Tag: virtual learning

Benefits of Tutoring

Many parents understand the frustrations of watching their child struggle in school. You are just unsure how to help them, so you take a closer look at tutoring. Only then you’re faced with questions like, “How do I choose a wholesome tutoring program that will work well for my child?” “How will tutoring help?” “And what are the benefits of tutoring?”

How does tutoring help a student?

Parents choose to get tutoring for their children for a variety of reasons. Some of them are that their child is struggling in school, they aren’t challenged enough, or they need a little extra help to master a particular concept. A personalized learning experience with the gift of one-on-one attention can give your child the support they need. This help translates into better study skills, a massive increase in their knowledge and a love for core subjects. While also igniting a passion for learning.

When deciding which tutor your child needs, it’s important to consider critical factors about your child, like their age, grade, and any diagnosed or undiagnosed learning disabilities. These all can impact what type of tutor your child needs. This is why it’s essential to get familiar with the tutoring company you are looking to use and meet with the tutor beforehand to discuss.

Which children need tutoring? And what kind of program should you use?

Tutoring isn’t just for children that are struggling in school. Most children can benefit from one-on-one tutoring. While it’s true that children struggling with a learning disability or struggling with a particular subject will benefit the most from tutoring, children who are doing well in school can also greatly benefit from the fantastic boost that tutoring will provide them with.

When looking for a suitable tutoring program for your child, you should look for one that focuses on your student’s needs. A program with customizable learning solutions and one-on-one sessions is essential. If your child is struggling in school, then it’s necessary to find a program that has a supportive environment. This way, they can have the freedom and flexibility to work through those complicated concepts in a specialized course that works for them. Avoid large classes with little to no one-on-one help because a program like that will only cause your child to struggle more and feel behind.

Programs like Schoolio After-School check all the right boxes (more information below).

Benefits of tutoring:

First, one-on-one attention.

A good tutor will get to know your child while learning about their learning style and needs. The tutor will then adapt their teaching strategy to match the child’s learning style. They are acting as your child’s private teacher.

Second, improved academic performance.

Your tutor has the skills to prepare your child for necessary tests and exams. While also working with your child’s problem areas. You will see an improvement in your child’s grades and understanding of the program subjects when working with their tutor.

Third, unique and individualized learning.

Through tutoring, your child will have the opportunity to receive an individualized learning experience. This unique experience isn’t always offered in a traditional classroom. Your child’s tutor will work to customize lessons and activities to meet your child’s needs.

Fourth, it significantly improves your child’s attitude toward learning and school.

Learning will become fun for your child when your child has access to one-on-one tutoring through a unique tutoring program like Schoolio After-School. The tutor will encourage and praise your child, which will help your child not feel frustrated and overwhelmed by school.

Fifth, it can encourage self-directed learning.

Your child will benefit from learning at their own pace. When working with a tutor, your child will learn how to take the initiative with their school. While also learning how to control their own learning pace.

Sixth, improved study and work habits.

Your child will learn critical study and work habits. These crucial habits will prove to be useful throughout their life. These skills will help prepare them to succeed when working to achieve their goals. These results will be seen both inside and outside of school.

Seventh, a positive impact on self-esteem and confidence.

When a tutor provides your child with the resources and skills they need to excel in school, you will boost your child’s self-esteem and confidence.

Eighth, responsibility and independence are encouraged.

One benefit of tutoring is the ability to do schoolwork independently. With a tutor’s help, your child will soon do school work independently while noticing their personal growth.

Ninth, creating a positive workspace for ideal learning.

An environment free of distractions, with fewer or no other students, will help create that positive workspace that your child needs. One without the disruptions the classrooms are usually full of. This will help your child to focus better on their learning.

Tenth gives your child the encouragement they need while helping them feel confident enough to ask questions.

Sometimes children may feel uncomfortable when asking questions in front of their peers. A tutor will work on helping your child feel comfortable about asking questions and doing so without feeling self-conscious.

Eleventh, it teaches them how to overcome learning obstacles.

Your child’s tutor will take note of the areas your child is struggling with the most, whether math, writing, or reading. Then your child’s tutor will target the learning area they are having the most trouble with.

