With the 2020-2021 school year upon us, many districts across the country are sticking to “remote instruction” due to the ongoing spread of COVID-19. With the coronavirus on everyone’s minds, many parents are keeping their children at home for the foreseeable future. With many teachers gearing up to teach kids from their own homes, parents are having to step up and supplement with help, support, and even supplies.
Here are a few creative ideas parents have shared online to make homeschooling a little easier for the upcoming school year.
This mom who created a supply cart for her daughter.
The mom stated that remote learning has begun and desks are still “sold out” on many sites and in stores. Instead, she created a beautiful and festive supply cart for her daughter to use.
Use chalkboard paint for lessons and motivational messages.
Blackboards are the one thing that makes us feel right back in a classroom. Using chalkboard paint on your walls allows it to turn into a functional chalkboard easily. You can use it to help with lessons or write motivational messages for your kids.
Use actual desks like they’re in school.
Sometimes learning at home is hard when you’re not in the classroom environment. If you recreate desks similar to the ones they’d use in school, it might help them get into the school mentality.
Save paper by doing math sideways.
Saving paper and using the proper supplies this year is going to be a challenge for parents. Have students practice staying in straight lines when they do math and also save paper by writing on the page sideways.
Make their own homeschool space.
Making space for homeschool can be easy by using oaktag boards and decorating them. You can turn it into your own project by having your kids decorate them the way they want.
Stay organized with colored bins.
Use color-coded bins and labels to keep everything in place. If you have multiple kids at home doing remote learning, you want to make sure everything is organized and nothing gets mixed up.
Make sure you remember art class.
Use the windows and washable paint to create artistic designs and stimulate creativity. Art class is important for the youngsters, so make sure they get that artistic side out.
Keep things clean and neat.
A cluttered space can make a cluttered mind. Let your kids have a space that is 100% dedicated to school and school alone so they can have quiet and concentrate. Make sure they keep it clean, too.
Make spelling a game.
This little one turned spelling into a physical activity at the same time. You can have two classes in one: gym class and early language arts together at last.
Use a timer and keep a schedule.
Don’t let kids get side-tracked or waste time throughout the day. Keep a timer or have them maintain their regular school schedule by focusing on separate classes the same way they would in-person.
Make a school wall.
You can make your own “school wall” by using hooks and a peg board that you can hang up the command hooks. Have fun buckets and baskets that hold all of the supplies they could need.
Make school fun!
Doing homeschool with your kids leaves room for some freedom and areas for creativity. You can turn regular lessons into fun games and adventures, especially if you have more than one child at home, make it a competition.
Use shoe racks for behind-the-door supply storage.
You don’t want your tables and desks all cluttered with supplies and such. Instead, find a space that can be dedicated to just back-to-school supplies. That way, kids can grab it on their own, too.
Make spelling fun by using a Nerf gun.
It’s out-of-the-box thinking, but using a Nerf gun to spell things may make the lessons a bit more fun. As long as they concentrate and they do things the right way!
