Experts share tips on how to get the most out of homeschooling
With schooling moving out of classrooms and into homes due to coronavirus, education experts and high school teachers are sharing a few tips to help parents get the most from at home learning for their children.
North West
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With parents coming to terms with the prospect of needing to teach children lessons – experts and teachers are reaching out online to lend a hand.
Monash University senior lecturer Dr Michael Phillips was a secondary school teacher for 15 yeas before becoming an education expert, and said that the months ahead would be a testing for all.
“There are definitely going to be disruptions to the way we teach and learn, we are all going through a steep learning curve at the moment,” he said.
“We have to be mindful of the challenges and take the opportunity and wins that come out of it – this is actually helping us to try things in different way and see what works.”
With the tradition classroom soon to be chucked out the window, Dr Phillips suggested parents remember that not all learning is done online and incorporate everyday activities into lessons.
“Parents don’t need to be the content expert, they can use common sense to find additions learning opportunities for our kids,” he said.
“Incorporate everyday activities into learning – cooking, gardening, observe local birds and plants to contribute to ongoing understandings.
Dr Phillips said that young people were going to be missing out on social interactions both in and out of the classroom, so allowing them to communicate via apps safely would be a necessary aspect of home learning and continued social distancing.
The advice from experts comes as teachers around the state take to Facebook community groups to provide support online to students and parents.
Craigieburn Secondary teacher Elisa Colaluca teaches VCE English and Italian and has offered her help alongside her colleagues to guide students during this uncertain period.
Miss Colaluca, from Romsey, said if schools moved online after the Easter break both parents and teacher needed to embrace new technology and changes.
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“As a parent it could be quite a challenging time trying to access activities and understand the requirements for the task, particularly if teachers are using language parents aren’t familiar with,” she said.
“I’m looking forward to this new challenge of doing things online- being more innovative and creative in the way that we work, the way we teach, and the way students learn.”
Home schooling tips for parents:
1. Be patient. Parents should remember to be patient when assisting learning.
2. Communicate. Parents are encouraged to stay in touch with their child’s school through online platforms and over email.
3. Ask questions. Questions aren’t just for kids, parents should keep asking teachers question to best assist with at home learning.
4. Work together. Finding new ways to work together is challenging, consider alternatives to traditional learning.
5. Throw out the schedule. mimicking the 9am to 3.30pm is unsustainable.
6. Keep your cool. When things go wrong, keep stress levels low. Moving out of the classroom is a learning process and errors are inevitable.
grace.mckinnonleyton@news.com.au
@GraceMcKinnon