Twelfth, it helps them improve their behavioural and social skills.

A good tutoring program will help your child develop better communication skills. While also allowing them to form better relationships with their peers. And help them to make more behavioural and social adjustments.

Thirteenth, it helps your child manage their learning.

Tutoring helps your child become more capable in their learning. While also allowing them to be more successful when managing their schoolwork.

Fourteenth, it helps children who are bored in school.

Some children may appear to struggle in school when they are bored and under-stimulated. One of the benefits of tutoring is that it will help your child reach their full potential.

Fifteenth, it can better prepare your child for what’s ahead.

One of the other benefits of tutoring is that it will help them prepare for what’s ahead by creating crucial study skills and learning superior time management skills for more advanced grade-level plans.

Try the Schoolio Digital Platform for free! 

The Schoolio Digital Platform has 4000+ videos and interactive lessons to help your child excel in their learning. Whether you are a parent, teacher or tutor, this program is the perfect fit. 

Sign up for your free 14-day trial today! 

 

Ontario Families Scramble as Omicron Forces 2-Week School Closures

It isn’t the New Year that Ontario families were hoping for. Many parents had hoped that the COVID-19 Pandemic would be under control by now. And that their children would be able to have an uninterrupted education once again. However, now Ontario Families scramble as Omicron forces 2-week school closures.

Many parents remained cautiously optimistic when the holiday break began. Their genuine hope was that history wouldn’t repeat itself, and that their children would be able to attend in-person learning after the holiday break, unlike last year. There fears became reality when the province announced mandatory school closures once again.

Ontario schools return to remote learning.

Beginning Wednesday, January 7, 2022, all private and publicly funded schools had to move to remote learning until Monday, January 17, 2022 at the earliest. The Ontario government announced on Monday, January 3, 2022 that the school closures were due to public health trends and operational considerations.

Because of very little notice given before the sudden announcement of the closures. Ontario families scramble once again, to find care for their children. While school buildings are able to remain open for child-care, including emergency child care. And in-person learning for students with special educational needs, or staff that can’t provide quality educational instruction from home. The free emergency childcare is only available for children of parents who are eligible frontline workers.

How Ontario Families are Responding.

Most Ontario parents are absolutely devastated by this last minute decision to close schools. Many parents need to go to work. But if they are not eligible frontline workers, they have no access to emergency childcare. Therefore the mandatory school closures cause horrendous amounts of stress for the parents who now have to scramble to make arrangements.

Optimism is at an all-time low as Ontario parents scramble.

Despite the attempts of parents to remain optimistic when the holiday break began. Optimism is at an all-time low. While the Ontario government announced that schools could potentially return to in-person learning on January 17. Many parents find that hard to believe. Ontario parents are demanding answers, like “How will these two weeks make anything better?” Most of these questions appear to be going unanswered. When the Ontario government does choose to provide answers, they are usually extremely unclear.

Ontario parents deserve more than this.

Is the pandemic unpredictable? Yes! However, the Ontario government was well aware of the Omicron variant long before their sudden announcement about school closures. In fact, Wednesday, December 29, 2021 the Ford government announced that schools would only be delayed until Wednesday, January 5, 2022. Then just a few days later they announced a two-week school closure. Causing Ontario parents to scramble, once again.

The Premier of Ontario, Doug Ford, was asked at a press conference if he could guarantee that schools will be back to in-person learning in two weeks. He did not provide an answer to these questions, causing parents to speculate even more.

Parents in Ontario deserve more.

Ontario families scramble as they prepare for the worst.

Many parents in Ontario are now preparing for the worst case scenario: School closures to last longer than two weeks. With no definite end in sight, parents continue to scramble to find care for their children so that they can continue working. Rather than provide solutions for Ontario parents, Premier Doug Ford showed great support for his Minister of Education, Stephen Lecce. As he has recently come under fire from parents, for not acting quick enough during the long-lasting pandemic.

“I want to give a shout out to Minister Lecce. I always say he’s the best Minister of Education in the country,” Ford said. “He’s done everything in his power to make sure that schools can move forward throughout this whole pandemic.”

