NARRATOR: With 124,000 schools closed across the United States due to the spread
of C ovid-19, more than 55 million students have been impacted.
Parents are now balancing working from home with the added
responsibility of home schooling their children.
DAWN: I'm also a working mom, so I'm at home taking care of my kids and
trying to teach at the same time, and have a puppy who's barking
nonstop.
NARRATOR: Being a parent during the quarantine has taken on a whole new
dimension. Here are some words of wisdom from teachers of all grade
levels around the country.
It's easy to feel overwhelmed, but academic experts recommend leaning
into resources provided by your school and using their techniques as
much as possible.
ANGIE: The schools are the content experts.
They're the ones who know the curriculum.
They understand that the parents are working in conjunction with the
students, so they're not feeling alone or isolated.
NARRATOR: Here are some things to keep in mind when you're checking through
assignments.
ASRA: More than just the product or the outcome of the learning.
What you also want to be mindful of is the process.
Are they learning? Do they have their thinking skills?
Are they able to write coherently , and is that progressing?
NARRATOR: If you're in need of a creative activity, try an art history analysis
by picking out a painting or photograph and studying it together.
ASRA: You look at the piece of art or the painting or the image, you
interpret it and you can even do it with your child together.
What do you think as a parent about this piece of art?
Why are you thinking that, kind of think out loud?
NARRATOR: And if all else fails and you're really short on activities...
TIYAANAH: Just read books. And the conversations that come from reading books
with children will amaze a lot of people.
And then you've learned for the day by reading a few books, or even
if it's a chapter book, read some chapters in that book and then just
talk about it.
NARRATOR: One of the most important things you can do is set a schedule for both
you and your kids.
Keeping everyone on routine is important.
ANGIE: Make sure everyone has a rhythm to the day and making sure that the
young people are part of that to really make sure that.
CORINNE: You have a start and stop time for their schoolwork, just like they
would regularly. Say, "Hey, if we get through 75 percent of what we
thought we were going to do today, we're doing a good job."
NARRATOR: Some students learn better when taught in segments rather than in the
span of several hours at a time.
KASHIF: if you are trying to teach, rather, doing it in 15 -minute bursts.
Don't overwhelm the kids, because kids actually absorb a lot of
information when they're not overloaded.
NARRATOR: It's important to give older students autonomy over their work, for
that...
ASRA: Google Docs might be really helpful with having a student use Google
Docs for writing purposes.
You know the student can work independently.
The parent can then review whenever they do have time if they're
balancing work and they're balancing and other responsibilities.
So it's a nice way to keep track of writing or learning, but then
also provide input.
NARRATOR: Younger children need more stimulation and structure throughout the
day, and a good way to keep them focused is by making projects fun.
KASHIF: For parents that are new to being trapped indoors with your wonderful
children, make sure that you are doing a lot of projects.
Try to offer a lot of independence and just get them to think
critically about what they're doing.
NARRATOR: And be sure to schedule in time to connect with friends t hey'd
normally meet up with.
LINDSAY: Their socializing during this time is so limited.
My concerns mostly are just their lack of connection with other
students.
NARRATOR: For that, we also have some special advice from our Sesame Street
corresponded Abby Cadabby.
ABBY CADABBY: Abby Cadabby here.
I'm at home on Sesame Street with my family , but my mommy set up
this really cool video chat space.
So I can be in touch with my friends like Cookie and Elmo.
We're having singalongs and story time and even some dance parties.
And it's all over video.
NARRATOR: For parents who are raising students with special needs there are
several ways to keep students engaged throughout the day.
DAWN: Special ed kids work best with a schedule.
Some of them might need pictures for their schedule.
And when you give directions, review the directions with them and
have them repeat the directions so you know they understand it.
Also, with special ed kids, it's very important to use real life
objects to represent things.
If you're doing a math worksheet and it's 2 + 2, have two stuffed
animals plus two stuffed animals, break their work down into small
steps so it's more achievable for them .
When you're reading stories, it might sound funny, but make voices
for the characters. This way it'll keep them more entertained.
NARRATOR: It's impossible to do it all.
You're going to make mistakes and that's OK.
LINDSAY: I feel like as a parent and a teacher, I've fallen short in pretty
much everything I've tried to do.
But I have had to accept that and be pretty forgiving of myself.
CORINNE: Kids are resilient and all ages are gonna be okay.
Nobody's going to be totally ruined academically because of this.
TIYAANAH: Just don't try to replicate school at home.
It's a totally different environment.
Just keep it light. Keep it fun.
You live and you learn just by living.
You're learning a lot.