Thoughts from Former Teachers on How to Keep Learners Engaged

A number schools have preemptively announced that they will remain closed through fall 2020 due to distancing restrictions. Now, as the new school year approaches, parents are once again faced with the daunting task of homeschooling their children.

Houston-based Litigation Associate Chante Westmoreland are here to help. At the beginning of the COVID-19 quarantine, former teachers Chante and Kevin pooled their knowledge, consulted other educators, and created a comprehensive distance learning toolkit. The guide sparked follow-up questions that Chante answered in a recent webinar that further explores tips, tools, and best-practices for educating kids before and during the new semester of remote learning.

Download the toolkit here.

Watch the full webinar here.

Diane Costigan, Director of Coaching and Well-Being, moderated the conversation. Some of the pressing questions they discussed include:

• What can parents do now to prep their kids for online school in the fall?
• What are the former teachers’ favorite go-to resources mentioned in the toolkit?
• There are days when neither parent nor child can get through every subject in a curriculum. Should parents prioritize certain subjects?
• What are the best ways to maintain patience during the school day?
• Are there ways that parents can give children more control over the homeschooling process?
• How can parents cultivate independence in their learners?
• Can parents replicate teachers’ “attention-getters” at home?
• How can parents replicate the vital socialization aspects of traditional schooling at home while adhering to distancing restrictions?
• How can parents manage increased screen time? Should it be managed?
• What can parents do over the summer to help parents keep students engaged?
• How do you educate siblings that require different amounts of remedial education?
• Should parents pull their children out of school and create their own homeschooling environment?