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Organization Tips for New Online School Learning Coaches

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Organization Tips for New Online School Learning Coaches

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If your student is starting K-12 online school full time and you're becoming a Learning Coach for the first time, you may take a look at your child's curriculum, texts, school supplies, and other learning materials and wonder how you'll manage it all. While the first few months of online school can be challenging, particularly with multiple children, learning a few tried-and-true organization strategies used by other families can help you have a successful start. Here are some pointers to help you keep children's education on track-and their clutter under control-as you embark on this rewarding new learning path:

Sort by subject.

Many families find it helpful to separate online school learning materials by student, and then sort each student's materials by subject. To keep it all organized, each child will need a labeled container for each school subject. Depending on the size of your home classroom(opens in a new tab) or storage area, you could use "dollar store" bins, milk crates, tote bags, or magazine filing boxes to separate the subjects.

Plan ahead.

Many Learning Coaches advise taking an hour or two each weekend to get prepared for virtual school lessons scheduled for the coming week. This sneak peek gives you the opportunity to print out assignments, make note of deadlines and assessments (such as tests and quizzes), purchase any needed supplies, and adjust your children's schedule for more time-consuming projects.

Divide and conquer-by day!

To keep everyone moving in the right direction, many experienced Learning Coaches give each child a daily list of his or her online school assignments, plus any appointments and responsibilities. Some create a form to fill out; others use a special notebook or binder for each student's assignments. Some Learning Coaches take an additional step by placing the assignment sheet in a folder along with the printed worksheets and study questions.

Set a flexible schedule.

Most families do recommend establishing a schedule for online schooling -but your daily planner may not look anything like a traditional school schedule! While you might start with a conventional plan-perhaps scheduling an hour for each course each day-that may not be your ideal solution, so feel free to make changes that fit your student's and family's style.

If your student works better with less frequent interruptions, try planning in larger blocks of time. For example, you might want to pencil in science only twice a week-two longer sessions in which your child works through several lessons.

You may also want to schedule schoolwork around your children's energy levels. For the early bird, schedule challenging subjects in the morning; for your night owl, delay the challenges until later in the day.

Having a schedule will also help you remember that children-and Learning Coaches-need breaks for physical activity, lunch, and play!

End the day on a positive note.

Even on days when you are struggling, remind yourself to end each school day by giving your child a bit of praise, encouragement, or affection. You've both worked hard to adjust to a new way of learning, so you've earned it!

If you need help adjusting to online school, be sure to talk to your student's online school teachers; they're there to help your child succeed. And if you're a Connections Academy family, you can find lots of helpful information and friendly advice on the Connexus® message boards. Above all, be patient with yourself; it may take you and your children a while to find a system and schedule that works for you, but the rewards of being involved in your child's learning each day will be worth the effort!

To learn how you can participate in shaping your children's education with more opportunities to provide meaningful input, visit the website for Connections AcademyⓇ online public school. Or to learn about online private school, visit Pearson Online Academy 's website.

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How to Help Your Child Succeed at School. NY Times.

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10 Ways to Help Your Child Succeed in Elementary School. Kids Health.

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Support from parents is key to helping kids do well academically. Here are 10 ways parents can put their kids on track to be successful students.

1. Attend Back-to-School Night and Parent-Teacher Conferences

Kids do better in school when parents are involved in their academic lives. Attending back-to-school night at the start of the school year is a great way to get to know your child's teachers and their expectations. School administrators may discuss school-wide programs and policies, too.

Attending parent-teacher conferences is another way to stay informed. These are usually held once or twice a year at progress reporting periods. The conferences are a chance to start or continue conversations with your child's teacher, and discuss strategies to help your child do his or her best in class. Meeting with the teacher also lets your child know that what goes on in school will be shared at home.

If your child has special learning needs, additional meetings can be scheduled with teachers and other school staff to consider setting up or revising individualized education plans (IEPs), 504 education plans, or gifted education plans.

Keep in mind that parents or guardians can request meetings with teachers, principals, school counselors, or other school staff any time during the school year.

2. Visit the School and Its Website

Knowing the physical layout of the school building and grounds can help you connect with your child when you talk about the school day. It's good to know the location of the main office, school nurse, cafeteria, gym, athletic fields, playgrounds, auditorium, and special classes.

On the school website, you can find information about:

the school calendar

staff contact information

upcoming events like class trips

testing dates

Many teachers maintain their own websites that detail homework assignments, test dates, and classroom events and trips. Special resources for parents and students are also usually available on the district, school, or teacher websites.

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3. Support Homework Expectations

Homework in grade school reinforces and extends classroom learning and helps kids practice important study skills. It also helps them develop a sense of responsibility and a work ethic that will benefit them beyond the classroom.

