The pandemic has forced many children to learn from home through virtual learning. Some kids face a number of challenges with remote learning, but students can still be successful. Here are what some parents and students are doing to get through this time.
Raegan Slusher spends the school day in her room, online. That is how it has been for her the whole academic year, kept home by COVID. “It’s kind of hard to focus because I have everything around met that I can get distracted with,” she states.
Raegan feels safer doing virtual schooling, but does miss her friends at Eagleton Middle School in Blount County.
“The only way I can really talk to them is on my phone, and we used to see each other like every day at school,” she states.
She is doing well academically, though she says sometimes it is hard to follow virtual lessons in subjects like social studies. Another thing you have to put up with is the electronics behind online learning.
“Some of the challenges are like the internet sometimes, and when the websites won’t work or learning how to use new websites,” she explains.
Shuttered schools forced online academics that are lecture heavy, and that can put a limit on social connections and peer support for some kids. Many students miss the energy of in-person school.
According to Matt Devereaux with University of Tennessee Extension, “Children, they know where they are, so if a student is sitting in a classroom versus at home, they know the classroom. It’s an expectation when they walk through that door this is a place of learning.”
Devereaux is a child specialist, and he says that all ages are facing academic and emotional challenges with online learning. However, he does have some ideas for mom, dad, and students to make things go well, including good planning and no helicopter parenting.
“The first thing parents can do is set expectations and rules for your student’s learning at home. Make sure the environment your child is in is a quiet place to learn, is conducive to learning, and third, be attentive to your child but don’t be overbearing,” he states. “If your child has a question, encourage them to ask their teacher.”
Meantime, Raegan has accepted she will likely be home the rest of the school year. For now, staying apart to stay safe and looking forward to the day when school will be something she attends, rather than watches.
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