July 30, 2020
by: Chad Welch, Community Impact Coordinator – Education
Here’s a question that may help focus you: Next year, in 5 years, in 10 years, in 20 years, what story do you want your kids to tell about this experience? My recommendations for “how to be” during a time of temporary / emergency education at home:
Expectations & Standards
- Be flexible. Now is no time for being rigid. We need to go with the flow.
- Remember that K-12 education is ultimately about setting the learner up for success and being productive once school is complete. Keep this in mind as learning at home presents challenges-stay to the ultimate goal.
- Measuring success is pretty much impossible in an emergency. It’s different now. Your goal is to get through this time without eroding enthusiasm for learning or family relationships. Other concerns are secondary.
- Lower your standards a little, change is scary and in the middle of a crisis a half filled in math worksheet might be a serious win.
- Mental health is now more important than ever!
- The more you can build study time around school provided materials or study guides, the better.
- If your school has provided remote instruction or a work packet, great! You should still lower your standards for kids’ schoolwork.
- Be ready to drop some balls. For example, if chemistry seems impossible and terrifying it goes to the bottom of the priority list, at least initially. Right now, some things are initially more important than school work. That doesn’t mean it shouldn’t get done, maybe just not first.
- Stick with what works and be ready to drop things that don’t work.
- Do not hesitate to let kids know that you don’t know something: You can pursue the answer in the spirit of solidarity.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help!
