How to keep Kids Learning during Quarantine…
Distance learning is time-consuming on a parent, but this is what has been working for me!
Quarantine is tough and kids that are not accustomed to homeschooling is now learning at home through distance learning.
Learning at home takes a bit of getting used to, especially for the little ones who need a bit of hand holding because they never had a computer of their own. Much less trying to get the hang of being disciplined to get a full day of school work done at home.
Unlike homework, which would take a short time, it feels like they are doing homework throughout the full day. Middle and high school students can abide by their own. However, elementary kids need assistance and attention and it’s quite difficult without teachers to facilitate these sessions throughout the day.
A damper on things
The virus has put a damper on many lives especially for kids who are accustomed to and look forward to their after school extra, curricular activities.
Even though, face time and chat are up, and playing in the yard and endless eating during recess time may help, children need structure. Although, my kids sometimes enjoy learning at home in their pajamas and bunny slippers, it’s definitely not the same.
This is what I’ve done
I have instituted several breaks during the day to help my daughter process learning in this new environment. Not only is it a break for her, it is also a break for me. During one of those break times, I told my daughter the story of how I learned my tables and that it wasn’t at home but at school.
Learning Tables
I remember my math teacher coming into the class and we all stood up. Then he’d say “let me hear your X times’ table. Every day he would just pick a random number.
The whole class stood up and recited at the same time, helping each other out. Learning by consensus and small interactive groups, was how I learned my tables, I told her.
Why did we stood up?
Why did we stand up when a teacher walked into our class, she asked? Well for one reason, it was a sign of respect. The other is to command attention. Then the subject teacher would motioned his hand for us to sit down.
Growing up in any country and respecting and abiding by the rules are what we all do as children. The English school system was no different. I’ve seen many kids who break the rules or misbehave and end up in the detention.
But who enjoys staying after school to do extra school work? Then once their parents find out, it becomes a double whammy at home.
Stage One
That was stage two. Stage one was in the beginning of the school year. For the first ten minutes or so, we would recite the one, two and three times’ tables each day of that week.
Then week two we would moved on to four times and drop the one times for that week. Week three, we added the five times and dropped the two. Week four we added the six times and dropped the three. Week five we added the seven times and dropped the four and so on.
So each week we recited three sets of tables, dropped the prior and added the next. By week 12, we knew all of the 12 times tables.
Stage Two
Back to stage two. The teacher walked in and picked a random table number to be recited by the class. By month three, we weren’t even reciting tables anymore, we had moved on to weights, hundred weights and measurements.
Application of Tables — Problem Solved
Solving any Arithmetic problems was a piece of cake once we knew our tables — problem solved. First, we concentrated on addition and subtraction in solving problems as they interviewed. The natural process of adding and subtracting to check answers or get to the results. Then we moved on to Multiplication and Division problems.
Repetitive Memory Recall was the Key to the Real Learning Process
This repetitive, process was the real learning as the teacher picked our brains. Repetitive Memory Recall was the key to remembering the tables and applying them to solve problems.
In addition to the distance learning from 9:15 am to 3:00 pm, my daughter is currently up to the seven times table. I’m really excited that this strategy has worked for her. Although, it’s not all dandy having to put in those extra efforts that are normally a teacher’s responsibility, if you have a child in the elementary grades, it may or may not work for you but no harm in trying it.