Premier Doug Ford

Instead of helping parents during his ominous announcement of school closures, Ford chose to use precious time to praise Lecce. This caused Ontario parents to feel even more infuriated, and rightfully so.

Many parents are in an impossible situation.

As a parent, you naturally want the best for your children. Remote learning places an enormous amount of stress on the parent. Now they must either figure out childcare, or have them sit on a screen while they attempt to work from home at the same time. Many parents feel like they’re failing their children, or their work in some way. Because most are finding it difficult to be there to support their children while they also try to maintain work.

Obviously parents understand that there is a pandemic. And they know that keeping their children safe is priority. However, the mental strain that is placed upon parents because of remote learning is nearly unbearable for some.

Solutions for parents.

As much as we’d love to, we cannot just make the pandemic disappear. But there are some small things that you can do to get through the latest round of School closures.

1. Silence the parental guilt.

We as parents seem to always revert back to a place of parental guilt when things aren’t going smoothly. Remote learning is a struggle for most, and if your child is struggling, just remember that this is not your fault. You should never blame yourself for things that are beyond your control.

2. Offer alternative learning methods.

We totally sympathize with your desire to keep your child on track with their education. If you are finding that remote learning is actually having the opposite affect on their education. Then consider adding in alternative forms of education.

3. Reach out to healthy family and friends for help.

You can’t do this on your own. And while we often like to make ourselves believe that parenting is an independent gig, it’s not. You need help, especially right now. Reach out to people that you can trust, and explain that you need help.

4. Know that you are good enough.

You are capable, and you can do this. It sounds cliche, but it’s the truth. You’re doing the very best with what you have. Remind yourself of that.

5. Take a break from remote learning.

If you are finding that remote learning is actually causing more stress for your child than good. Talk with your child’s teacher/school about alternatives that you can do in the meantime. Perhaps you can work on some unit studies at home. Or partake in interest-based learning with your child while they get omicron under control.

6. Take it one day at a time.

We don’t know what will happen tomorrow, next week or next month. Try to avoid overwhelming yourself with the ‘what ifs’, as this isn’t of any good for you or your child. Focus on what is happening today. That doesn’t mean you should just stop planning for the days ahead, and childcare if need be. It means that you will plan, but not worry about the outcome.

7. Remember this isn’t forever.

While the pandemic does seem to be going on forever, it’s really important to remind yourself that this won’t last forever. One day this will all be behind us.

We are here to help.

While Ontario families scramble as Omicron forces 2-week school closures, we want to remind you that we are here to help. If you need help finding alternative learning solutions for your child, or just need someone to talk to about your child’s education. We are here to help you.

Do you need help with how to make learning a priority despite school closures? We can help! Check out this blog for some excellent ideas!

Make Learning a Priority Despite School Closures.

Many parents are once again struggling with how to make learning a priority despite school closures. Chances are that you live in a location that has either just announced school closures again, or perhaps they are leaning that way due to the steady climb of Covid-19 cases, related to the new variant of concern.

You as a parent may find yourself stuck in the frustration of wanting to keep your child safe while also wanting to be sure they are getting the education that they need at this stage in their life. I don’t think any of us thought that the pandemic would continue for so long, or that school closures and lockdowns would continue to be the method used to combat it. Yet, here we are. So the question is, how can you help your child continue to thrive with their learning, or even catch up, despite the inevitable school closures?

This is a huge topic, yet there’s not a lot of information out there about it. Doing a quick Google search doesn’t really reveal anything substantial, or helpful. Which is ironic, because education truly is key. Yet, education is one thing that has continually been placed on the back burner during the duration of the pandemic thus far.

What can we as parents and caregivers do?

As I previously wrote, none of us thought that school closures and lockdowns would continue to take place, especially not after two years since the beginning of this pandemic. It really puts things into perspective when you think of how a Kindergartener in the spring of 2020 is now in grade 2, and struggling to read. Or how a grade 10 student in March of 2020 is now facing graduation, feeling completely unprepared for university.

The pandemic has caused all of us to suffer, but no one more than our children. So many life experiences and learning opportunities have been missed. Will life ever return to normal? What even is normal anymore? Is it normal for your child to be falling behind? Will they ever catch up? What can you as a parent or caregiver do to make learning a priority despite school closures and lockdowns?

