According to the National Home Education Research Institute there are approximately 2.5 million homeschool students in grades K-12 in the United States. In the face of the pandemic, many families opted for their children to stay home and continue education via virtual learning. 

There are several distance learning models; one model, hybrid homeschooling, involves a collaborative learning model where schools provide short-term learning objectives or instructions to children (like reading a book, solving trivia and worksheets) to complete within a set time, with the help of their parents at home. 

Another option, full virtual learning, allowing students to log on from the comfort of anywhere there is Wi-Fi, and often they are able to re-watch lectures/lessons, allowing them to learn at their own pace. A downside to this option, however, is that 14% of students, aged 3-18 do not have access to the Internet at home, according to the National Center of Education Statistics (NCES). 

Utilize resources to supplement  

Emily Oster, an economics professor at Brown University, and author of best-selling, research-based pregnancy and parenting books offers resources to help with reading, math, and coding (for older children) for families who are new to at-home learning scenarios. 

Increase communication

With more children learning at home, there are fewer opportunities for social interaction. One solution to the decreased contact issue is to increase communication; teachers can reach out to students via texts, various messaging apps, video calls, etc. to provide more instances for engagement. Parents can also communicate with teachers to confirm expectations and discuss any concerns. 

Structure the environment

Parenting is stressful. Add in the pandemic and remote learning and you are sure to feel the effects of added stress (we offer some tips for stress management here.) Parents can compliment e-learning situations by ensuring their home environment supports their children’s ability to practice and hone their skills with a designated workspace and structured schedule just as in-person school provides. 

Be engaged 

Studies show that there is a direct positive correlation between parent involvement and student success. For their children participating in e-learning, parents can remain engaged by conducting daily and weekly check-ins. Additionally, parents can act as a coach by providing positive encouragement and helping their children get extra support when needed. 

Demonstrate a healthy lifestyle

By providing wholesome, nutritious meals, role modeling healthy behaviors, and ensuring your children get the recommended amount of exercise each day, you help to nourish their minds and bodies with the support they need to succeed in their education. 

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