5 Quick Tips To Help Make Virtual School A Breeze

For those of us with daughters who are rising early, not to catch the school bus, but to pop open a laptop for virtual school – we can connect over the collective struggle. Am I right?

Digital learning isn’t easy. 

For those of us unfamiliar with homeschooling, it can be nothing short of overwhelming.

So, we’ve compiled 5 easy ideas to help make virtual schooling a little easier- for you and your girl! 

1. Set up a space all her own. This has been a huge plus for keeping our girl organized and on task. Everything she needs for her day is within arms reach: folders, paper, colored pencils, rulers, and more. Instead of hunting throughout the house or a kitchen junk drawer, she knows she’s well prepared for the day once she sits down. The specific location isn’t nearly as important as the feeling of being set up for success- so use what you have in your home: a desk, a folding table, the kitchen bar, a side table. Help make it hers and you’ll help make her days (and yours) a little smoother!
2. Set up a place to log her upcoming assignments, projects, and tests. We used empty frames (you could also add scrapbooking paper to the frame to personalize) and hung them near her desk. My daughter uses a dry erase marker on the glass to update each day. A daily or weekly planner would also work well. Just make sure it’s something she really likes, so she’ll be self-motivated to use it! 
3. Set up a schedule and post it. Keeping up with class times and breaks can get overwhelming. Print out a small copy of her class and break schedule. Then highlight the times.  Keep it right by her laptop or device for handy reference throughout the day. If her school is a bit more fluid, create your own schedule and post that instead. Keeping a daily rhythm will help make virtual learning more manageable. 
4. Set up a daily check-in. The time of day isn’t as imperative as the consistency of the check-in. Perhaps over an afternoon snack, dinner, or at bedtime might work for you. Ask your girl for highs and lows. Find out where she’s struggling and make a plan to help. Pray with her when she shares hard things and rejoice over the good! Letting your daughter know you are interested and engaged will remind her she’s not doing this alone!
5. Encourage. Encourage. Encourage. Many of our girls have never experienced learning quite like this, so it’s important for us to notice not just where they need some additional help, but where they are excelling. Call it out. Let them know you are proud. Write out notes on index cards and leave on their tablet or inside their laptop. Post a weekly verse on their desk or screensaver. Surprise her with a small vase of flowers or her favorite treat on a rough day. All of these simple and easy ideas can make a big difference and encourage your daughter to keep after it, no matter how hard it might seem!