Navigating Transitions to In-Person Learning with Kids
During our pandemic outbreak many students transitioned to home-based learning. They were used to staring at a screen for classroom instruction, entertaining themselves with online devices, and interacting with peers via text chats. Now that we’re transitioning back to in-person learning environments, there are skills and social norms that your kids have missed developing.
Teachers are seeing that kids are more apt to grab a device during free time than chat with their neighbor. They’re seeing that many kids haven’t developed the organization and planning skills that are needed for completing assignments on time and organizing their in-person days.
How can you as a parent help bridge your kids’ gap in these areas?
Last week on my podcast I talked with longtime teacher and founder of Study Help, Inc. about how parents can talk to and engage with their kids to help them re-develop social skills and transition to a more effective in-person learning experience.
Our key take-aways included the following:
1. Keep lines of communication open with your kids’ teacher
2. Approach communication with a teacher with an open mindset and team effort. Phrase initial conversations with a question. This can sound like, I’m hearing this, can you help me understand? Or What are you seeing?
3. Model and discuss with your child good organizational and executive functioning skills. Help them figure out the best way for them to plan out their schedules and how homework and bigger projects can be completed based on their own work styles. Approach these conversations with open discussions and questions that help your kid open up and brainstorm solutions.
4. Check their progress, grades, and assignments in the parent portal through your school system.
5. Have a weekly backpack clean out. Things often get stuffed in backpacks and forgotten.
6. Limit screen time and encourage non-device family time and model this behavior. We tend to be just as addicted to our devices as our kids are. Make meals a no phone time or have a weekly non-electronic game night. When you are talking with them, put down your phone and talk face to face.
Another issue we talked about is how to advocate for your child in their classroom and school. If your kid is experiencing situations with teachers or school staff and/or peers what do you do?
1. Ask the child what they want you to do. Learn about how they wish to be treated or addressed in school.
2. Go to the teacher first. Don’t include the administrators and counselors in an initial email with a teacher. With the teacher shortage class sizes are large and teachers may be struggling to connect with each child. Ask about their interaction with your child and explain how your child is feeling.
3. Make sure all forms and profiles for your child reflect how your child wants to show up and be addressed so school staff can respect the child’s wishes.
4. Let the child advocate for themselves as much as they are comfortable.
If you’d like to hear more of my discussion with Aimee Buckley of Study Help, Inc., an organization of credentialed teachers that are available for tutoring in many subjects with all ages, listen to my podcast here. You can find a great resource for parents, “How to Help with Your Kid’s Homework?”, on Study Help, Inc.’s Facebook page here. Find Study Help, Inc. online on their website.
Happy back to school!
Laura
Dr. Laura S. Anderson specializes in educating and supporting families, as well as clinicians who support transracial adoptive families, across the globe to overcome barriers, derive strength from their differences, and thrive. She is a dynamic advocate for multiracial families and a strong advocate for supporting "third culture" children and families who may need support with the stressors associated with living out of their countries of origin.
Contact Dr. Anderson here.
