Covid-19 has forced many us to try on some very new hats, and many of the parents among us have had to give their “teacher hat” a dusting off since the pandemic began.
While some have prospered in this role, it can’t be expected that every parent is having a breeze of a time teaching their young ones every day. It was once thought that being both parent and teacher went hand in hand, but lockdown is showing us that this isn’t necessarily the case.
For those of you having some difficulties slipping into this role, we’re sure you’ll be happy to know we’ve got some tips to make the journey just a little bit easier.
- Build a timetable.
Do you remember your old timetable from your school days? Those rows upon rows of boxes that dictated the pace of your day may have been an annoyance before, but that’s going to be your best friend as you begin to teach your own children.
Keep your lessons to less than an hour per subject and make sure to schedule shorter breaks along with longer ones.
2. Use the internet.
There’s no need to dig out the old copies of Bun go Barr (unless of course you still have them somewhere!), because there are plenty of online resources you can use. See scoil.net and School Days for more!
3. Youtube is your friend.
Youtube is a veritable hive of learning resources that are perfect for the audio/visual learner. The Alphablocks help bring spelling to life, while The Numberblocks can help them understand numbers and maths.
And those are just examples. Run a search on Youtube for any lessons you have in mind that might require some visual aid!
4. Get creative.
Let’s be honest, you probably don’t have the same command or authority as most teachers are trained to have. So why try? You know what your child will respond to or won’t respond to, so implement that knowledge in your day-to-day learning.
Speak in terms that you know they understand. Include fun things like Minecraft or Lego in your lessons, and include physical exercise where possible. You’re in a position to make learning fun, which leads us to…
5. Get Active.
Make sure that your timetable includes some time for activity, whether it’s jogging and jumping jacks outside or indoor yoga for a rainy day. Exercise is important for maintaining good brain function, so it’s every bit as important as the lessons themselves.
6. Get napping.
If you’re teaching younger children, it’ll be of benefit to include some nap time in your timetable.
7. Understand that you’re not a teacher.
Becoming a teacher is a very difficult process that takes people years to study and master, and you simply haven’t got that experience. So always remember to allow yourself a large margin for error. Just try your best, and undertstand that this is a time for you to spend quality time with your children as well, and these should be times you’ll never forget.
We hope you find our homeschooling tips useful as Monday rolls around the corner. You may even find you’ve got a hidden talent for teaching. Good luck and keep your eyes peeled here on WicklowNews.Net for more advice to help you adjust to the ‘new normal’.
