1. How do teachers implement digital tools in their new ‘virtual’ classrooms? 

2. What does canceling school do to families?

3. How to homeschool kids during the covid-19 crisis?

4. How will the kids get their education? 

• How has the virus affected schools? At this point 39 states have closed schools (91,000 schools) and moved to 100% online learning. Teachers have been asked to adjust their curriculum and daily routines to fit this new virtual classroom requirement. Most schools that offer 1:1 devices for students are sending devices home to ensure students have access to their learning materials. However, schools that don’t have enough devices for each student are sending home paper worksheets, and some digital assignments hoping that students have access to a family device at home.
• What does canceling school do to families? Most parents/guardians across the nation are now having to manage their own full-time workload from home while trying to take ownership of their childs’ education. Parents are now expected to hold their children accountable for their school work, and check-in on their daily assignments. On the other hand, some families are faced with the financial burden of securing internet connection and technology to ensure their kids can learn at home. Lastly, many families also have uncertainty about their jobs, facing financial stress and potentially unemployment.
• How will the kids get their education? Educators and companies around the world have stepped up to support students in need as well as their teachers and parents. Teachers have designed at-home learning resources and subscribed to additional learning tools to help support their students. Many teachers are hosting virtual lessons through online meeting platforms such as WebX or Zoom. These virtual meetings, plus other forms of communication, will help teachers stay in touch with students and keep families updated regarding assignments and plans.
• Have a structured bedtime Monday-Friday with an alarm every morning to get the day started.
• Set learning times for Math, Reading, Writing, Science, Social Studies, and Physical Education (like their normal school schedule) – be creative.
• Be realistic that kids cannot just sit and learn for 2-3 hours straight without a break. Therefore, structure in”brain breaks” for them to then refocus on work.
• Create at-home “classroom” expectations and agreements to ensure that there is a safe and productive learning environment for them. One strategy is to set incentive and consequence systems to hold them accountable
• Take into consideration the age of your kids. What works for Pre-School-1st grade might not work for 9th-12th grade students.