Parent Tips: At-home Learning
Being a parent is challenging … but it is also challenging being a kid trying to learn in a home environment (whether homeschooling or studying remotely). What can parents to do… we make the most of that time to also foster some valuable learning experience-based opportunities? Don’t fret - we have tips from an educational perspective that are just as much about fun as they are about learning.
In this episode of Ed. Talk, Tamyra gives four quick tips for at-home learning. It is a quick listen with tips that parents can start implementing right away!
Today we will discuss some tips for at home learning. These tips can be applied to all households. If you are homeschooling, working with a quarantined child, or just want to instill good study habits for homework, today’s parent tips will help make learning easier on you and your child.
1. Routine, routine routine. I am certain that you have heard this before. A routine schedule is best for learning. But I would like to take that further and talk about how important it is to set up a routine that meets your child’s learning style. For example, if they are most alert and productive in the morning, then that is when you should plan the bulk of their learning. If afternoons are your child’s strongest time of day then set up a routine that matches that. Some students also work best for about one hour and then need a fifteen minute break or some need an hour long break. I know one student that did great between 7 am and 8 am and then his next learning time would not return until 3pm. The point is that we need to be aware of each child’s learning style and construct a routine around that style.
2. Distractions, we need to get rid of as many as possible. We are discussing learning for children and children tend to gravitate towards what peaks their interest (Okay, adults as well if we are being truthful). So when you set up a study area, think about what is in or near the learning space. Do you have a game console nearby? Stuffed animals? Papers that relate to a separate subject matter. I have a good friend who loves books. When she is focused on a project she has to clear the room of all books, because she will find herself in a comfy chair reading instead of working on her assigned project. It is the same for children, we need to help them eliminate distractions in order for them to concentrate on the task at hand. It is important to realize that there are more than just tangible or physical distractions.
Placing a study area next to a window can be great if light is a preferred learning environment. However, if that window faces a sidewalk or is near the front door, then people and activities happening outside can be a distractor. The same can happen if we set up the study area in a high traffic zone within the home. It is not only easy for the student to become interested in what the rest of the family is doing, it is also quite tempting for family members to ask a question, “just real quick”. Of course we all know that there is a perfect world, and there is reality. Do the best you can do with your family situation, and maybe brainstorm together as a family to create the best learning/working environment for everyone in the household.
3. Breaks. Breaks are important for the brain to process new information and for students to have time to think about how to apply the new information or reflect upon it and reframe the knowledge in a way that makes sense to them. Breaks can also give the brain time to rest and therefore will be more receptive to more information later that same day. Just like our bodies need nutrition to keep it functioning, so does the brain need time to keep it functioning at peak level. Walking, exercising, drinking water, and eating a healthy snack are all ways we can take a break and take care of our brain. Think about a time when you have had the answer on the tip of your tongue but just can not say it. Later that same day when you are resting , the answer suddenly comes to you. This is an example of why we need to take breaks and let our brain process.
4. Hand eye coordination. To go along with those breaks, this tip helps your brain function better and builds connections. Playing ball is and other light physical games are ways in which we train our fine and large motor skills. It also trains our eyes and hands and brain to work together. Research shows that using play therapy can improve reading skills. Some students have trouble following words from left to right. Some students seem to not be able to sit still. Simple games that include such physical aspects such as catching a ball, pushing a heavy item across the floor, or bending and twisting, can help a child regulate their body and brain’s needs and therefore allow them to focus more on the next learning task. I have routinely done this in classrooms where I see several students getting squirrely and just can not settle down for a reading lesson. I have the entire class stop what they're doing and I sing silly made up songs that have all of us bend up and down and twist all around. A few deep breaths and we settle into our seats for a great reading lesson. I can not say enough about purposeful play and how it helps children (and adults :)). So build in some hand eye coordination games into your daily routine.
