Back-to-school season has not been the same since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents and guardians are now tasked with managing the fear of their child being infected, their child’s anxiety due to changes in classroom settings, and the pressure of ensuring their children maintain academic excellence. If you want your child to have a positive school experience despite COVID-19 rearing its proverbial head, here are a few tips!1. Know your school’s COVID-19 policies.
Find out what policies your child’s school has with regards to indoor masks requirements, physical distancing, cohorting, hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, meals, transportation, cleaning and disinfecting spaces and airflows, as well as being informed about the school’s response to symptomatic students and staff.
2. Consider the online classroom
Determine if your child’s school offers virtual teaching plans beforehand and take advantage of them. It is important to know the benefits and drawbacks of the program to find a classroom setting that caters to their unique needs. If you find strictly online learning to be ineffective for your child, consider hybrid learning, which is a mixture of in-class and online learning.
3. Don’t skip the Open House
If your child is entering a new grade or school, it is very important to attend the school’s Open House. These sessions are different than parent-teacher conferences because they are a great opportunity to get to know your child’s teacher(s) before your child interacts with them. It also gives you a chance to tour the school, classrooms, teacher’s rules, expectations, and the curriculum. If you feel comfortable sending your child there, it will make your child feel safer.
4. Review and communicate your child’s IEP
An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is for children who struggle and require unique instruction, support, and services to excel in the typical school setting. IEPs are legally backed and allow parents to have input in their child’s grade-school education at public and chartered institutions.
The Open House provides you with a chance to contact your child’s teachers, get their emails, or set up a virtual/in-person appointment to discuss your child’s needs, share the IEP and attach a photo of your child.
If you suspect your child may need an IEP or would like to revisit your current program, contact us by clicking here.
Feeling more anxiety about the upcoming school year is expected with the presence of COVID-19. As parents and guardians, we must participate more in our children’s education to ensure their health and wellbeing.