Transcript

Welcome to BLaST the Airwaves with BLaST Intermediate Unit 17. Here at BLaST Intermediate Unit 17, we strive to transform lives and communities through educational services. On this podcast, we will provide you with educational solutions for all, no matter the learning environment. So teachers, administrators, caregivers, what are you waiting for?

What would happen if we started questioning, what if? What if we had a positive perspective on education? What if we flip the switch on education? What if we were the solution?

Hello listeners. Welcome back to season two of BLaST the Airwaves! We are excited to connect with you and provide educational solutions for all, specifically this season, we will focus on support for our caregivers. My name is Rebecca Gibboney and I am the Coordinator of Professional Learning here at BLaST Intermediate Unit 17. Today, we’re heading back to the basics. You guessed it, basics 101. I mean, it’s never a bad thing to ground yourself in the fundamentals, right? So, let’s get started.

I know…the world we are living in right now…the virtual world of education, it is nothing new. It has been creeping around us since March and, unfortunately, we have no idea when it will ever go away. Or, if it will go away! So, why the basics in month 10 of the pandemic? Shouldn’t the basics have been covered in the first month?

Of course it should have been! However, it is always a good idea to revisit the basics, the fundamentals. Recycle. I always chuckle when people discuss the fundamentals. As a basketball coach and as an educator, I always see it. No one wants to spend time on the fundamentals. Actually, I’m not sure if it is really a matter of wanting to spend time on fundamentals, but more so do we even have the time to spend on the fundamentals. We feel that time is of the essence. Yet, isn’t it the fundamentals that build the foundation? Don’t we need a strong foundation to always fall back on? To sustain us? We just breeze on past them and assume that someone else has covered them some other time.

Well caregivers, I have learned long ago, and I’m sure you have too, that we cannot assume anything. In fact, it is so important to always recycle these basics, the fundamentals, so we do not lose sight of them, of what we must root ourselves in in order to be successful.

So, enlighten me, and refresh yourself. Or, if you are listening to these recommendations for the first time, dive right in!

Let’s first start with routines. What routines do you have in place for your child or children to be successful as a distance learner? When they were in school, there were routines. They lived by routines. They ran on a bell schedule. It was comforting and it was predictable. Think about yourself. I know for me, when I have routine and a schedule, I am way more productive and motivated to conquer my day. Our students still need that routine when learning at home.

Reinforce the routine and build those positive habits, because those routines and positive habits will sustain them in the future. And, those habits will last a lifetime.

Once we have routines established, it’s important to create that learning environment. Now, I have seen some amazing room makeovers on social media. I even spent quarantine redoing my home office. I mean, I needed something to do! I’m not saying that you need to do a complete makeover. However, we all need a place to work and learn. A place that’s separate from where we sleep and eat. I mean we all know what happens if we try to work from a bedroom. We end up sleeping ten minutes later. It establishes boundaries. It is a trigger to remind children that when I sit here, I am working. I am learning. It is “their” space. While understandable this is not always possible, can’t we find innovative ways to make one place, one small place, in the house unique to the student? It could be a bin specific to a child or a shelf for only him or her. It just has to be something that they can call their own and when they go there, they know, this is school. I’m working. I’m learning.

Lastly, I know that you are the caregiver, but in this world, right now, you are also the student at times. Your child needs you to also understand the ins and outs of the virtual world they are navigating and they are living in every day. Their Learning Management System, Zoom, digital citizenship, etc. I know, last episode I mentioned you are the parent, you parent. The teacher teaches. I know. But, this does not mean you must become the expert. Rather, you need to be the support. If your child is having issues with technology, reach out. Reach out to a friend, a neighbor, the school, the teacher. Help your child find the answers. Find the solution. Be proactive. The learning management system or what we in the education world call the LMS, is where most teachers store their lessons and assignments. There is a variety of them out there. Your child might be on Google Classroom or Schoology or Microsoft Teams. There are a lot! Again, you do not need to know the ins and outs, but can I offer some starting points?

Sure! I knew you would say that. Actually, you would be happy to know these aren’t really my exact suggestions, but those of the experts, rooting in research, of The Distance Learning Playbook for Caregivers, Fisher, Frey and Hattie…
Have a process that helps your child organize their passwords. Some districts have this already in place and that’s fantastic! But, if they don’t, how does your student know their passwords?
Explore the LMS and ask questions of the teacher regarding the organization of the course, how your child can navigate it, how they submit work, and so on. Even better, have your child show you. If they aren’t able to do so, then reach out. Give the child the benefit of the doubt. I’m not saying do it for your child, but give them the supports to do it on their own.

I know this is a lot. Heck, it’s all a lot right now. Just remember, the best we can do is try. We can try our best to instill routines. We can try our best to learn the platforms our children are learning and using. We can simply try our best. And when the frustration phase sets in, and you know it will and you know it already has, take a deep breath. Walk away for a moment and press restart.

We would like to thank you for blasting the airwaves with us today. If you like the show, please subscribe or leave a review. If you want to know more, check out www.iu17.org for further resources and show notes. As always, we want to thank you for what you do every single day. Remember, keep shining. We’ll be back next episode to provide you another educational solution for all, as we continue to transform lives and communities through educational services.

Additional/Suggested resources mentioned in the episode:

The Distance Learning Playbook by Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey, and John Hattie

BLaST Intermediate Unit 17 – www.iu17.org 

Professional Learning Opportunities at BLaST IU 17 – https://www.iu17.org/professional-learning/ 

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