Back-to-school in 2020 looks a liiiiitttle different than years past.
Whether you are home-schooling your kids full time, maintaining their progress during quarantine, or are working to enhance their in-school experience, there are a variety of tactics you can use to boost your child’s educational experience this year.
Establish a Bedtime Reading Routine.
DYK? Children who are read to at least three times a week by a family member are almost twice as likely to score in the top 25% in reading compared to children who are read to less than 3 times a week. Simply put, reading is powerful.
One of the most straightforward things you can do to boost your child’s educational experience is to read to and with them regularly. Truly, the value of instilling a love of reading and learning in your children cannot be overestimated. Create a meaningful shared experience through a reading routine. This beneficial habit will set them up for increased developed as well as an overall positive attitude to learning.
Kids emulate what they see modeled around them, so if they see you reading, they’ll want to read, too. Make sure to stock your shelves and develop your own love of reading. (Tip: try browsing the #bookstagram tag on Instagram for kid and adult recs.)
Hire a Tutor.
Many parents find that hiring a tutor can be helpful when it comes to their child’s learning. It can also provide a welcome break for parents homeschooling their kids full time.
The good news is that this is easier to do than ever, thanks to the Internet. You can find an expert and vetted tutor online that can offer personalized support over video chat such as Zoom or Skype. Not only will this assist you in your new teaching responsibilities, but it will help enhance your child’s learning in new ways.
Help Them Develop a Skill.
Not everybody wants to or has the funds to work with a tutor, and that’s okay! Fortunately, there are other ways to help your child with particular topics or skills they need help with. One of the most effective ways is to take some time out of your own day to tackle the subject with them.
Of course, to do this effectively, there are a few things that you need to remember. The first is that your attitude to the challenges of learning is something that your child will pick up on. It’s important to be positive, even if you find the task tricky.
Secondly, remember to help, not hover. Your child won’t learning anything if you end up doing the work for them. Instead, focus on helping to facilitate their own learning.
Lastly, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel when it comes to creating resources for your study sessions. In fact, on sites like StudentTreasures: https://studentreasures.com/teachers-lounge/lesson-plans/second-grade/ (and others!) you can find plenty of high quality, age-appropriate lesson plans and worksheets — resources that will not only make studying fun, but also help guide your child in their progress.
Utilize Online Learning.
The great thing about modern technology is that many websites can help boost your kids’ learning in educational ways. Many sites are increasingly being designed in fun and interactive ways, making them seem more like computer games than homework. So, ideal.
The gamification of learning is a big deal in the education sector right now, with schools and colleges adopting this way of teaching to enhance learning. Check out some of the readily available resources (like these at The Cornerstone for Teachers) or create your own to match with topics your kids are currently studying.
Even with the unprecedented nature of school (and well, everything) in 2020, you can still create positive learning experiences for your children.
Need more tips? Check out the advice, tools, and encouragement from real teachers here.