The First Step: Just Be There.

I get it, you’re frustrated and overwhelmed. For many it’s not just education that is affected, but also finances and mental well-being. Your mind is likely wandering a mile a minute, as you try to come to some settlement of peace. So, take a deep breath. Focus on what really matters. Sure, life is a crazy mess. But right now, in this very moment, are you okay? Is your family safe? Are your kids okay? Really focus on being in the moment. Focus on the laughter of your children. Talk to them, help them, because they’re also struggling with big feelings too. Make being there for your children a priority.

The Second Step: Find Ways to Ease Stress.

We don’t often realize just how stressed our children can be. The sad reality is that the pandemic, school closures, chaos and financial uncertainties has also placed stress on our kids. We like to think of them as “just going to be okay” but often times they are silently watching as their world seems to be collapsing around them.

Which brings us to an important point. And that is: Children cannot properly learn when they’re under a large amount of stress. As you probably already know, virtual learning often causes children more stress than anything else. This results in a lack of wholesome learning because of the stress that your child is under when trying to learn. Which is why finding ways to calm that stress is imperative.

Some helpful stress relieving tips include:
  1. Answer their questions honestly, and have conversations about their feelings.
  2. Let them know that you recognize that they are feeling stressed, and that it’s okay to feel this way.
  3. Contact loved ones, grandparents, family and friends. Let your child connect with them.
  4. Demonstrate how to take care of your own feelings in a healthy way.
  5. Help them with a mindfulness activity.
  6. Offer plenty of hugs and cuddles.
  7. Sign up for a Mindfulness Activity or purchase a Mindfulness workbook.
  8. Teach your child about how to manage their thoughts and feelings.

The Third Step: Create a Healthy Routine

Having a healthy routine is extremely important. Especially if you are aiming to make learning a priority despite school closures. It can be so tempting to just let everything go and continue life like you’re on holidays. While somedays that may be okay, it’s important to snap out of it sooner rather than later. Children need routine, it helps them to feel safe, while also helping them to develop important life skills.

Your kids and yourself have absolutely no control over the pandemic, or school closures. So, help your child feel like they’re in a little more control with a routine. Let them add in parts of the routine that they think are important, and be sure to honour that.

Routines aren’t just good for kids, they also have huge benefits for you as the parent or care-giver. Having a healthy routine has been proven to help parents feel more organized while simultaneously reducing stress.

You can add structure to your child’s day by adding smaller routines to your larger daily routine.

Early Morning Routine: Wake up, get dressed, eat a healthy breakfast, brush teeth, and encourage active play for a bit before school work.

Late Morning – Early Afternoon Routine: This is when your child can work on their school work, whether that be virtual learning or workbooks. For many children their school board has scheduled times of the day around virtual learning. So, their routine might revolve around those time slots.

If you have decided to homeschool during the duration of another lockdown, you can use this time to work on two core subjects like Math and Science. Reserving this time for lesson time, work time and a learning activity.

Be sure to add in lunch, and snack times! And if your child is participating in virtual learning, then make lunch and break times a big deal! Have fun with lunch time, play some word games while you both eat sandwiches. Try your best to make it as positive as possible.

Afternoon/Evening Routine: Once education time is completed for the day, encourage them to play outside, or in their room while you get a tiny break. If they just want to be with you, then try to make a new recipe together for dinner. Having fun together is one of the best remedies for stress. At the dinner table, ask your child(ren) what their favourite part of the day was, then aim to include more of that in the next day.

Bedtime Routine: Now it’s time for brushing teeth and bath time. Once that’s complete, be sure to have some snuggles and reading time with your kids. It’s so important to continue to carve out time for reading with each other as it continues to strengthen your bond.

The Fourth Step: Evaluate the Learning Solutions.

Many parents hear the words “Virtual Learning” or “Online Learning” and instantly cringe. Because this form of education is anything but wonderful for both students and teachers. If you’ve recently learned that your child has to do online learning, and you know from experience that it will be a disaster. Then take some time to evaluate this form of learning by asking yourself these questions:

  1. Is this helping my child or hurting them?
  2. Are they still learning?
  3. Is the stress from this even worth it?
  4. Are there other options available for learning?

