Online Learning Help for Parents

Information

Since COVID-19, online learning help for parents is needed! Every school has a different model of their school week – online all 5 days, at school part of the week – online for the rest, and some are at school all week, with a possibility of a change.

This post focuses on a child that will be at home for part or all of the week.

online learning help for parents

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This post will focus on four topics, first is DISCUSSING your new goals and systems for learning at home, second is ORGANIZING your child’s day, third is INCENTIVE ideas (with examples of rewards), and last is ideas for INDEPENDENT ACTIVITIES FOR when your child is done with ONLINE LEARNING, HOMEWORK, INDEPENDENT READING, and CHORES.

Online learning help for parents gives you the tools to help your child succeed in online learning.

 

GETTING STARTED

DISCUSSION: I’m sure you’ll want to start by discussing why they still have to have online learning – safety, distancing, having fewer children in a classroom, etc.

They now have the opportunity to create a new online learning routine/system. You will start by asking your child for OPINIONS of what they think worked and didn’t work during the months they were previously home.

 




Then compromise on the best start for their new routines this school year.

If you give your child CHOICES and listen to their input, they will more likely rock at the new routine you set.

Like any system, you will have to tweak it, change it, or just toss it until you find the one that works for your child.

 

online learning help for parents

 

 

1. DISCUSSING – TOPICS FOR THE DISCUSSION

These are just topics to think about and discuss.  You know your child and there may be suggestions that you would cross out right away. Here are some ideas for topics to discuss:

IDEAS FOR THE MORNING ROUTINE: Getting them up and, getting dressed, brushing their teeth, etc. and most importantly, getting on to their computer at the designated time. You may set a time for each task that needs to be done.

 

 

PERSONALIZED water bottle

 

IDEAS FOR THEIR SPACE THEY WILL USE FOR ONLINE LEARNING:  Discuss THEIR SPOT  for their online learning, like a designated spot (desk) not too far away from you.

If your child picks their bedroom and you are not sure about it, but willing to try it, just make sure they know that it’s a TRIAL and you get to change the spot if it’s not working. Of course, younger kids will need to be closer to you.

 

 

WILL YOUR CHILD NEED HELP STAYING FOCUSED OR NOT: You probably already know if your child has trouble focusing. I’ve linked some Amazon fidget items that I don’t believe could help and would be too disruptive. Of course, your child would have to make sure that any items would have to be away from the Zoom camera. Sometimes a timer even helps or a clock so your child knows how much time is left until it is time for a break.



DOES YOUR CHILD WANT ONLINE LEARNING HELP OR NOT: Do they want you to help them get started or do they want to start off on their own and ask you for help if they need it?


WHAT THEY’LL DO WHEN THEIR ONLINE WORK IS DONE: This is a good time to discuss:

Independent Educational Activities (see suggestions below)
Independent Reading
Chores
Brain Break
Outdoor activities
Use of phone
Ipad
Socializing with a friend

 

MORE DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

IDEAS FOR BEING READY FOR THE NEXT DAY: I suggest that by the end of the day, their desk should be all set up for the next day. Then in the morning, you can add anything else that should be on their desk with their computer (like a water bottle, etc.). So, at night they should have:

  • Computer
  • ALL Homework
  • Books for the next day
  • Notebooks for the next day
  • Folders for the following day
  • Independent Reading Book
  • Pencils/pens 
  • Whatever else you decide is needed

DISCUSS INCENTIVES – However you decide to use incentives, you may want to check out what incentives your child is most interested in and then, of course, pick the rewards to go with them.

 

post-it notes from Zazzle

These Post-Its are from my Zazzle store – I have tons of Post-it Notes along with many other items in my store! I get a very small commission and you pay nothing extra, (just like my Amazon links). Kids love Post-it Notes for lists, notes when they’re listening, reading, etc.

They’re also GREAT for reading comprehension (writing down questions, predictions, summaries, the names and traits of characters, etc.)

2. ORGANIZING

As a teacher (25 years) and mom, I have seen the struggles and frustrations connected with NOT being organized, so I’ve focused on what does usually work.

Everyone is different, so there may be tweaks along the way, but just stop and reevaluate.

Once you’ve established your child’s learning spot, then you can focus on what will be in your learning area and where to find everything quickly!

You may want to buy them something new for your new system. Possibly give your child something from your home (meaning yours) or purchase something new!

I have a few suggestions below. This may get them excited if they can either get supplies, a new water bottle, personalized Post-it notes, or something else to get them EXCITED about the new system.

FOLDERS

Folders- math (green), reading (red), social studies (orange),  and science (blue), etc.

