Set Up Your Home School
With many parents/guardians finding themselves responsible for home schooling, we decided to offer some tips and tricks for making the perfect school at home! Obviously, there is no substitution for your child being in school with their teachers and their friends. But, with the ever likely prospect that children will not be returning to the classroom until September, some of you might be looking at ways to create a functioning classroom in the home.
Step 1: Create a home-school learning environment
Children can find it tricky to concentrate on their school work at home. Click here to download our tips and tricks for creating a fantastic learning area for your kids.
Step 2: Create a timetable/schedule
When children are in the classroom, they have a timetable of lessons. For children, particularly those with Autism, routine is crucial. If your child knows which lessons they will have, and when, they are less likely to be surprised when you present them with a piece of learning. Make sure you include regular breaks, and lessons should not be a full hour. Even in schools, the lessons are broken up with teacher input and mini plenaries throughout the lesson. Children are often stopped periodically to check up on their work. These ‘brain breaks’ are crucial to success and maintaining concentration. Learning at home should be in short bursts.
Here is an example timetable.
Step 3: Make time for creative, imaginative play
It is important that children continue to receive Maths and English lessons at home. However, it is also important to include opportunity for imaginative play. This allows children to use their imagination, express creativity and have more freedom in their learning.
Click here for a selection of fun, free ideas for imaginative play in the home classroom.
Step 4: Lots of praise!
This is a difficult time for everyone. Our little one’s routines have been destroyed and a lot of them haven’t seen their classmates or teachers for months. It is unsurprising that children might show frustration, struggle concentrating or show reluctance to engage in learning activities. When your child has followed your instructions and completed their work, make sure you give them lots of praise!
Click here for ideas to encourage positive behaviour.