Once you’ve answered these questions you will have a more clear indication about whether or not this form of education is actually working for you and your child. If you’re still unsure, write out a list of pros and cons. What are the pros to virtual learning, and what are the cons? If you have no other learning choices, then find out what are some ways that you can work together with your child’s school to make it more bearable.

The Fifth Step: Research Alternative Learning Solutions.

If you’ve evaluated your child’s education method, and are finding that it’s causing more stress than learning. But you are determined to make learning a priority despite school closures, then you should look for alternative methods of education for your child. You could consider a home-learning option. Remember this doesn’t have to be permanent, this can be a temporary solution until circumstances level out.

Determining what type of in-home learning curriculum will best suit your family is really important. You can learn about how to choose in-home learning curriculum here.

Staying on track with their learning is essential, which is why finding a curriculum that follows their grade level standards, and is easy to follow/teach is really important. Be sure to look for a learning solution that reflects that.

The Sixth Step: Start Learning.

It’s imperative that you remind yourself that learning is always happening. There are so many life lessons to be learned during any given day. So, please don’t stress yourself thinking that learning must look a certain way, because it often doesn’t. That is one of the reasons why virtual learning can can cause so much stress for some students. Education can’t be crammed into a box. For many, learning is hands-on. Learning through a screen with twenty other children going on and off of mute, isn’t always going to give your child the whole learning experience that they need.

Read stories with your kids, dive into a Novel Study. Bake cookies, clean the house, do art work, watch an educational show together, and play learning games! Don’t stress about how learning should look, just let it happen naturally.

Figure out what areas your child needs the most help with and make that a priority. Being sure to add in the extra areas of their education here and there. Just be sure to never overwhelm your child with information, aim to keep lessons short, simple and to the point. Dragging out a lesson just because you feel like it needs to be longer, won’t help you or your student. If your child is struggling with a particular concept, then take a break and revisit it again later.

The Seventh Step: Let Go.

Life continues to not go according to plan. Holding onto your ideas of what it should look like, will only bring you more disappointment. Embrace the way life is, even if it’s messy. Because if you continue to hold onto this idea of what you wish life looked like, it will only make it worse for you and your child. Letting go of the original plan, and working together to come up with a new, brilliant plan will be extremely beneficial for your entire family.

Whether you choose to give virtual learning another go, or you feel like you need to dive head first into homeschooling. Just know that whatever choice you make, it will be a good one for your family. Yes, sometimes you will have bad days, sometimes things won’t go as planned. And yes, you will absolutely make some mistakes. But you’re trying your very best to make learning a priority despite school closures and that is truly what matters.

Take a deep breath, focus on what really matters, and move forward.

DIY Parent Tutoring

Let’s Talk About: DIY Parent Tutoring with Lindsey Casselman.

Did your child receive a less than stellar report card? It’s totally normal to feel stressed and worried about your child’s grades. As parents we want our children to be successful with their education but also to enjoy it. If your child’s report card isn’t reflecting how great they are, just remember that for two years now, the Covid-19 pandemic has turned the world upside down.

Due to two years of scrambled education and uncertainties your child’s education has likely suffered along with everything else. So, please try not to worry too much. In no time this slight setback will be handled, fixed up and your child will be right back on track.

Before you consider DIY Parent Tutoring, First ask yourself these questions:

Question 1: Do We Need a Tutor?

Tutors can be so expensive, and because of that fact it’s not always an available option for some. Whether hiring a private one-on-one tutor, or going through a learning centre, the costs can be almost as much as a car payment. This expense added to your monthly expenses can really break the bank. So, don’t worry, because Schoolio wants to bring some equality to the world of tutoring by making DIY parent tutoring a feasible option. Yes, that’s right! DIY mean you can Do-It-Yourself and tutor your own child!

Question 2: Am I Qualified to Tutor My Own Child?

Of course, you are! Firstly, there are absolutely no rules about qualifications needed to tutor. In fact, most private tutors and learning centres use university students as their tutors, which no teaching backgrounds.