SUPPLIES

Paper
Pencils
Pens
Ruler
Highlighter
Post-It Notes
Notebooks
Planner
Folders

PLANNER

Your child may have a planner from school, (if not there’s an example above) this is KEY to helping organize their new routines.


3. INCENTIVE SYSTEMS

If you want, you can build an incentive into your new routine.

  1. 0/1 SYSTEM – If they do use their system they get a 1, if not they get a 0. At the end of the week if they get 5, then they get their pick of the rewards you have selected.

2. MARBLE JAR – Here are a few goals to use with a marble jar:

For online learning, you decide when you’ll put a marble in the jar, and what happens after a certain amount of marbles are put in the jar. (For example, check out this post I used this as a reading incentive – motivating a reluctant reader).

3. INCENTIVE CHART – You can add smiley face stickers to this incentive chart for any of the goals completed. You make the rules however you see fit. For example, they may earn a sticker after some of the items on their daily list are checked off and after half the chart is filled in, they earn a reward.

 

online learning help for parents
Incentive chart
online learning help for parents
Stickers

4. PUNCH CARD – Use the puncher to punch the punch card for any of the goals that have been completed. Then give your child any of the rewards list when they finish the whole card, half the card, etc.

online learning help for parents
Punch card
online learning help for parents
Punch


5. RAFFLE TICKETS – Give your child a raffle ticket for goals they finish and give them a reward from the reward list above. For example, for each of the 5 daily goals, they get one raffle ticket and after a set amount of raffle tickets, they get a reward.

online learning help for parents

 

SOME REWARD IDEAS

There are tons of rewards you can pick, some examples:

Let your child stay up a half-hour past their bedtime.
Give your child dinner at a restaurant and they pick the restaurant.
Give your child a coupon for ice cream.
Bring your child to the movies.
Give a $20 bill for a shopping outing.
Buy a new book.
Plan a  popcorn party.
Host a game night.
Make a library date.
Make a date to make brownies.
Plan a sleepover.
Have a pillow fight.

 

 

4. GREAT INDEPENDENT LEARNING IDEAS

After online learning, after homework, independent learning, and chores, etc., this is a list of activities for practicing their writing skills, reading skills, thinking skills, etc:

  1.  ABCs of just about anything – (fruits and vegetables, names, cereal brands, types of ice cream, etc.).  You can have your child do this independently but if you have more than one child, do it as a competition. This game helps with concentration, focus, memory, problem-solving, writing skills, etc.

    Some Examples of ABCs of Just About Anything

    Fruits and Vegetables
    Apple
    Banana
    Carrot
    Dates
    Eggplant
    etc.

    Names
    Ann
    Barb
    Carl
    Don
    etc.

 

2. Categories – Have a list of categories and have your child write down 2 words that would make sense under the category that is given.

Some Examples of the Categories Game

FRUITS THAT START WITH  “B”
blueberries
bananas

FRUITS THAT ARE BLUE
blueberries
plums

 




3. TENT TIME – Tent time can include a ton of different activities. You can make a tent from either blankets thrown over a table or purchase one. Then your child will feel like they have their own space. They can spread out their books, toys, use their stickers for numbers and alphabet practice, etc.

online learning help for parents




4. PUZZLES -There are tons of educational puzzles and workbooks that you can purchase if you don’t have any. Puzzles and workbooks help your child in a variety of ways! I’m amazed at the different puzzles that are available to purchase!

5. TABLETS – Tablets are so popular! There are tons of awesome educational apps out there! This is a great website that suggests different educational apps: https://www.educationalappstore.com/app-lists/best-preschool-apps

MORE INDEPENDENT LEARNING ACTIVITIES

6. WRITING – It’s a great time to practice writing and there are many ways to prepare writing activities that will keep your child focused and busy for hours.  You can just have your child read a certain amount of pages and then write a summary of what they read. You can also have a list of writing topics that your child can suggest! This website has tons of ideas! 

7. JIGSAW PUZZLES – In addition to other puzzles, there are tons of jigsaw puzzles that your child will surely love!

8. EPIC EBOOKS – Epic Ebooks are wonderful ebooks for kids age 4 to age 12! I LOVE these ebooks and use them at school. There are fiction and nonfiction books that the kids love and you can keep track of what books your child has read!!  Read for 30 days free!!

 




 

Read on Epic! Anywhere. Anytime. On any device.

    30 days free! Awesome fiction and nonfiction books that your child will LOVE!

Check Out More Posts:

Online learning help for parents is needed since the surge of online learning in many states.

I’d love for you to contact me for more online learning help for parents. Your questions may be the questions of other parents.

You can email me at mrs.dehm@gmail.com or leave a comment or question below. I hope to hear from you!

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