Are you a parent wondering how you will navigate (read: stay sane in) the coming weeks?

Are you a teacher, wondering how to give parents tips for learning at home?

I’m Jessica–elementary teacher, ESL specialist, and reading specialist here. These are four things I hope parents consider as they are trying to figure out how to deal with school closures. I hope it is a comfort to you. Be kind to yourselves, please.

#1:  Breathe then set REALISTIC expectations

No parent is going to be able to perfectly navigate this season. Your child’s teacher is not expecting perfection. Remember that the learning materials they are sending home are to support you and your kid–no one will be upset if you don’t complete all work, especially in the first few weeks. This is a time for all of us to be understanding, work together, and keep each other safe. Teachers know that many parents are now juggling finding childcare, working from home full-time, or the uncertainty of losing a job.

#2: Think about a routine that will work for you

Children (especially younger learners) really thrive with routine. It doesn’t have to be rigid, but I would set up a basic schedule for the day. Set aside a part of the morning and afternoon for learning. Incorporate lots of movement breaks. Embrace read alouds. Remember that you DO NOT need to replicate your child’s school day. No one is expecting you to. From my years working in elementary schools I can tell you that all kids do better when they know what to expect. They are less anxious. Transitions are easier. Behaviors are better. Find something that works for you–no one is expecting you to have a perfect home-school schedule. These are extraordinary circumstances.

#3: Start finding learning materials.

If your child’s teacher sent home materials or tips, start there. If the school hasn’t provided anything yet, be patient.  Many teachers were caught completely off guard and don’t even have access to their school computers. I will be writing more posts soon with my specific suggestions for elementary students.

#4 (The most important one):

Talk openly and spend time with your kids

Answer their questions honestly. Comfort them and hug them. Talk to them about how germs are spread and remind them to avoid touching their mouth, eyes, and nose right now. Kids are pretty sensitive to your emotions even if you aren’t’ discussing things in front of them. Be as honest as you can be considering the age of your kids.

Love to you all! My dog may be the real winner of this shut down.

She will get lots of snuggles from me in the coming weeks, as I am figuring out how to teach from home. Check back for more. I’ll be writing more soon as we all figure out how to deal with school closures.

Jessica