Dear Families

As remote learning continues, we thank our parents for their continual cooperation in supporting their child’s learning remotely. We remind parents that devices and solutions for internet support can be accessed by contacting the office.

Here are some suggestions for you to assist in the process of remote learning:

Remember, you are not your child’s teacher…

Children are not being home schooled - They’re actually being schooled by teachers who are working really hard to make the learning as enjoyable and engaging as they can and to support children at home to maintain their continuity with school. 

… but you are their parent

Take some pressure off of yourself. Thank you for continuing to support your child to be focused and helping them work through the learning. If your child is not understanding a task or not coping, take a break and then make contact with your child’s teacher.

Stick to a school routine

Get up and dressed and ready to work by the normal school start time. 

Take regular breaks

Maybe you’ll only get 15-30 minutes out of your children, so go do some skipping and measure their heart rate, or have an apple and a bit of a wander around then back we come. Teachers will suggest brain breaks!  Try to take breaks together if possible, sit in the sunshine, have a cup of tea, have a snack, dance to music, have a run outside or go for a walk!

Organise a learning space 

Education department guidelines recommend setting up a “quiet and comfortable” place to learn, ideally in a shared family space such as a living room or dining room rather than a bedroom “where your child can feel isolated and supervision can be more challenging”. 

Remote learning hours are not the same as school hours

With younger kids, if you can get a good two hours in and get that right you’re doing well - It’s easier to work with success and build it up, rather than insisting ‘you’re going to be at school for five hours’ and it all ends up in tears.

Make the most of the morning

Try to do the work in the morning if it suits your family. This is generally the time we are all more focussed!

Remember that not all learning is formal

Talking and doing things together is learning - 

plant some seeds or take the weeds out or build a tower with Lego. Get your child to cook something with you or go for a walk and talk about what you see or find. Be creative!

Give kids some control 

Children will cope better if they have some control over their timetable or at least know what’s on for the day. Make a schedule each morning for when things will be done. Even self directed learning or play time should be in the schedule whilst parents do their work from home!

Keep up social contact

We all know our children are missing their sports activities, friends and family. Maybe work with other parents to say ‘can we set up a Zoom or WhatsApp session at lunchtime or 3 or 4pm so kids can all have afternoon tea and sit around and have a chat with each other for half an hour or an hour?’ Remember: parents should supervise online activity.

Resist the urge to take over

Parents might be worried children are going to fall behind so they want to be in there to make sure they stay on top of things. Sometimes we can undermine the child by doing that. Show your child that you’re interested, but do not take over their work. You can say ‘that’s really interesting, I was listening when you were talking to the teacher about those koalas, I didn’t realise you knew that’.

Be patient and kind to yourself and your children

There will be good and bad days for parents and children - One day might go really well and the next will be a disaster so patience is really important. Allow yourself permission to do what you can do and not what you can’t do – you can’t take on the world.  

We hope you have a wonderful weekend and don’t forget to look out for a notice tomorrow with some fun things for families to do in Book Week next week!

Stay safe

Treasa Barwick