蜜桃影视

A version of this essay originally appeared on the .

Remote learning is not what I signed on for when I became a teacher. The physical distance makes it very difficult for me to be there for my kids. But while this is an unpredictable and stressful time for everyone, helping students create new routines can provide the structure and normalcy necessary to succeed. We can still be there for our students by having open and frequent communication, teaching kids how to advocate for themselves and taking at least a small load off parents鈥� plates.

Students who feel safe and valued will be more open to trying new things, which can, in turn, make remote learning more comfortable, particularly when the work is challenging. Over the past few months, I鈥檝e spoken with my fourth-graders about how they are navigating their schoolwork, and I鈥檝e collected their recommendations for what keeps them engaged and motivated to learn.

As an educator or a parent, please consider the following advice my fourth-graders gave me:

Maintain a routine聽

• 鈥淜ids should try to get up early, like at 8. This way you can get your work done right away and get on Zoom with your teachers and teammates. Then, you can help other people too, by sharing your notes.鈥� 鈥擣ernanda
• 鈥淕o to bed early, so you can get up and get your work done. It鈥檚 easier to learn in the morning.鈥� 鈥擭ichole

Be prepared聽

• 鈥淧lug your laptop in before you go to bed, and then it will be charged in the morning and you don鈥檛 have to worry.鈥� 鈥擭ichole
• 鈥淔or math, use scratch paper to help you with your work. You can draw models for fractions and write number sentences. And for reading, go back to the text to help you with your writing or answering questions.鈥� 鈥擲anai
• 鈥淎lways watch or read the morning message from your teacher first, because it helps and gives you tips. My teachers also use it to shout out students for great work, which makes us feel good.鈥� 鈥擜meerah

Be kind to yourself聽

• 鈥淒on鈥檛 get frustrated if you get stuck. This isn鈥檛 easy, and you have to be nice to yourself.鈥� 鈥擣ernanda
• 鈥淩each out to your teachers if you need help. They love you and want to see you succeed.鈥� 鈥擭ichole
• 鈥淭ry to find a quiet place to get focused so you don鈥檛 get distracted. I made a fort with a blanket on my bed, and I work in there so I can concentrate.鈥� 鈥擣ernanda

I hope these takeaways can help guide your conversations and encourage your children to find comfortable ways to learn during this uncertain time.

Amanda聽Geiger is a fourth-grade math teacher at KIPP Lanning Square Primary in Camden, New Jersey. She聽began her career as a middle school science teacher in the Bronx and, since joining聽KIPP 10 years ago, has also taught fourth-grade reading and fifth- and eighth-grade science, coached novice teachers and led a middle school science department as an academic coach in Newark and Camden. After school,聽Amanda聽coaches running.

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