How to Create a Smooth Homeschool Transition During COVID-19

In addition to the stress and responsibility parents likely feel due to the added burden of acting as teacher in addition to possibly working a full time job, students also are likely to feel confused and stressed. The following suggestions can help create a smooth transition to the homeschool environment. 

1. A structured routine is very important in order to help students complete their assignments. They definitely need structured break times where they can get up and move around and engage in leisure activities.  It is important to set boundaries between the school and work environment from the beginning so that students don’t experience even more confusion.
2. Writing out a schedule and setting goals for the day can also help students stay more focused and feel a sense of accomplishment once the day is completed
3. If you have multiple children in different grade levels it is important to give each child their own study space and encourage them to interact during the breaks. This can limit distractions and arguments between siblings.
4. As homeschooling can be boring and isolating for students, it is helpful to try to make their work fun by incorporating games such as creating a jeopardy game with questions relating to each student’s level of learning or a scavenger hunt relating to subjects that students are studying in school.

Hopefully, these suggestions will help students adjust to the new normal and stay engaged as much as possible. Parent support is crucial during the time but private or online tutoring can also help ensure that you are not alone.