In addition to making sure your child knows that you see homework as a priority, you can help by creating an effective study environment. Any well-lit, comfortable, and quiet workspace with the necessary supplies will do. Avoiding distractions (like a TV in the background) and setting up a start and end time can also help.

A good rule of thumb for an effective homework and/or study period is roughly 10 minutes per elementary grade level. Fourth-graders, for example, should expect to have about 40 minutes of homework or studying each school night. If you find that it's often taking significantly longer than this guideline, talk with your child's teacher.

While your child does homework, be available to interpret assignment instructions, offer guidance, answer questions, and review the completed work. But resist the urge to provide the correct answers or complete the assignments yourself. Learning from mistakes is part of the process and you don't want to take this away from your child.

4. Send Your Child to School Ready to Learn

A nutritious breakfast fuels up kids and gets them ready for the day. In general, kids who eat breakfast have more energy and do better in school. Kids who eat breakfast also are less likely to be absent, and make fewer trips to the school nurse with stomach complaints related to hunger.

You can help boost your child's attention span, concentration, and memory by providing breakfast foods that are rich in whole grains, fiber, and protein, as well as low in added sugar. If your child is running late some mornings, send along fresh fruit, nuts, yogurt, or half a peanut butter and banana sandwich. Many schools provide nutritious breakfast options before the first bell.

Kids also need the right amount of sleep to be alert and ready to learn all day. Most school-age kids need 10 to 12 hours of sleep a night. Bedtime difficulties can arise at this age for a variety of reasons. Homework, sports, after-school activities, TVs, computers, and video games, as well as hectic family schedules, can contribute to kids not getting enough sleep.

Lack of sleep can cause irritable or hyperactive behavior and might make it hard for kids to pay attention in class. It's important to have a consistent bedtime routine, especially on school nights. Be sure to leave enough time before bed to allow your child to unwind before lights out and limit stimulating diversions like TV, video games, and Internet access.

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5. Teach Organizational Skills

When kids are organized, they can stay focused instead of spending time hunting things down and getting sidetracked.

What does it mean to be organized at the elementary level? For schoolwork, it means having an assignment book and homework folder (many schools supply these) to keep track of homework and projects.

Check your child's assignment book and homework folder every school night so you're familiar with assignments and your child doesn't fall behind. Set up a bin for papers that you need to check or sign. Also, keep a special box or bin for completed and graded projects and toss papers that you don't need to keep.

Talk to your child about keeping his or her school desk orderly so papers that need to come home don't get lost. Teach your child how to use a calendar or personal planner to help stay organized.

It's also helpful to teach your child how to make a to-do list to help prioritize and get things done. It can be as simple as:

No one is born with great organizational skills - they need to be learned and practiced.

6. Teach Study Skills

Studying for a test can be scary for young kids, and many educators assume parents will help their kids during the grade-school years. Introducing your child to study skills now will pay off with good learning habits throughout life.

In elementary school, kids usually take end-of-unit tests in math, spelling, science, and social studies. Be sure to know when a test is scheduled so you can help your child study ahead of time rather than just the night before. You also might need to remind your child to bring home the right study materials, such as notes, study guides, or books.

Teach your child how to break down overall tasks into smaller, manageable chunks so preparing for a test isn't overwhelming. You also can introduce your child to tricks like mnemonic devices to help with recalling information. Remember that taking a break after a 45-minute study period is an important way to help kids process and remember information.

Your child probably will be introduced to standardized testing in elementary school. While students can't really study for standardized tests, some teachers provide practice tests to help ease students' worries.

In general, if studying and testing becomes a source of stress for your child, discuss the situation with the teacher or school counselor.

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7. Know the Disciplinary Policies

Schools usually cite their disciplinary policies (sometimes called the student code of conduct) in student handbooks. The rules cover expectations, and consequences for not meeting the expectations, for things like student behavior, dress codes, use of electronic devices, and acceptable language.

The policies may include details about attendance, vandalism, cheating, fighting, and weapons. Many schools also have specific policies about bullying. It's helpful to know the school's definition of bullying, consequences for bullies, support for victims, and procedures for reporting bullying.

It's important for your child to know what's expected at school and that you'll support the school's consequences when expectations aren't met. It's easiest for students when school expectations match the ones at home, so kids see both environments as safe and caring places that work together as a team.

8. Get Involved

Whether kids are just starting kindergarten or entering their last year of elementary school, there are many good reasons for parents to volunteer at school. It's a great way for parents to show they're interested in their kids' education.

Many grade-schoolers like to see their parents at school or at school events. But follow your child's cues to find out how much interaction works for both of you. If your child seems uncomfortable with your presence at the school or with your involvement in an extracurricular activity, consider taking a more behind-the-scenes approach. Make it clear that you aren't there to spy - you're just trying to help out the school community.

