During the COVID-19 closures, many students are now learning from home, including all of Wyndcroft’s students in preschool through 8th Grade. No matter the age of your child, here are five tips to making the remote learning experience a successful and happy time.

 

Make Time for Learning

Children thrive when they are able to anticipate what is coming next. During this tumultuous time, that means making a schedule for them to follow. In communications with parents at the start of the closure, Wyndcroft teachers suggested the following schedules.

Lower School Student Schedule

 

Upper School Student Schedule

No matter if you use one of these schedules or create one of your own, make sure you stick to whatever schedule you create! It needs to work for your family, giving them structure and balancing activities.

 

Make Space for Learning

Not only is it important to make time for learning, but it is also important to make a space for it as well. Just like you would want an office to work in, your child will want a learning space of their own. Think about their desk at school. How can you recreate something like that at home that includes space for learning and supplies? And maybe you want to think beyond the desk… build a fort for reading time or study different subjects in different rooms of the house. Maybe you fill a rolling cart with supplies so they have a central location. If the weather is nice, head outside to your porch or lawn for learning time. Whatever you do, make sure your child knows what is coming, where it is being held, and where to find what they need.

 

Start Each Day with Gratitude

While we live in a crazy time, there is still a lot for us to be thankful for. Take a moment with your children each morning and encourage them to find something that they are thankful for. This will set the tone for the day on a positive note.

You can even start a family Gratitude Jar and fill it up during your time together. (Check out this article on how to start your own Gratitude Jar.) Just add to the jar each day as a reminder of what is wonderful in your life.

 

Make Connections

You and your family are not alone in remote learning. Wyndcroft families around the region are going through the same transition that you are. Reach out to your community members for support and to keep that sense of community alive even if you aren’t in the same physical space. 

Wyndcroft teachers will have time when they are online to check-in with you as well. Take advantage of those opportunities to say hello and connect online with your child’s teacher. While it might not be the same as being in the classroom with them, students will be glad to see a different friendly face and it will make them feel a part of their school community.

And don’t forget to follow Wyndcroft on Instagram and Facebook as we plan to share updates from our community there. And when you are on social media, use and follow the hashtag #wyndcroftremotelearning so you don’t miss a thing!

 

Don’t Be Afraid to Nag

While it might not be popular, nagging during this time is going to be necessary. When working or learning from home, it is easy to say “I’ll get to that later” or to ignore schedules. Especially in the beginning as schedules are being learned, nagging is what is going to help everyone figure out what’s happening and more importantly, what’s expected. Hopefully, as children get adjusted to their new normal, you won’t have to nag as much as time goes on.

 

And a bonus tip for parents… Take Care of You

Students aren’t the only ones who are feeling stressed and in need of structure during this time. Parents are bearing the load of work and home. It’s important to take a few moments every day to take care of yourself so that you can take care of your children.