolbox. It’s a helpful visual for your child and helps to keep their days organized.

Everyone needs their own “home base”

Set up a work area for each kid in your house. It should be a quiet, clean space with limited distractions. Separate your kids as much as, so they won’t harass each other!

Keep each child’s area stocked with the supplies they’ll need for their work. This includes pencils/pens, a pencil sharpener, paper, crayons, colored pencils, markers, glue sticks, erasers, scissors, etc. If you’re lucky enough to have enough computers/laptops, set one up in each kids’ spot. (If you don’t have enough devices, check to see if your local school district has laptops available to borrow for this distance learning time). Headphones are a plus, if your kids need to listen into a video conference or other learning material on the computer. That way, they also won’t distract anyone else. If they’ll need a printer, try to have it centrally located and easily accessible for each kid.

Believe me, you’ll save so much time and energy by having everything already set up. Each child should be responsible for leaving their space clean, in order, and properly stocked at the end of each day. It’ll save a lot of time every morning. You won’t have everyone running around the house looking for what they need.

Keep in mind that your child doesn’t have to stay restricted to a “desk” for their space. Since you’re at home, your kids can lay on the ground, on bean bag, on the back porch. Anywhere they’re comfortable and can still be productive. You can also create a tote with school supplies, that they can bring to another comfy spot if they want.

Stay available to your kids

With my husband working from home, he’s available when the kids need him – just a few feet away. When I have to go into work, I usually leave the plan for the day with my oldest daughter. She gets the younger girls set up on their devices and started on their day. If they have any issues, they’ll ask my husband or FaceTime me for help. I check in often to make sure they’re staying on task. Just don’t leave your kids hanging!

Encourage independent learning

While I try to stay available for my kids while they’re doing their work, I’m in no way doing it for them. I want them to learn the same way they would in the classroom. And that may mean making mistakes, or submitting the wrong answer. I don’t want them to feel that because they’re home, mommy will do it all for them. Because I won’t. And you shouldn’t for your kids.

Make sure your child gives a good try before you give your input. His work should be HIS, not YOURS. Giving him all the answers may be the easy way out, but it takes away from the learning process. It’s better for him to get a “B” when he puts in the effort and does his own work, than to get an “A” for something he had nothing to do with and doesn’t understand.

Take breaks

If your child has the tendency to lose focus easily or can’t sit still for long, plan regular breaks throughout their schoolwork time. This is especially important for younger kids and those with ADHD. These breaks can be brief – just to allow him to get up, stretch, and move a little. A quick drink of water or a healthy snack can be a “reward” after each assignment, subject, or a set amount of time. Feel free to fit in longer breaks – like recess or naptime – whenever needed.

Stay in touch with the teacher

Your child should hear from his teacher on a daily or weekly basis, at least to get his assignments. Some teachers will have live videos, and others will just communicate in writing. Don’t be afraid to reach out to the teacher if there’s something you and your child just don’t understand. That’s what the teachers are there for! You don’t have to do it alone. Check your child’s grades and progress regularly. If he’s struggling in a certain area, ask for enrichment activities to help him get a better understanding.

Give your kids (and yourself) a break

Remember that homeschooling and distance learning during COVID-19 is a huge adjustment for most of us. Most of my kids’ teachers have been understanding and lenient so far with assignments and due dates. If your child is falling behind, don’t be afraid to talk to the teacher. There’s so much going on in the world, and it can be hard for your child to stay focused. Especially since they’re missing out on extra-curricular activities, and life just isn’t the same.

And it likely won’t be for a little while.

Plus, you’re likely balancing a ton of things yourself. Working from home, keeping your kids on task, and maintaining your household. So, if you both need a mental health day in the middle of the week – give yourself a break and take it. Sick days are still allowed. I don’t want you to take your kids’ education lightly. But you have to make sure that your family is mentally and physically whole through this ordeal.

After only one true full week of homeschooling and distance learning during COVID-19, we’re all exhausted! I give lots of credit to moms who make the huge sacrifice of homeschooling their kids on a regular basis. We’ve all been kinda thrown into this, and I know we’ll figure this all out. One day, we’ll be back to our regular lives and our kids will be back in the classroom! We’re just taking it all one.day.at.a.time.

Do you have any other homeschooling or distance learning during COVID-19 tips that are working so far in your house? I’d love to hear them! Please leave them in the comments below!

Check out these other helpful COVID-19 posts:

Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Protecting Your Kids

Why Are Schools Closed For COVID-19?

Keeping Kids Busy While Social Distancing

The Positive Side of Social Distancing

Maintaining Your Marriage While Social Distancing

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