Session One:
Welcome My name is Vikki Lynn Smith
Educator and Author of Summer the Firefly
Today I’d like to welcome you all to my Facebook page Vikki Lynn Smith, Author https://www.facebook.com/vikkilynnsmithauthor/
You are here because you may have difficulties with:
- Knowing how to start teaching with your child
- Knowing how to get your child motivated
- Knowing how to keep your child from melting down during studies.
- I guess I could also add, how to keep yourself from MELTING DOWN while teaching.
Today I’m going to start with how to get started, which might solve all the things I just mentioned.
I know that if you ask any good teacher what is the SECRET to teaching they will say…Good Classroom management
What does that mean?
- Making a plan
- Understanding your child or children
- Getting on a schedule
- Embracing education as a time to learn not just “GET THROUGH IT” mentality
Right now you are thinking… I’ve done all this. OR IS this really that important?
YES it’s paramount to success with children.
IF you’ve started this perhaps your plan needs some tweaking.
Believe it or not, you child or children are programmed to behave a certain way.
Most have been going to some type of school since pre-school.
They have been taught to have a routine.
Ask yourself – DO YOU HAVE A ROUTINE since your child’s school has shut down?
Do you rise every day at the same time?
Do you eat breakfast and lunch at the times your child is used to eating?
Do you let your child stay up later because that means more time for you to sleep in?
All these questions make a difference in your child’s learning.
So the first thing you as the parent must do is determine a schedule you want to follow
This DOES NOT MEAN it has to be by hour or minute, but a general schedule should be made.
I suggest you make a schedule on your own, then sit down with your child and get their input.
REMEMBER HOWEVER… your child is not dumb and will try to work you.
Four things that should always remain the same in your plan
- Wake and sleep hours
- Eating times
- Reading time
- Walk or exercise time
I highly suggest you don’t let your children sleep later than 8:30 unless you have high Schoolers – they have their own understanding of schedules
All children pre-K thru 8th grade should be in bed by 9pm Elementary kids by 8 – lights out at 8:30 /Junior High or Middle school – in bed by 8:30 lights out at 9
Eating should be first thing in the morning, lunch when they would have it at school and dinner when you normally have it
Reading time means, FREE READ ½ before lights out
IF you don’t put Exercise into a schedule you will see your child’s lack of focus diminish- I suggest a walk (of a pet) after breakfast, then after lunch, then after dinner.
Now here’s EVERY educator’s secret….
THE BEST TIME TO TEACH MATH AND LANGUAGE ARTS IS 9-11:30 am
(You’re probably freaking out if you are a parent who works all day! Have no fear, I have a solution!)
I recommend you and your child discuss which subject they would like to tackle first. I suggest doing the stronger subject first.
The second subject is taught when your child’s brain is at its peak for learning.
Plan the other subjects with your child or children.
I LOVE History and Science in the afternoon because usually an assignment can be done together! Parent/child or child to child
If your child has history or Science reading – take turns reading pages with him or her and discuss it.
If you have younger children, they can listen in and be a part of the lesson.
These subjects should not be BORING –
Find an activity to do that enhances the reading or worksheet.
DON’T Go overboard!
EXAMPLE : Your child is learning about the Solar system – that night go outside and look at the stars/moon or incorporate art and have your child draw what they learned.
You should not need to spend more than 30 minutes on each of these subjects pre-K -8.
You can go the whole 30 min without a break because you are doing it together.
If you child has theology classes, I recommend they be done right before bed. It’s a great time to go over the lesson and discuss it as they are getting in bed.
If they have health class – always a great time right before dinner.
So if you do the math, You have done about 4 hours of school work each day Monday -Friday.
NOT TOO BAD- the key here is to do it every day and don’t skip a day thinking you are going to catch up because you will just ask for trouble.
If you allow your children to play on electronics, plug that time into the schedule but limit that time if you can. With everyone on the internet trying to go to school and work, we can do our part to save some band width for others.
NOW for those of you that are watching this later in the day because you were at work, Here is my suggestion to help you get things done without stressing out.
You have to plan on Sunday for the week.
Once you have the schedule from your child or children’s teacher, determine which subjects require more time and those that do not.
You will have to prep for the times that you are NOT there. Either your child is with a care taker or home alone and they must be responsible to keep up on the schedule we just talked about.
If your child is on their schedule, there should be no reason for you to come home and have to start teaching.
YOUR JOB IS TO REVIEW EVERYTHING AND ANSWER QUESTIONS AFTER DINNER!
Make your expectations known to your child/children and the care giver.
Expect your child/children to try and complete work to the best of their ability. BUT KNOW THAT IF THEY DON’T DO IT IN THE DAY THEY MUST COMPLETE IT AT NIGHT and keep all rewards like gaming away.
Understand that while at work you may have to call every hour and keep the schedule running smoothly if you have kids at home alone. But that’s okay.
Do not feel guilty that you have to work. You are being a Good American and keeping our nation afloat right now.
If for some reason, you, a day worker finds you are behind,, let the teacher know so that you can complete work on the weekend if need be.
BUT the weekends should not be used for school… Weekends are time for family and doing things together that are fun.
***If for some reason your child cannot work during the day… I suggest you do all history and science for the week on two days and break Lang. Arts up to three days and Math every evening.
One quick note: Most math text books have videos that go with them or workbook pages that can be found on the internet that can be used to explain the concept. We’ll talk about this another time.
For High School Students: I highly recommend you have them set their own schedule first, then review it together making adjustments to meet the needs of young adults.
Too often we think our teenagers are fine hanging out at home alone all day..
But they can become lonely, depressed, anxious and unmotivated. Give them some responsibility and rewards.
So in Conclusion:
Scheduling is the key to Classroom or/ Table Management when teaching at home.
EXPECTATION should be discussed and agreed upon for you to have happy children and a stressful life while we all adjust to being at home.
Remember: Children that lay about all day with no goals or time management can get depressed, fill over-whelmed and will ultimately act out.
Next time our talk will be much shorter, but it will be about Proper Environment for Learning and Making Learning Fun.
