The following information can be found on the BIAS: Behavioural Interventions and Solutions website. A link to the site is provided below and can be accessed by clicking on the BIAS photo. We have added examples for some of the tips and tricks and encourage parents to reach out if you would like any of the visuals we have created to be tailored to the needs of your child.
#1: Create a Schedule
Creating a schedule, regardless of how closely it is followed, is very important during this time. Kids (and adults) thrive on structure and routine. Schedules will look different for every child and every family, so it's important that you choose a schedule that works best for your current home situation. Our classroom teachers have done a wonderful job in creating an outline of At Home Learning activities for our students, but deciding when each of these activities are completed is completely up to you. Click on the files below for just a few examples of what schedules may look like. If you would like us to create a personalized schedule for you just contact us and we would be happy to help!
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#2: Quality Over Quantity
Focus and attention on school work can be difficult for many of our students and many parents have already expressed their concerns in this area. We recommend breaking up activities in to manageable chunks and offer plenty of breaks. Often we need to remind ourselves that 10 focused minutes is better than 20 unfocused! Check out the mindfulness/brain breaks links in the Student Resources section for some quick brain break ideas!
#3: Visual Supports
It can be beneficial to use visual supports when it comes to task completion. Visual supports can vary from the use of timers to token economies or checklists. Timers can be used as a visual for how long students are to work on a specific task, but they can also be used as a "race against the clock" to see how much work can be done in a certain amount of time. This can be especially helpful for increasing the amount of written work that is completed. Checklists are a simple way for students to see how much they have accomplished and what they have left to check off their list. Some of our students are familiar with a first/then visual, and this is especially helpful for students who have great difficulty attending to a task. Token economies are beneficial because they give students a visual as well as a tangible reminder of what is expected of them. Token economies can use stickers, coins, or an I Am Working For visual.
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#4: Identify a Workspace
Creating a work space in your home will help your child to separate learning time from play time.
#5: Provide Controlled Choices
Providing controlled choice in learning activities is a great way to avoid power struggles while giving students a sense of some control. Controlled choice can be used for At Home Learning by providing students with a choice of which activity they would like to work on first - Reading or Writing? Math or Social Sciences?
#6: Make Learning Fun
Try mixing in preferred activities between less preferred activities - If your child loves playing math games on Prodigy or Reflex and reading using RAZ Kids but writing is a daily struggle, try mixing in some writing time in between those online activities. You could also incorporate subjects like Math and Literacy in to other activities such as baking, making a grocery list, or playing store.
#7: Establish a Reward System
Think of this one as the ultimate reward for completing a goal. By creating a system where the reward is something that your child loves but does not have regular access to, it will be more motivating to complete the tasks. Positive reinforcement looks different for everyone! Tangible items (treats, toys) may work best for some students, while experiences (movie nights, living room camp outs) may be more motivating for others.
#8: Narrow (Limit) Distractions
Students who have difficulties in the areas of focus and attentiveness will have an easier time completing tasks if distractions are limited. When creating a work space for your child it is important to keep this in mind. Turning off the television (or electronics if they are completing an offline activity) and ensuring their work space is free of toys can help.
#9: Take Breaks
Taking breaks between activities is so important for our students (and for us!). Be sure to include lots of movement breaks (see Brain Breaks in the Student Resources section), food & drink breaks, and down time throughout the day. Socialization with peers is an important part of our students' day and though we may be unable to connect face-to-face at this time, there are many options for our students to socialize with their classmates and friends virtually, through snail mail, or over the phone.