Dear Parents and Students,
We hope that everyone is safe, healthy and weathering this storm. Today ends our second week of distance learning with one more week to go before spring break! We want to thank everyone for their patience during this quick transition to online learning. Now that everyone is settling into routines, we want to provide some helpful tips for students during this time to manage their course work and any possible stress that they may be feeling.
Here are two good resources for managing stress and supporting adolescents during this COVID19 crisis: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/managing-stress-anxiety.html
https://childmind.org/article/supporting-teenagers-and-young-adults-during-the-coronavirus-crisis/
Remember this is a new experience for all of us and we are in this together!
If your child is experiencing any difficulty with classwork or anxiety/ stress, please make sure you have them reach out to a guidance counselor or teacher.
We understand the transition to online learning may take some getting used to for all of us. We put together some suggestions that may be of help to your child.
How should I start my day?
- Begin your day as you normally would – take a shower, eat breakfast, get dressed, etc.
- Have a place to work that will allow you to be productive. Make sure it is clear from distractions and you have all the materials you need.
- Make sure you check your school email and respond if needed.
- Check your assignments through Google Classroom. Make sure you keep up with daily assignments. If you need clarification on an assignment, email your teacher.
- Try to keep your cell phone away from your workspace and do not have tabs open on your computer that could be distracting…i.e. YouTube videos!
What if I am experiencing difficulty in a class?
- Teachers are available through email. If you have a question for a teacher about an assignment, reach out to them.
- If you are having a difficult time completing work for any reason, please communicate this with your teacher. We all are aware that there are circumstances that may be impacting families right now. If this is the case please let your teacher and/or counselor know.
How should I handle Google Meet, Zoom or any Video Conferencing?
- If you are having a google meet with a teacher or with a class, you should treat it as if you were in school.
Google Meet or Zoom “Norms”:
- Students should set up in a common area of their home and wear school appropriate clothes (i.e. not pajamas).
- Students may not record any other student or faculty member while connecting virtually.
- Use school appropriate language.
- Sit in a quiet space. This will avoid distractions and confusion.
How can I manage my time during online learning?
- Create a daily schedule that you can follow and works best for you. Try to maintain structure in your day. It can be very easy to procrastinate but that may lead to late assignments and an increase in stress. Try to stick to a schedule that is similar to your school day.
- Use a planner, Google calendar or a Google doc to list upcoming work and deadlines.
- Use your time appropriately. Again, think of the school schedule and allow yourself time for each subject area.
- If you need a break make sure you take one! Sometimes this will help if you are feeling frustrated or overwhelmed. Go for a walk, run or do something active.
- Don’t forget to charge laptops at the end of each day.
- If your current time management plan is not working for you, reach out to someone for help.
One of the most important points for students to remember is that the same rules for school apply to online video conferencing. Please review the video conferencing “norms” with your child so that we ensure all students are aware of how to present themselves online in a classroom setting.
We miss seeing the students every day and we are keeping our fingers crossed for a return to school at some point.
Sincerely,
Dr. Sandra Intrieri