10 Tips To Make KaiPod Learning Work For Your Family
At KaiPod Learning, we put all ten of these principles into practice in our learning centers every day. We try to be a solution for families and learners who want to stick with online learning but may be struggling to put it in place. Click here to talk to a KaiPod Advisor today!
1. Make the learning space work better for your family
Many people spend weeks decorating their homes to make them comfortable places to live. Our children’s learning space deserves the same attention to detail. After all, they will spend hours in this space doing some of their hardest work of the day.
If you find that the learning environment is not working as well as it could, make some small improvements every week. Is it quiet enough for them to focus, but close enough that you can monitor them? Is there natural light and enough room to move around? Things like spotty wifi, inadequate lighting, or uncomfortable temperatures can drastically reduce your child’s potential to learn.
Quick Tip: Make a “To Do” list of things your family can do to make the at-home learning space better. Make an agreement to knock one thing off this list every weekend.
2. Every morning, set a schedule that works for your child.
Each morning (or the night before), work with your child to set and review the schedule of the day. It’s important to balance flexibility and structure, include breaks, and allow for outdoor time. Of course, each day can be (and should be) a bit different!
By making this a collaborative process, you are not only providing structure for the day, but also allowing your child to have input and ownership over their time.
Quick Tip: Set a schedule for tomorrow with your online learner. Review it at the end of the day to see what worked well about the schedule and what could be better for the day after.
3. Agree on an ambitious goal for the semester
The flexibility of online learning means students move at their own pace, not someone else’s. So, this is a great time to work together with your child to set an ambitious (but also achievable) goal that’s designed around them.
Do they need to catch up to grade level in math? Should they practice more independent reading? Do they need to achieve a better balance between academics and their hobbies? By setting a long-term goal, your child will be able to evaluate their progress over time. Plus, it’s an excuse to celebrate at the end of each semester!
Quick Tip: Tonight, at dinner, ask your child what would be the one thing that would give them a real feeling of accomplishment by the end of the semester. Make that their goal and keep track of it together.
4. Help your child learn how to learn
The reality is that no one is spoon-feeding your child information. They have to seek it out, retain it, and apply it. As a parent, you’re used to answering questions, but is that truly helping your child? When they struggle, instead of simply giving them the answer, ask them questions to help them discover the answer on their own.
This tactic can be difficult in the beginning, especially when many children are used to the instant gratification they experience from today’s technology. However, this practice will help develop resilience, critical thinking skills, and grit. Be glad that even though it’s hard now, it’ll help prepare them for college.
Quick Tip: The next time you see they’re stuck, catch yourself before you give them the answer. Turn it into a question instead and lead them along the path.
5. Make the community your classroom
In online schools, you sometimes have to go the extra mile to make the curriculum relevant to your child so they stay engaged and motivated. Sometimes, the best way to engage your child is to leave the house! Seek out projects or activities in your community. This is a great way to get outside and take the opportunity to leave the home every week for enrichment activities.
Quick Tip: Set a day of the week for community excursions! You can integrate this in your daily schedule review (Tip #2). Community gardens are a great option!
6. Build in opportunities for social interaction
With online learning, it’s easy to forget about the opportunity (and need) for social interaction. Since it’s not happening naturally on the school playground or in a classroom, you need to intentionally plan for social opportunities.
Seek out other online school parents, athletics, clubs, volunteering, or part-time jobs. These serve as an academic break for your child, but also as a learning opportunity for their social-emotional development!
Quick Tip: Pick your child’s favorite local nonprofit or small business and ask them if there’s something your child can do to help. Get a few neighbors, friends, and family members involved.
7. Engage the online teachers
It’s easy to forget that the online teachers are available outside of the set class times or recordings. Remember - the online teachers are there to help your child! They know how your children are progressing academically, but they don’t know as much as you on how your children are doing socio-emotionally. Keep them in the loop and offer that insight!
Quick Tip: Set up a phone or video call now with a few of your child’s teachers. Ask them how you can better help them help your child.
8. Embrace your role as a Learning Coach
As a Learning Coach, you’re part tutor, part teacher, and part counselor - all while being the full time parent. Parents are parents first, learning coaches second. Sometimes, that can be really difficult for parents and children.
Have an open discussion with your child about your role as a parent versus your role as their Learning Coach. This will help you because your child will be able to reference this distinction and language if they need you to quickly shift roles.
Quick Tip: Sometimes, families will create a distinct separation between the roles. For example, you might say, “When we’re in the at-home learning space, I am your learning coach first. When we’re in the rest of the home, I am your parent first.”
9. Form a community
Remember, there will be setbacks and hard days for you and your children. It’s important to have others around who support you and can remind you why you chose online learning. There are tons of online parent groups that share tips and provide support!
Quick Tip: Search on Facebook for “online school parents” and then your state. If nothing comes up, consider joining “Parent Support for Online Learning,” a very active and highly supportive community of online parents from across the country.
10. Get help!
Families have described moving to an online school as “moving to Madagascar.” You have to re-learn how things work - everything from when to wake up in the morning to how to interact with your child’s teachers. You don’t have to do it alone!
Quick Tip: Set up time with one of our advisors to learn more about how to implement these tips and how KaiPod can help.
