School is closed! Now What?

Who could imagine this scenario just a few weeks ago? 

Whole countries closing down? Universities transferring all learning to distance learning. Even our beloved Disney and Universal have shut down.

Well, we are here. We know that several of our readers are currently experiencing school shut downs. Others are waiting to hear of what will be of their schools when they return from spring break. 

In recent weeks, the majority of schools have been working on plans and training for this exact moment. As teachers have been preparing, they have continued with teaching in the classroom. Often pulling 12-15 hour work weeks to make sure their students can continue with the learning continuum now and in the future. 

Here are few tips for your family during this time:
Before your schools are closed.....

•  If your schools are not closed yet make sure your internet is up to speed. You can download the app Speedtest to check your speed. You may want to invest in WiFi extenders or mesh system so the internet speed is up in all your rooms. With multiple children doing distance learning and parents also working from home you will need to spread out. The closer to the modem the faster your speed should be. Extenders/mesh systems do exactly how they sound... they extend the capacity of your internet speed/WiFi connection around the home. A few months back we bought an extender and I used the Speedtest app around each room of the home to find out which WiFi signal  was strongest in these rooms. We labeled the rooms with those signals and now we know which one to log on to as we work in certain rooms. 
• You may also want to invest in a headset with a built in microphone. With so many family members working together these are very convenient to reduce background noise.
•  Although schools have been working with the students to review logging onto sites make sure you have a copy of these instructions and your child's passwords and usernames. Do a test run to see if how much assistance your child may need to gain access to these sites. 
•  Set up a space for your child to work that is least distracting. Make sure the space is equipped with regular classroom supplies: pencils, pens, crayons, glue sticks, ruler/protractor, etc...

My school is already closed....

• Your teacher/administrator should notify you of procedures and communicate with you on how and when to log on to their platform. Make sure your child is following directions and knows how to submit. Submitting work is very important. Schools are still taking grades during this time. If your child does not submit that would be equal to him or her not turning in their work in person. I encourage you to check if the submit button is being pushed by your child. You should always see a confirmation of submission.  
• Be patient with your teacher and your child. This is all new territory for all of us. 
•  If your school is not providing a platform check out all the free resources not only available to homeschoolers but also currently many sites are offering free subscriptions to all students during this PANDEMIC closure time frame.  Check out sites like Khan Academy https://khanacademy.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360040167432-How-can-Khan-Academy-be-used-for-remote-learning-during-school-closures-
• If your child needs additional support or has a learning disability find out how your school is addressing this. Some schools will have a teacher available to hold Zoom gatherings, Webex meetings, etc... There are also several independent tutors online offering help as well. 

I will be offering free videos through YouTube and through flip-grid for some specific areas of instruction. 

Moving forward remember patience is key, this is temporary, and just a current disruption. Take advantage of the time at home to take a step back in time and spend time teaching your children some basic skills that are a part of life's curriculum: cooking, sewing, cleaning, etc... Try to find the positive and keep the vibe at home positive.