Tips on Keeping Students Focused While Distance Learning

Tips on Keeping Students Focused While Distance Learning

The coronavirus pandemic has shut down entire countries and altered every facet of society. But one of the most heavily affected sectors of society is the educational sector.

According to the World Health Organization, schools can be a virtual cesspool for the virus because cases among children aren’t reported as frequently. Transmissions between students and adults are a possibility, which could lead to outbreaks.

Because of this increased risk of transmission, parents all over the country and the world are turning to other methods to educate their children away from classroom settings. Some people are turning to homeschooling with manuals and handbooks, but millions of students will be using distance learning. Children will be going to grade school or middle school virtually, but keeping them motivated will be a challenge.

Below are some useful tips parents can use to keep your children focused through their school day online.

1. Talk to Them Beforehand

Involve your kids in the process early on because they’re essential in determining what type of schedule or plan works best for them. Some children are visual learners and require diagrams and pictures to process information effectively. Or they may be perfectly fine listening to their teacher drone on in their computer screen. You should also discuss with them where in the house they’re the most comfortable to study in and what they’ll need for each lesson. You should also talk to them to set their expectations on what difficulties they’re likely to encounter. Encourage them to bring up their problems with you any time.

2. Find a Quiet Place

Your children will need plenty of quiet to avoid getting distracted while they’re taking their online lessons. Scope your home for possible areas where your kids can study, and you can still keep an eye on them. Look for spaces away from your entertainment centers which can be very noisy and distracting. You should also find a place away from the street-facing side of your house to reduce traffic-related noise such as loud horns or engines. Enhance the soundproofing and comfort of this area by putting in area rugs, thick curtains on the window and similar furnishing on the area.

student taking notes in an online class

3. Give Them a Checklist

Children need a list of objectives, so they can work through them quickly and with motivation. Each time they cross off another objective on their list, they’ll have a sense of accomplishment that can push them to finish the next task. Help them come up with the objectives on the checklist. It can as simple as assignments or chapters they have to read, or it could be more long-term goals. You should also make the checklist look as appealing as possible.  You could use stickers and paint to make a nice reusable checklist from a small magnetic whiteboard.

4. Praise Their Progress

Children, especially younger ones, thrive form praise from authority sources they look up to. Since their teachers will be doing classes remotely, you must provide them with the praise they need on their academics. Check their homework and temper your corrections with praise for what they did correctly. This will encourage them to continue with their education and help form a stronger bond with you.

5. Schedule Plenty of Breaks

Children need plenty of breaks between lessons to give their minds some time to relax. Schedule a few minutes between each online session so your kid can take a break. You can talk to them in this time, give them a small snack or maybe let them browse the internet. This will prevent them from getting restless during the long stretches of studying and help them decompress.

Online lessons may take some time for children to get used to but with enough support from you, they’ll enjoy great progress in their education. Use these tips to keep them on course, and they’ll learn to enjoy digital classes in no time.

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