Secondly, it’s really important to remember that you’ve been teaching your child since the day they were born. And you can teach them anything that you want them to know.

Thirdly, there are literally millions of parents that are successfully homeschooling children over the world. And, studies show that not only are these children getting a quality education, but it turns out the one-on-one time and the personal care of learning from a parent makes learning even easier for most children.

Question 3: Does DIY Parent Tutoring Work if I Suck at Math?

You don’t suck at math! No one does! Maybe you’ve just forgotten the things that you learned in school. That doesn’t mean that you’re terrible. If you graduated from Grade 8, then you know enough to teach your 8th grader, and certainly enough to teach any grade lower than that! Refreshing your memory and learning together with your child is a remarkable experience.

You have the opportunity to model to your child the skill of not getting frustrated, and instead persevering. Also you can model to them how to find the answers to their questions by finding solutions together as a team. You can ditch the school model of an all-knowing leader, lecturing information into an empty-vessel student.

Instead you can work as a team to learn and discover together. You’ll be so surprised at how quickly that grade eight math comes back to your memory after the refreshing experience of tutoring your child.

Question 4: How Do I Get Started?

Getting started is often the hardest part, but once you’re rolling with it, it will get easier and easier.

First, decide what type of tutoring you want to do: Most people will fall into one of two categories.

  1. I want to tutor my child in topics that interest them, to help re-ignite their love of learning while exercising their brains.
  2. I want to tutor my child in specific areas that they are struggling with in school to help them improve their understanding and bring up their grades.

Most home tutors are in category 2. So, if you’re in category one, you should check out the Schoolio Marketplace, where we have affordable mini units on all sorts of topics. There’s bound to be something there that will spark an interest in your learner. Check out the Schoolio Marketplace: https://schoolio.io/mini-units/

If you’re in category 2, the first thing you need to do is determine which subjects your child is struggling with the most. You probably already have a good idea, either from their report card or helping them with their homework. If you are still unsure, a really great place to start is to contact your child’s teacher and ask them!

Be sure to get specific:

If they’re struggling in Math, what area of Math are they struggling with? Math is most frequently broken into 4-5 strands, such as Numeracy, Algebra, Geometry, (often called Spatial Sense), Data Management and Probability, Money and Finance and even Coding. All of these areas of Math are often included in a lot of school math programs. (Note: Coding is often covered in Algebra.)

The same goes for Science. Is your child struggling in all areas of Science? Or just some? There will likely be Life Sciences, Chemistry, Each and Space Sciences and so on. When you’re talking to your child’s teacher, also find out what grade level they would recommend you start tutoring at. Some kids are working within their grade level, they just need a little extra practice to fully master the concepts.

While other kids can really benefit, especially after the turmoil of covid years, from going back a grade or two and building strong foundations in the concepts. Doing that before building to their current grade level. Remember, your child’s teacher should be able to guide and advise you with this.

Second, get a good program to help you be the best DIY Parent Tutor.

Most homeschoolers know that they key to a successful homeschool experience is finding the right tools and materials. Finding a good fit for your learner will go a long way. A home education program will be extremely beneficial in that is will easily help you tutor your child. Schoolio is one of the only education (homeschool) companies that offers a unitized system for purchasing curriculum.

This means if your child is great at Algebra, but struggling with Geometry, you can choose to purchase only Geometry. Then you won’t have to pay the cost of a full year program. Instead you can purchase the units of study that you need to help your child with the areas that they are struggling with the most.


Is School Giving Your Child Anxiety?

Is school giving your child anxiety? Read the following short story and decide.

It’s morning, and you just spilled your coffee all over the counter because you forgot to put a mug underneath the coffee spout. You finally got the coffee disaster cleaned up, only for your youngest child to spill their cheerios all over the floor. The dog has started to devour all the cheerios off the floor, then promptly begins to vomit it all up.

All the while your oldest child has been following you around because she wants to tell you about how her friend stole her idea for a robot that serves ice cream in their imagination world. With all the chaos going on around you, you glance over at your middle child who is dressed, hair brushed, eaten her breakfast and put her bowl in the sink. You love that your middle child is so self-efficient because on days like this, it’s just so helpful. 

