It’s been incredible to see how quickly educators and families have adapted to distance learning. Curriculum, technologies, and ways of communication between teachers, students, and families have changed to ensure children can still learn. This shift to remote education has been difficult but essential with COVID-19, and Yup applauds the teachers, principals, parents, and students who have made it possible!
In a follow up to our initial Remote Learning article, Yup’s Learning Team checked in with teachers, administrators, and Yup Families across the country to hear what has been especially helpful during this time.
Lesson #1: Parent and teacher support is the foundation of a successful student
- Framing is important: parents can help present clear objectives so that students know exactly what is expected of them and what they can expect to learn.
- Make sure to turn off or mute all other apps and notifications on your student’s computer and phone. Notifications can unintentionally derail focus time.
- Schedules help! You can work directly with your student to build a daily schedule for in-class and out-of-class time. You’ll have the added benefit of knowing what your student should be up to at any given point in time.
- Students have different social and emotional needs to be aware of; helping support students socially and emotionally is particularly critical for students experiencing a blend of in-person and remote learning.
Lesson #2: In the end, students drive their own engagement and success
- Students typically work best where they feel most comfortable. For some students, that might be a quiet room; others may enjoy being in the presence of family.
- While parents can help with structure, students should manage their own schedule to match their energy. Some students may prefer to work late at night or early in the morning. Students should feel free to experiment with what works best while still meeting other obligations.
- Motivation is individual; parents should have a conversation with their student to understand what they have struggled with the past few months, and how their learning environment can change to best set them up for success
- Growth mindset is key! Motivation conversation should focus on how students can work to uplift themselves. Continued practice and positive reinforcement lead to long term learning. This is the same principle Yup was founded on.
Lesson #3: Students will be tough on themselves; it’s up to us to elevate them
- Remind your student(s) to practice kindness and patience with themself! This is not a normal time, but it could be a great time to set routines for self-compassion like mindfulness or journaling.
- For students who are typically shy or less prone to raise their hand in an in-person classroom, remote learning can feel even more daunting. But parents can frame it as a way to ask more questions in a safe way! Make consistent use of any portal your teacher uses for gathering student questions without having to speak up out of turn.
- Recognize milestones! Students are so focused on keeping their heads above water, they might miss out on identifying all the strides they’ve made. Yes, it’s normal to just want to get through the year - but celebrate their accomplishments thus far.
This remains an unprecedented and tough time for teachers, students, and families. Remote education presents a number of challenges; it also pushes students to develop the skills of independence and self-learning that are necessary later in life, especially in college. We’re excited to see students who are conquering these obstacles now continue to excel in their educational career, knowing that they’ve already gone through tougher circumstances than anyone else in their shoes before!
Yup Math Tutoring is an on-demand tutoring platform that instantly connects students with math tutors 24 hours a day, 7 day a week. In the message-based sessions, students are coached through problems based on their existing math knowledge. This helps students learn not just the how of math, but also the why. Yup focuses on instilling a growth mindset so that students increase their confidence in math both in and out of the classroom.