Parents can get involved by:

being a classroom helper or homeroom parent

organizing and/or working at fundraising activities and other special events, like bake sales, car washes, and book fairs

chaperoning field trips

planning class parties

attending school board meetings

joining the school's parent-teacher group

working as a library assistant

reading a story to the class

giving a talk for career day

attending school concerts or plays

Check the school or teacher website to find volunteer opportunities that fit your schedule. Even giving a few hours during the school year can make a strong impression on your child.

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9. Take Attendance Seriously

Sick kids should stay home from school if they have a fever, are nauseated, vomiting, or have diarrhea. Kids who lose their appetite, are clingy or lethargic, complain of pain, or who just don't seem to be acting "themselves" should also might benefit from a sick day.

Otherwise, it's important that kids arrive at school on time every day, because having to catch up with class work and homework can be stressful and interfere with learning.

If your child is missing a lot of school due to illness, make sure to check with the teacher about any work that needs to be completed. It's also a good idea to know the school's attendance policy.

Sometimes students want to stay home from school because of problems with classmates, assignments or grades, or even teachers. This can result in real symptoms, like headaches or stomachaches. If you think there's a problem at school, talk with your child - and then perhaps with the teacher - to find out more about what's causing the anxiety. The school counselor or school psychologist also might be able to help.

Also try to avoid late bedtimes, which can result in tardy and tired students. A consistent sleep schedule also can help students.

10. Make Time to Talk About School

It's usually easy to talk with elementary students about what's going on in class and the latest news at school. You probably know what books your child is reading and are familiar with the math being worked on. But parents can get busy and forget to ask the simple questions, which can have an effect on children's success at school.

Make time to talk with your child every day, so he or she knows that what goes on at school is important to you. When kids know parents are interested in their academic lives, they'll take school seriously as well.

Because communication is a two-way street, the way you talk and listen to your child can influence how well your child listens and responds. It's important to listen carefully, make eye contact, and avoid multitasking while you talk. Be sure to ask questions that go beyond "yes" or "no" answers.

Besides during family meals, good times to talk include car trips (though eye contact isn't needed here, of course), walking the dog, preparing meals, or standing in line at a store.

These early years of schooling are an important time for parents to be informed and supportive about their child's education and to set the stage for children to develop and grow as young learners.

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10 Ways to Help Your Child Succeed in Elementary School

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Support from parents is key to helping kids do well academically. Here are 10 ways parents can put their kids on track to be successful students. Kids do better in school when parents are involved in their academic lives.

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Parents are a child's first teachers and the home is a child's first classroom. As key resources for learning and growth, parents help to shape a child's social, emotional and physical development so that he/she can thrive in school and beyond.

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What is Student Engagement and Why Does it Matter? Xello

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What is Student Engagement and Why Does it Matter? Xello

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Student engagement is one of those educational buzzwords that seems to have been around forever. Okay, slight exaggeration. The term can be traced back to educational reformer and philosopher John Dewey and the late 1800's.

Although there's a consensus that student engagement is vital to the educational process, how to create engaged students is less clear.
So, let's take a deep dive into student engagement, its role in the learning process, and how to ensure you create truly engaged students.

What is Student Engagement?

According to The Glossary of Education Reform , student engagement " refers to the degree of attention, curiosity, interest, optimism, and passion that students show when they are learning or being taught, which extends to the level of motivation they have to learn and progress in their education."

Yet, it's not just about students. The glossary adds that, " student engagement may also refer to the ways in which school leaders, educators, and other adults might "engage" students more fully in the governance and decision-making processes."

According to the NAIS, student engagement involves three dimensions:

Behavioral engagement: focusing on participation in academic, social, and co-curricular activities

Emotional engagement: focusing on the extent and nature of positive and negative reactions to teachers, classmates, academics, and school

Cognitive engagement: focusing on students' level of investment in learning.

These wide-ranging definitions that involve multiple components are part of the reason why the topic has been discussed and written about so extensively. However, it's the benefits of student engagement that keep it top of mind with educators.

Why Increase Student Engagement or Why Does Student Engagement Matter?

The goal of education can be boiled down to one mission: foster learning and growth in students in order to prepare them to lead productive and meaningful lives. This simple statement is, of course, challenging and extremely difficult to execute.

Studies show that student engagement is a necessary ingredient to fulfill the educational mission.

A 2018 Gallup Study entitled, ' School Engagement Is More Than Just Talk ', found that "Engaged students are 2.5 times more likely to say that they get excellent grades and do well in school, and they are 4.5 times more likely to be hopeful about the future than their actively disengaged peers."

