Building Relationships Between Parents and Teachers
Building a partnership with your child’s teacher is the secret to your child’s eLearning success. With classrooms running virtually, communication between parents and teachers is more important than ever. So, you better start building this relationship with your child’s teachers. And why is it so important? Teachers get in-depth information about your child’s school journey and often spot any problems. If you are not involved, you may miss important information about your child’s learning experience.
How do you actually communicate with teachers? First, have a positive attitude. When you reach out, say something specific about how it helped your child or how engaging their studies are. Be sure to be specific with your questions, too. Don’t just say, “My child is not doing well.” Instead, point out a difficult topic they are dealing with and ask if the teacher has any tips or plans for solving it. Most importantly, you must really listen to what the teacher is saying. They know your child’s strengths and weaknesses. Take their feedback and don’t hesitate to ask for clarification if you need it. Without further ado, let’s take a closer look at how parents and teachers can work together to support young learners in the online classroom.
6 Ways for Parents and Teachers to Provide Academic Support for Children Learning Online
1. Communication Channels
Parents, teachers, and students all need to be part of the same conversation. This does not refer to email exchanges once a semester; parents and teachers need to be updated regularly. This includes updates on assignments, progress, and upcoming deadlines. The best you can do is set up a communication system, such as weekly check-ins or syncing calendars. Teachers can also send weekly homework instructions to parents so that the latter can help their children. Communication means feedback, too, and feedback should go both ways. Children need to feel like they can ask questions or raise concerns with their parents and teachers. Parents should encourage their children to speak up if they feel stuck, and teachers can create an environment where students feel safe to ask questions.
2. Practical Terms
Your young online students need to work towards realistic goals to stay on track and achieve success quickly. Parents and teachers need to work together to set achievable goals at the right time. For example, you cannot expect your child to become a science expert in one day. Instead, aim for them to feel more comfortable with chemistry by the end of the week. And don’t forget to adjust those goals based on how the student is actually doing. If your child or student is struggling to complete their homework, now is not the time to add more to their plate. Most importantly, when they achieve their goals, you should praise them. Every win, big or small, should be acknowledged, so enjoy encouraging them to keep trying their best.
3. Use Technology
Children should use technology to learn online, and teachers and parents should use it to help them navigate the digital classroom. First, teachers should make good use of online libraries, eLearning authoring tools, and forums where they can share resources. This will allow them to use a variety of learning materials, such as educational apps, interactive materials, and more, which will make young students stick to their studies. Now, once the teachers have shared these resources, the parents should observe and sit with their children to evaluate them together. In eLearning, both parents and teachers have to be more tech-savvy for everything to go smoothly—from showing kids where to upload their work to troubleshooting Wi-Fi issues.
4. See Progress
Online learning can be tricky, and paying attention to your child’s academic progress is key to making sure your students aren’t slacking off instead of completing their homework. For parents, you don’t have to watch over them all the time, which adds more stress to their daily lives. Checking how they are doing in their virtual classes once in a while is enough. Set aside time to review assignments and grades. If something goes wrong, contact the teacher for details. They will know how your child is really doing and what areas need improvement. Teachers should not just stick to grading tasks; they should actually provide useful feedback. Share what is going well and where the child needs help to help both students and parents. Remember that there are online tools and platforms where teachers can upload data about young students’ performance, allowing parents to access it at any time.
5. Encourage Active Learning
Keeping kids engaged during online learning is no easy task, but don’t worry; we have it for you. The first tip is to make good use of negotiation functions. No one likes to sit in front of a screen for hours on end, so instead of scrolling through endless online tutorials, add a little fun. Parents suggest a collaborative project, such as a virtual learning group, where children can talk to their peers and participate in a fun project. Teachers can assign small group work, while parents can step in to help plan or host hands-on learning sessions. Another interactive strategy is for teachers to add interactive elements to lessons. Teachers can engage young learners with real-life examples, ask them questions or use videos and memes.
6. Support Emotional Health
School and learning are really important, but if your child feels stressed, ostracized, or depressed, they can’t focus on their schoolwork. Parents should take a moment each day to check on their children. Ask them how school is going, how they are feeling, or how they are doing their work. A quick emotional check can help you spot problems before they become serious problems. Also, your child will enjoy the opportunity to express their concerns or even vent. Teachers have a role in that, too. Incorporate social-emotional learning (SEL) into your lessons. Whether it’s a simple mood check at the beginning of class or group activities where students can bond with each other, SEL can help kids feel more connected and supported, which means they’ll actually want to participate.
The conclusion
As you and your child continue to adjust to the online classroom, remember that it is a learning process for everyone. How involved you are plays a big role in their success, but make sure you find the right balance—you don’t want to burden them. Keep communication flowing with teachers, check in regularly, and celebrate even the smallest wins. The key is to be encouraging, not controlling. This transition is challenging, but your child can thrive in an online classroom with your continued support and great digital tools.
Source link
