Help High Schooler Grandkids Distance Learn
When the pandemic shuttered many in-person classes for students across Texas, grandparents and parents stepped up to support their families.
In a Facebook Live conversation with AARP volunteer Brenda Boyd Raney, representatives from the Dallas Independent School District shared helpful tips, resources and tools for grandparents helping their high school family members navigate this new virtual environment.
“Engagement is something that is always on the forefront of our minds,” said Dr. Charissa Govan, executive director of professional and digital learning. With Dallas ISD implementing a hybrid teaching model for high school students, she acknowledged staying tuned in can be a challenge.
Four simple tips can keep students on track, said Sandra Martinez, family engagement coordinator with the Social Emotional Learning department.
- Establish routines – Enforce a regular bedtime and allocate specific times in the day for studying and homework.
- Create learning zones – Designate a distraction-free space for your student to learn.
- Be flexible – Emotions can be strong during this difficult time, so be gentle with yourself and your child.
- Take a break – Studies show our brains can only focus for about 15 minutes at a time. So, if your child starts to get fidgety, take a “brain break.”
Martinez demonstrated one “brain break” example, called “Take 5.” Holding one hand up, five fingers spread, use your other hand’s index finger to trace the outside of each finger. When you trace up a finger’s point, inhale. As you trace down, exhale.
It’s a quick but effective way to refocus your brain, reduce stress and increase productivity, Martinez said. Visit dallasisd.org/sel for more brain break ideas and resources.
Jennifer Sallee, coordinator of the professional and digital learning team, demonstrated another comprehensive, information-packed resource: Dallas ISD’s digital tool binder, accessible at bit.ly/studentdigitaltools.
Easy to use and full to the brim with resources for students and their guardians on digital learning related components, the binder covers everything from video conferencing programs like Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, to information on Chromebooks and hotspots.
For the binder, SEL resources and much more, visit: bit.ly/dallasaarpsupport.
