2020 has been an unprecedented year, filled with many unexpected challenges for educators, students, and families. As this summer comes to a close and the school year starts up again, students nationwide will be continuing their education remotely into the fall. Here at Turning the Page, we are dedicated to making the e-learning experience as easy as possible for all. Despite the challenges that online learning presents, there are several ways families can continue to encourage and maintain a positive at-home learning environment for their students. Here are 5 tips and tricks to set students up for a successful school year, wherever their classroom may be!
1. Create a routine
Sticking to a daily schedule that resembles a normal school day provides both parents and students with some much needed consistency. This structure will help students to anticipate what their day-to-day will look like and create a sense of comfort and ease. Setting aside intentional times for snack and movement breaks are important as well. To the right, you can see a sample schedule we created for families.
2. Set up a designated work space
Creating a space specifically for school will allow students to positively engage with their work each day and promote independence. A space that is comfortable but limits distractions works best. If families are using a communal workspace, use bins, folders, or other tools to help keep everyone organized while working together.
3. Read!
Not only is reading an important part of a child’s social, cognitive, and educational development, but it can also positively impact their mental health and overall well-being. Encouraging students to read for pleasure while learning at home will promote this healthy growth. Even while practicing social distancing, Turning the Page remains committed to safely providing families with new, high-quality books for free. This summer, we successfully distributed 448 books to our Chicago and DC families! We plan to continue to host book distributions into the fall in order to help families build and expand their at home libraries and promote literacy development while learning remotely.
4. Be flexible
E-learning reminds us that everything doesn’t always go as planned. It’s important for parents and families to go easy on themselves as they adjust to a new normal and allow room for mistakes. A little flexibility can ease the stressors of a remote education. Things may go wrong and that’s okay! We are all in this together.
5. Get involved!
Although usual in person interactions are limited, community engagement remains a crucial element of the educational experience. Turning the Page offers a variety of programming to encourage this kind of engagement while remote. Our Family Room events give families the opportunity to meet with authors, museum educators, and more and provides a virtual space for parent and peer interaction outside of the classroom. Our Digital Hub is an online platform created for parents to discover educational resources across a range of topics and offers a communal space for families to stay connected.
As schools continue to adapt to an ever changing world, Turning the Page will continue to work towards providing parents the support and encouragement they need to ensure their students receive a high-quality public education. We look forward to seeing our families foster their student’s success at home!
Interested in supporting our mission and helping families with remote learning? Here are three ways you can help: order a grab-bag of #CuratedByCarpeLibrum books, now delivering nationwide; purchase a gift card to use at a future Carpe Librum pop-up or store; make a donation through our website.