Setting up for learning
What does home learning look like for my child?
Establishing routines and expectations
From the first day you will need to establish routines and expectations. You should use the timetable your teacher sends via Seesaw as a basic outline as these are created to reflect our normal school days wherever possible.
At school, we have English between 9-11am; Maths 11:30-1pm and other KLA's from 1:45pm. You may like to recreate this at home as students are more focused in the morning.
Depending on your circumstances, you may need to do activities for the day at different times. That is OK. Teachers monitor Seesaw/Teams uploads to ensure your child is engaging in learning but understands that you may set up you home routines based in your circumstances. Teachers will monitor their online learning from 9am-3pm. If work is uploaded after 3pm, your child may not receive feedback until the next day.
Keep normal bedtime routines for younger children during this time to maintain regular routines.
It is important that you set these expectations as soon as distance learning is implemented as students are familiar with their school routine and will respond more positively to their routine being as normal as possible during this time.
Timetables for learning
Each family will receive a timetable for learning for the week. This will be shared through Seesaw or Teams (Koala Hub only) before the week begins to allow families time to plan.
We have daily scheduled Zoom sessions your child is expected to connect into. This allows them to connect with their teacher and their classmates.
You will also receive a message from your teacher via Seesaw if the Zoom is cancelled for the day. This may occur if a teacher is ill or they are providing on site supervision for the day.
Some students may have alternative activities or Zooms scheduled. If this is the case, you will receive direct communication from the teacher delivering the lesson.
Setting up for home learning
Setting up a learning environment
Try to create a quiet and comfortable learning space. Your child may have a regular place for doing homework under normal circumstances, but this space may not be suitable for working in for an extended period of time.
A space/location for extended learning should be a public/family space, not in a bedroom. It should be a place that can be quiet at times and have a strong wireless internet signal, if possible. Above all, it should be a space where you or another adult is present and monitoring your children's learning.
Some tips:
Talk with your child about where “school will happen” and what materials will be needed. Set up a place where your child can reach needed supplies such as paper, a clip board, scissors, pencils, crayons, tape, etc.
Children love to be helpers. They want to contribute, and they thrive when they feel a sense of accomplishment. After watching a teacher video or reading a prompt, invite your child to help you collect materials needed for the activity.
As children are working, hold space in your own schedule just for them. Describe what you see. Focus on effort. Name progress. Ask questions.
After a focused activity, have children move and have a brain break. Young children can only focus on hard learning tasks for approximately 15-20mins before needing a break.
An encouraging smile or a supportive nod will be reassuring.
Describe what you see them doing: "You found all the blue and green LEGO and now you’re making a pattern. That block building is tall. You used a lot of purple today. You did it!"
Focus on effort: "You kept going even when you were frustrated. You stuck with it when you were unsure."
Focus on progress: You’ve done three. You have two more to go. If they only do 1 or 2 before needing a break, they can always come back later or tomorrow.
Ask questions: "Tell me about it. I wonder what will happen next? What’s your idea?"
Have your child help draw pictures or write labels so they can see the plan for the day. Provide as many links between home and school as you can to help your child orient and activate prior knowledge of classroom routines.
Student wellbeing
Wellbeing during home learning
This period of learning from home will cause stress and anxiety for some of our students. Every day we encourage students to connect to their teacher and classmates in their scheduled Zoom for a chance to socially connect with their friends and teacher. Our staff will use this as a chance to check in with all our student's well-being. If at any time you are concerned about your child's wellbeing during this time, please reach out to your child's teacher and we will provide any support we can during this time.
Wellbeing at home
Being confined to home for an extended period of time can cause stress and conflict. Tips for looking after your children during isolation include:
Talking to your whole family about what is happening. Understanding the situation will reduce their anxiety.
Help your children to think about how they have coped with difficult situations in the past and reassure them that they will cope with this situation too. Remind them that the isolation won't last for long.
Exercise regularly. Options could include exercise DVDs, dancing, floor exercises, yoga, walking around the backyard or using home exercise equipment, such as a stationary bicycle, if you have it. Exercise is a proven treatment for stress and depression.
Encourage your children to keep in touch with family members and friends via telephone, email or social media (where appropriate).
How should I talk to my child about COVID-19?
You can help your child by remaining calm and reassuring them. Listen to your child; answer their questions as honestly as possible and correct any misunderstandings. This will help them feel informed and understand what is happening.
Stay up to date with the facts from reliable sources so you can keep conversations calm, considered, and constructive. Provide information in words that are appropriate to the age of your child.
Children can be distressed by hearing repeated stories so monitor how much your child is being exposed to television and social media and encourage them to talk to you about what they are seeing and hearing.
Please reach out to your child's teacher if you have any questions or concerns about your child's well-being during this time.
Department of Education advice on talking to your children about COVID
Talking_about_Covid19_-_parent_edition_June.pdfBalancing online and offline activities
Each day staff will balance the amount of online and offline activities we ask our students to complete.
Seesaw/Teams is our way of students 'showing' what they have done at home- there will be tasks they complete eg. make a pattern with objects from home- that they can photograph and upload to Seesaw to show their teacher their patterns.
Please click the button to access some other ideas you can do at home as a family.