As school openings loom, I've offered assistance to parents who want kids safe at home but are worried about successful distance learning.
Today, let's put the teacher's best friend in your arsenal.
Crafting a schedule that works for everyone.
(THREAD)
Today, let's put the teacher's best friend in your arsenal.
Crafting a schedule that works for everyone.
(THREAD)
(2) First off, if you haven't yet, please see my thread on creating a successful learning environment at home.
Secondly though is the equally important schedule.
Because as all teachers know, the secret to classroom management is consistency.
Secondly though is the equally important schedule.
Because as all teachers know, the secret to classroom management is consistency.
(3) When you're creating a schedule for at-home learning, you should focus on these priorities:
1: Lots of breaks
2: Incorporate enrichment activities
3: Keep it simple & visible
4: Find time for you
Here's a few ideas to get you started:
huffingtonpost.ca/entry/sample-k…
1: Lots of breaks
2: Incorporate enrichment activities
3: Keep it simple & visible
4: Find time for you
Here's a few ideas to get you started:
huffingtonpost.ca/entry/sample-k…
(4) SCHEDULING BREAKS
Break frequency should be handled differently depending on the age of your child. I'd argue kids at the elementary level need a break from the on-screen learning every 30-45 minutes.
High school kids can probably do up to 90 minutes before needing a break.
Break frequency should be handled differently depending on the age of your child. I'd argue kids at the elementary level need a break from the on-screen learning every 30-45 minutes.
High school kids can probably do up to 90 minutes before needing a break.
(5) SCHEDULING BREAKS
There are some natural ways to work breaks in. The family walk or bike ride can double as recess if you schedule it mid-morning. Use afternoon snacktime to both grab a bite and chill outside for a bit.
The key is to be consistent.
littleguidedetroit.com/5-fun-brain-br…
There are some natural ways to work breaks in. The family walk or bike ride can double as recess if you schedule it mid-morning. Use afternoon snacktime to both grab a bite and chill outside for a bit.
The key is to be consistent.
littleguidedetroit.com/5-fun-brain-br…
(6) SCHEDULING BREAKS
Making sure to schedule these "recesses" doesn't mean you can't offer breaks as needed.
Teachers gauge the need for this constantly and have a few tricks up their sleeves for when students obviously need refocusing.
Ideas here:
weareteachers.com/brain-breaks-f…
Making sure to schedule these "recesses" doesn't mean you can't offer breaks as needed.
Teachers gauge the need for this constantly and have a few tricks up their sleeves for when students obviously need refocusing.
Ideas here:
weareteachers.com/brain-breaks-f…
(7) INCORPORATE ENRICHMENT
Breaks from the screen don't have to be non-academic. Find small ways to wiggle in a little application.
For instance, if you've got a third-grader working on fractions, there's no better place to practice than the kitchen.
boredteachers.com/resources/50-w…
Breaks from the screen don't have to be non-academic. Find small ways to wiggle in a little application.
For instance, if you've got a third-grader working on fractions, there's no better place to practice than the kitchen.
boredteachers.com/resources/50-w…
(8) INCORPORATE ENRICHMENT
For high schoolers this may be harder, but take a gander at their curriculum a week or two ahead and try to find a meaningful connection.
Get the family in on re-enacting a scene from Shakespeare or put those math skills to use balancing the checkbook.
For high schoolers this may be harder, but take a gander at their curriculum a week or two ahead and try to find a meaningful connection.
Get the family in on re-enacting a scene from Shakespeare or put those math skills to use balancing the checkbook.
(9) INCORPORATE ENRICHMENT
While enrichment is a good time to get kids away from the screen, it also doesn't have to happen during traditional school hours.
For example, the whole family can watch Mythbusters episodes in the evening that demonstrate theories from physics class.
While enrichment is a good time to get kids away from the screen, it also doesn't have to happen during traditional school hours.
For example, the whole family can watch Mythbusters episodes in the evening that demonstrate theories from physics class.
(10) KEEP IT SIMPLE & VISIBLE
I talked in previous threads about the importance of keeping a schedule visible so you can all be accountable to sticking to it.
But making a schedule visible looks different depending on your student's age.
I talked in previous threads about the importance of keeping a schedule visible so you can all be accountable to sticking to it.
But making a schedule visible looks different depending on your student's age.
