Back to school from home: Tips for getting organized before school starts.
August has arrived and with it, brings the back to school. This year has been full of different experiences for all of us thanks to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which continues affecting us to this day. This academic year will be very different from what we are used to. However, we must continue with our routines, our studies, and our jobs.
During the past months, we have experienced what studying and working from home is. We have never been exposed to this situation before. However, it is our responsibility to take care of ourselves and our children. During this semester, the school continues in virtual mode and it is up to us to continue adapting to the challenge of studying from home.
Here are some tips that can help you get organized before classes start.
1. Stay in touch with your child’s teachers.
It is important to know if the assigned study program should follow a specific schedule or if you will have the freedom to adjust it. In this way, you can organize yourself better and you can create a daily routine that adapts to your needs and the needs of your child.
Teachers can also give you advice on how to effectively facilitate your child’s learning. In the same way, teachers can put you in touch with other parents to help each other.
2. Plan the day with your child. Establish routines.
It is extremely important to develop a daily routine that includes all the activities carried out during the day. In this way, the child can organize him/herself and take into account that he/she must follow an already established structure.
Give your child options and allow time to adjust to the schedule. You can start working on the routine of going to bed and getting up a week before the school year starts.
3. The whole family must be part of the process.
Homeschooling involves integrating our children’s educational hours with the family’s regular routine. Talk to your family and ask what their expectations are for the change from school to home and what are expected as short and long-term goals.
4. Be flexible.
Learning from home can be a new, difficult, and frustrating experience. We recommend you have your child’s schedule on hand but be flexible to change it according to the learning needs and emotional state of your child at that time.
5. Take break times.
This is one of the simplest tips but at the same time one of great importance. We simply cannot underestimate the power of breaks.
Add it to your schedule as part of the routine. Take breaks of 15 to 20 minutes daily to recharge energy and continue working. The Pomodoro Technique is an excellent method for managing time in study and work.
6. Use free study resources.
The school will provide the lessons, but you can also make use of other resources that provide worksheets available online to support or expand the practice of skills. On the web, there are many resources that can help you reinforce subjects. Among these you can find:
If you are interested in learning about activities you can use for the development of the eight intelligences, we recommend you download: 48 Multiple Intelligences Classroom Activities
We know we cannot have control of all the situations that surround us, but we do have control over how we react and feel. Let’s be wise and take precautionary measures to avoid expose ourselves or expose others. It is very important that we read and share information from official media and follow the instructions established for prevention.
We wish you a lot of encouragement and a good attitude for the be beginning of the school year, we can do it!
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