Another Gallup study found that, "Student engagement significantly positively affects student growth."
Compared to schools with low student engagement, those with high student engagement were better preparing students for the future.
Consider these findings:

36% higher rate of students achieving the satisfactory requirement for postsecondary readiness in math.

65% higher rate of students achieving the satisfactory requirement for postsecondary readiness in writing.

129% higher rate of students exceeding progress in all subjects.

Beyond the academic benefits, there are also advantages related to increased attendance and improvement in behavior.

However, recent polls show that many students are disengaged. According to the 2018 Gallup Poll, nearly half of students (47%) are engaged, while 29% are not engaged and 24% are actively disengaged.

The poll also found that students become less engaged as they advance through the education system.

How to Measure Student Engagement

Just as student engagement is hard to define, it's hard to measure as well. Before it can be measured, clarification on what an engaged student does is in order.

One answer comes from educator and author, Ben Johnson , who notes that engaged students are active and do the following: pay attention, take notes, listen, ask questions, respond to questions, participate, and react.
Former classroom teacher and Principal Peter DeWitt cautions in an article that some may see a quiet classroom with students listening and view it as engagement. He distinguishes between compliance and authentic engagement.

"Authentic engagement means that students do more than just answer a question during a session of " ," says DeWitt. "It means that they have dialogue with us and ask questions at the same time they're engaging in giving us an answer. It means that students are talking as much as we are."

Outside observations by administrators can also prove helpful since the classroom teacher will naturally be biased. The observation can also include interviewing students and asking direct questions to determine if students are engaged.

How to to Increase Student Engagement

So, what can teachers do to foster student engagement? What are some strategies to increase student engagement?
Nurture Relationships

According to , the type of engagement that he describes begins with forming caring relationships.

"When students form close and caring relationships with their teachers, they are fulfilling their developmental need for a connection with others and a sense of belonging in society," he says.

Note, these relationships are possible and necessary whether a class is meeting virtually or in person. They are also relevant regardless of the age of the students.

Connections between students and teachers inspire students and create a positive environment. In this sort of environment, students are motivated and encouraged to participate and grow. And in this writer's teaching experience, the relationship between a teacher starts with knowing a student's name and recognizing a student is more than just a body in a classroom.

The power of teacher-student relationships and meaningful engagement becomes more evident if you review the ING Foundation Survey . The survey found that 98% of respondents believe a good teacher can change the course of a student's life. And 88% of respondents said that "they had a teacher growing up who had a 'significant, positive impact' on their life."

Create Meaningful Work
Even the best teacher-student relationship is dependent on the actual work in the classroom. If a student is not reasonably challenged by the work in the classroom or does not find it stimulating, the student will not be engaged.

The article offers a few tips for making a lesson meaningful including connecting it "with students' previous knowledge and experiences, highlighting the value of an assigned activity in personally relevant ways..." and modeling "why an individual activity is worth pursuing, and when and how it is used in real life."

Another way to make meaningful work is to personalize it. When curriculum is personalized, students can more easily recognize the benefits. Personalization can also relate to the pace of learning. The right pace for each student will keep them more engaged as they won't be frustrated, overwhelmed, or bored. Technology can play a helpful role in personalizing learning.

Foster Autonomy
We all long for personal freedom and autonomy and children are no different. This longing extends to the classroom and satisfying it leads to an increase in student engagement.

The benefits cited above occur when a teacher, "creates choices that are robust enough for students to feel that their decision has an impact on their learning,"

When students are empowered to make choices in the classroom and school setting, it fosters a sense of ownership over their learning. Because students have made choices and their voice is heard, the responsibility shifts to them. It is through each student's effort and determination that progress will occur, which demands that they be engaged.

Increase Self-Efficacy and Competency
Everyone faces challenges. Sometimes, challenges can lead to growth, and other times they can overwhelm. As teachers, we want to challenge our students in positive and productive ways to help them learn and grow. Creating a challenging classroom environment also enhances student engagement.

According to , " Researchers have found that effectively performing an activity can positively impact subsequent engagement."
Teachers can put this into practice by ensuring lessons are just beyond students' current knowledge level. Going too far, too fast will encourage students to disengage. After all, if students determine the work is beyond them, they feel a sense of hopelessness and frustration.

However, when teachers check in regularly, give clear feedback, and genuinely accept and answer questions, students are set up to engage and grow.

When students are engaged, they are motivated. and learning happens more easily. Being in a school building and classroom where students are engaged is inspiring for both the students and educators. Therefore, it is imperative for educators to do everything they can to foster student engagement.

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Student Engagement: Why it Matters | Xello

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Discover the importance of student engagement in the classroom and how it enhances the learning process. Learn how to create truly engaged students.