How You Can Help Your Kids Take Classes Remotely

As more schools take their curriculum online, students across the country are learning course material at home on the computer. While parents do not have to help teach their kids when learning remotely, they can play a major role in supporting online learning to ensure student success. Here are some basic things parents can do to help their kids learn at home.

Stay Connected

A stable Internet connection is required for at-home learning. Parents should find a reliable Internet provider to ensure that their kids have online access on a daily basis or as needed to complete their lessons and submit assignments. It’s also important for parents to confer with the children’s teachers as needed. This may require videoconferences, email exchanges, or telephone conversations about the child’s struggles or progress. An involved parent can make a huge impact on kids’ ability to succeed.

Cooperate with Teachers

Parents should monitor their children’s online class meetings, instructor guidelines, and assignments to ensure students are following through as directed. Sometimes, kids don’t understand what a teacher is asking them to do or what a Reading means. Since they can’t raise their hand at any given time to ask the teacher, parents can help to answer the questions or serve as liaison in relaying their children’s questions or concerns to the instructor. Teachers may ask for assignments to be dropped off, emailed, or mailed, and parents who cooperate with these requests facilitate the learning process.

Provide Structure

Learning remotely at home is similar in many ways to classroom organization. A parent should set up a learning area, like a dining room table or a family room desk, where a child can use the computer to connect to the classroom or to do virtual assignments. Good lighting, a quiet environment, and no distractions play an important role in supporting a learning area where kids can concentrate on their schoolwork.

Offer Assistance

Although parents shouldn’t hover over their children while assignments are being done in order to foster kids’ creative efforts and confidence, it is a good idea to be available nearby for questions or help if needed. Asking occasional questions or checking their assignments answers can be a big help to ensure students are doing the work correctly. But parents should avoid giving too much help, or students will not learn to be fully responsible for their learning.

As remote learning increases, parents can play a valuable role in helping students adjust and do well in adapting to online education.

By Brooke Chaplan

Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most of her time hiking, biking, and gardening. For more information, contact Brooke via Facebook at facebook.com/brooke.chaplan or Twitter @BrookeChaplan