SPB News April 2020

SPB PARENTING TIPS 1
Home learning guide during school
closure
By GreatSchools Staff
Set a routine or a schedule, even if it’s
loose
It might be tempting to let teenagers
sleep in or let younger kids have some
TV time before getting to work, but you’ll
have a better chance of keeping your
children focused if you establish a routine
that resembles what they’re used to. For
example, create a daily schedule that
emphasizes academics in the morning,
quiet reading time for a midday break,
and hands-on or outside projects in the
afternoon.
Find a calm place to work
Your kitchen table may become the new
command center. But some kids will do
as well studying at a desk in their room, or
even on the couch. As long as the space
is comfortable and relatively distractionfree,
it’s a good place. Some kids focus
better when listening to music. If you play
music, pick something instrumental, with
no distracting vocals, and don’t let your
child crank up the volume. And don’t be
afraid to remove screens from their line of
sight: TV, video games and social media
will likely get in the way of concentration,
even if that’s how they’re used to doing
their nightly homework.
Tackle the harder stuff first
• Each day choose a different worksheet
packet (math, reading, science, and
writing).
• Have your child learn new vocabulary
words.
• For an academic break you could check
out the YouTube channel which covers
history and science topics along with a lot
of current events.
• For the late afternoons, Common Sense
Media is a great place to find science and
history documentaries that dive deep into
a topic.
Set daily goals
At the beginning of the week and at the
start of each work session, make a list and
establish goals for what tasks or
21