1. Students: Create
Personalized Workspaces: When students have a lack of
comfort, stress has a way of compounding at an exponential
level. To combat this, focus on the things that create a
productive and inviting learning environment, like creating
a workspace that is functional, fun and organized.
The good news is that it
doesn’t require many materials to create a DIY desk and it’s
a great activity to do together. Using science tri-folds and
heavy-duty tape, parents and kids can create private
cubicles that can be propped up on any surface and
customized to their liking – be creative and look to bring
things into the space that will keep your child energized
and motivated.
2. Parents: Increase
Communication Touchpoints: With most schools operating
through some variation of distance- or hybrid-learning,
communication is a key asset for parents. Staying in regular
contact with your child's teacher can help you better
understand and track how your child is performing and get
ahead of any potential issues or concerns.
Parents should feel
empowered to reach out to their child’s teacher for progress
updates or to address any areas of confusion with class
schedules or assignments. Something as simple as sending a
bi-weekly email with questions could help improve the
overall experience for you and your child.
3. Teachers: Keep Kids
Engaged: Teachers can break up the day by infusing different
educational games and hands-on learning opportunities like
3M Science at Home. This online STEM video series is a great
example of how students can tap into their curiosity about
the world around them. By discussing observations and giving
kids a chance to ask questions and come up with solutions,
teachers and parents can foster a growth mindset while
keeping kids engaged.
4. Community: Working
Together to Improve Educational Access and Equity: COVID-19
has forced organizations, businesses and education systems
to configure new frameworks to continue functioning.
Unfortunately, educators are facing a huge wall as roughly
15 percent of U.S. households with school-age children do
not have the high-speed internet connection at home needed
to complete their assignments, according to Pew Research
Center data.
While options may vary
based on a school district’s ability to provide resources,
parents can reach out to their local community boards and
school districts to see what options are available to them.
Some schools are creating hotspots or are teaming with local
libraries and community partners such as churches and
businesses to extend their connections.
As we all adjust to new
educational models, ensuring learning is engaging and fun
doesn’t have to be challenging, it can start with just a few
simple techniques. Whether you are modifying a space to be
more inviting for learning or finding supplemental,
interactive activities to break up the day, diversifying
your approach will help students better retain information
and grasp new concepts while having fun.
Courtesy StatePoint
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