At Home Learning During the COVID-19 Crisis

I am a former third grade teacher and have a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education. A lot of people are struggling with how to educate their children at home during the COVID-19 crisis. For at-home learning to work, the first thing you need to do is GET STARTED! How? See my FIVE easy tips below!

1. Designate a specific place and table where learning will happen every day. A kitchen table is a perfect spot for this! Kids need to be seated at the table and the television should be turned off.

2. Use your walls. Ideally, you will have a wall or a window close to the table for you to post/tape things on while you “teach”. Stock up on sticky notes! (more on this later)

3. Designate a time when learning will happen every day. I would aim for a 2 hour stretch, and in the morning, if possible. Parents have at-home work schedules to work around and your child's attention span will not be the same as if they were in school in their normal routine and environment, so this amount of time is realistic.

4. Plan out the activities you will be doing for the week on Sunday and adhere to them. When planning lessons, have some activities that are long range (that could last all week) and some that are meant to be completed in one sitting.

5. Grade and/or make comments on your child's work. Not only is it a reward, knowing that you are looking over their work lets your child know that you are truly engaged in the process.

I hope you find this information helpful! I will continue to post tips and tricks of the trade and some of my own lesson plans that were successful (and fun!) in the classroom.