An unprecedented number of families will be trying e-learning for the 2020-2021 school year. Several parents have asked me for advice about how to make the best of the situation to ensure their children won’t fall behind this year. After discussing this with a few friends of mine who are teachers, I decided to write this post. I hope these tips help those of you who are wondering what you can do to be better prepared for e-learning this year!
- Routine and Location
• One of the first things you can do to make sure your children stay on track while e-learning is to create a set study routine for them to follow. Many schools will be offering live instruction during the day which will help. However, for those students enrolled in programs that don’t already have a set schedule, parents should be prepared to make the schedule for their children and make sure they stick to it.
• The location where children attend the lessons is also important. You should try to find a quiet, formal space that promotes concentration and gets the child in the mood to study. For example, I’ve found that students who sit upright at a desk or table are much more focused than those who try to do the lesson while lying down or sitting in bed.
• Studying at home means there are a lot of distractions from pets, siblings, and other household noises. Wearing a noise canceling headset can be a great resource to prevent these distractions from interfering with your child’s learning experience. - Organization
• Staying organized can make all the difference when it comes to understanding and retaining the material from the e-learning lessons. Students should have a separate folder or a large binder with separate tabs in it for each subject.
• Many students passively listen to their teachers’ live lectures. That approach is not ideal for helping the information pass from their short-term to long-term memory. An excellent idea is to take notes during the lesson, if the teacher allows it. Keep the notes organized by date so it’s easier to understand the progression of the class.
• Math classes can be especially hard to do via e-learning. I suggest that students revisit their notes after the lesson. From the notes, start a separate reference sheet with relevant formulas and one example of each type of problem that was discussed. This will make it much easier to do homework or study for math tests later. - General Advice
• Parents must remain actively involved during the e-learning process to make sure their children are successful. By checking your children’s grades regularly, you can determine if they’re falling behind and seek help accordingly.
• Once you see that the student seems to be falling behind, don’t be afraid to ask for help! Most teachers have great advice regarding additional resources or instructional videos that they can refer you to if you need them.
• Last but not least, the support of a great tutor can greatly reduce the stress both parents and students are currently faced with. Whether the student needs help with a particular subject or general assistance with study skills and organization, the right tutor can prove indispensable for ensuring the smoothest possible transition.
If you have any additional questions about preparing for e-learning this school year, please feel free to contact me. I’m happy to help! ?