(11) KEEP IT SIMPLE & VISIBLE
Early readers appreciate schedules with pictures that serve as clues. Kids like feeling in control of their own learning & having expectations clearly communicated.
We'll talk about behavior management techniques later.
thisreadingmama.com/visual-school-…
Early readers appreciate schedules with pictures that serve as clues. Kids like feeling in control of their own learning & having expectations clearly communicated.
We'll talk about behavior management techniques later.
thisreadingmama.com/visual-school-…
(12) FIND TIME FOR YOU
Last but not least, you have to find time for you in this schedule. I assume you have things you'd like to get done or even a full-time work from home job you're juggling.
The first step is to look for opportunities to put your kids in charge.
Last but not least, you have to find time for you in this schedule. I assume you have things you'd like to get done or even a full-time work from home job you're juggling.
The first step is to look for opportunities to put your kids in charge.
(13) FIND TIME FOR YOU
Once you've got a schedule, go through it line by line. Ask yourself some hard questions.
Does this need my supervision?
Is there anyone else (spouse/other kid) that could be in charge?
What do I need to provide for my student to manage this independently?
Once you've got a schedule, go through it line by line. Ask yourself some hard questions.
Does this need my supervision?
Is there anyone else (spouse/other kid) that could be in charge?
What do I need to provide for my student to manage this independently?
(14) FIND TIME FOR YOU
Think about what your kids are good at. if you've got a child that loves cooking, put them in charge of the snacks and meals. Ask them to plan a nutritious menu, give you a shopping list, and boom. You just found an hour or two daily to squeeze in some work
Think about what your kids are good at. if you've got a child that loves cooking, put them in charge of the snacks and meals. Ask them to plan a nutritious menu, give you a shopping list, and boom. You just found an hour or two daily to squeeze in some work
(15) FIND TIME FOR YOU
Have a kid who excels at reading aloud and does the voices well? Put them in charge of reading for the younger ones with daily storytime and guided reading hour.
Got a little one that loves to be active? Put them in charge of organized games at recess.
Have a kid who excels at reading aloud and does the voices well? Put them in charge of reading for the younger ones with daily storytime and guided reading hour.
Got a little one that loves to be active? Put them in charge of organized games at recess.
(16) FIND TIME FOR YOU
Find as many pockets in the schedule where you don't have to be involved and try to grab them for yourself. Schedule what you'll get done during those times.
If you need to shift the schedule early or late so you have a big block of time, do it.
Find as many pockets in the schedule where you don't have to be involved and try to grab them for yourself. Schedule what you'll get done during those times.
If you need to shift the schedule early or late so you have a big block of time, do it.
(17) FIND TIME FOR YOU
If you have regularly scheduled meetings you absolutely need to call into at certain times, shape the schedule around those. Make sure recess or reading time or even lunch occurs during those time slots so you don't have to worry about being interrupted.
If you have regularly scheduled meetings you absolutely need to call into at certain times, shape the schedule around those. Make sure recess or reading time or even lunch occurs during those time slots so you don't have to worry about being interrupted.
(18) This is the beauty of distance learning. There may be some zoom calls for your teen or the weekly check-in for the elementary kids but otherwise, the schedule is flexible. Make it work for you and your family.
When I homeschooled my son, we were done by 1pm every day.
When I homeschooled my son, we were done by 1pm every day.
(19) This meant we could take long hikes, do music lessons and lots of arts and crafts activities in the afternoon. He could help more around the house with chores and cooking, freeing me up to get work done later in the day.
And he wasn't sitting in front of a computer all day.
And he wasn't sitting in front of a computer all day.
(20) I hope whatever you decide to do, you won't expect it to work perfectly at first.
Teachers plan but they also adjust for factors they can't foresee. A class that needs a wiggle break every 15 minutes. Students exhausted by emotional duress that need a quite read-aloud hour.
Teachers plan but they also adjust for factors they can't foresee. A class that needs a wiggle break every 15 minutes. Students exhausted by emotional duress that need a quite read-aloud hour.
(END) I'll be back on Thursday afternoon for a little Q&A and I'm happy to take a look at your schedules and troubleshoot.
I'll also be offering my own hot off the press schedules as an example and we can discuss it together. Stay tuned and happy learning! ✌️
I'll also be offering my own hot off the press schedules as an example and we can discuss it together. Stay tuned and happy learning! ✌️