Then you look at the clock and realize that your kids are officially late for school drop off.

So, you quickly rush them out the door, yelling “We’re late, we’re late, we’re late!” You hustle everyone to the van like some sort of weird celebratory parade that you do every morning. Finally, you get to the school and say the famous mom words “Love you! Have a good day!” Off goes your oldest child and your youngest. You glance in the very back of your van to notice that your middle child appears to be glued to her seat. “You better go honey, you’re already late.” But she doesn’t move.

You mumble in frustration as you head to the side door to open it to get her out. “Come on, this isn’t like you! Let’s go!” Still she seems frozen in place. “What’s wrong? Are you sick?” You ask in confusion. “I think I am mommy. My tummy is hurting so bad.” You encourage your child that she’s ok and that she needs to go to school. Still your sweet little one appears to be uneasy, and afraid. 

Finally, she gets out of the van.

Cars behind you in the drop-off line are now honking their horns in impatience. “Ok! You need to go now!” But still, she is holding onto your hand as if there’s a terrifying monster standing in front of her. ‘What is happening?’ You ask yourself. She was fine this morning, she’s always the one that seems to just do what she needs to. Why is she acting like this? You then decide to just take her home with the assumption that she’s experiencing a tummy bug. Then when you get her home, she’s fine. The next day repeats itself, only this time she’s crying in the backseat, shaking with fear. Unfortunately, you feel that you must be tough on her and get her to go. Because, well, it’s school! She can’t miss it. 

What’s going on in this situation?

Anxiety. Although we like to think that our children won’t be affected by anxiety and depression, that’s simply not the truth. In fact, children are just as vulnerable as adults to suffer from anxiety. In fact, according to the CDC: “7.1% of children aged 3-17 (approximately 4.4 million) have been diagnosed with anxiety.” CDC – Children’s Mental Health 

“70% of mental health problems have their onset during childhood or adolescence.” – Youth Mental Health Canada.

In Canada it is estimated that 1.2 million children and youth in Canada are affected by mental illness. View Youth Mental Health Canada. According to the Canadian Mental Health Association – British Columbia Division – The most common illness to affect children and youth is anxiety. In Canada it’s estimated that 6% of kids will experience an anxiety disorder at some point. Mental Illnesses in Children and Youth – Canadian Mental Health Association. 

The number of children struggling with their mental health is alarming, but what’s more so alarming? The fact that despite these high volumes, less than 20 percent will be able to receive the right treatment for them. 

Is school giving your child anxiety?

Some children have been known to struggle with anxiety that is related to school. Some triggers include: Bullying or conflicts with other students, test anxiety, academic pressures, a new teacher, riding the school bus, a specific class or subject. There are many different factors that can trigger anxiety when it comes to school.  

Many families are able to identify the very reason why their child is facing a heavy weight of anxiety when it comes to school. However, some children are able to hide their anxiety. Or act out in other ways, causing families to assume there is something else that is affecting their child. In some cases, children really can’t identify the concern or fears that they have around school. 

If your child is struggling with anxiety and school,  or is refusing to go to school. It’s really important that you find out if your child is being bullied, if they have other medical problems, pain or some other serious issue. Whatever you suspect, it’s always important to meet with the school, and a family physician to be sure. When you’re questioning ‘Is school giving my child anxiety?’ 

What are some signs and symptoms of school anxiety? 

Emotional Symptoms can include: 

  • Anxiety/fear/excessive worry 
  • Irritability
  • Anger
  • Embarrassment 
  • Loneliness 
  • Sadness

Physical Symptoms can include: 

  • Frequent Urination or diarrhoea  
  • Headaches
  • Muscle tension/pain 
  • Dizziness/light headedness
  • Pounding/Racing Heart
  • Shaking or trembling 
  • Feeling short on breath 
  • Stomach-aches or a painful abdomen 
  • Vomiting 

Behavioural Symptoms can include: 

  • Being overly clingy, not wanting to separate from their parent. 
  • Crying and tantrums. 
  • Incessant complaining. 
  • Not turning in their homework. 
  • Frequent calls or texts to parents. 
  • Skipping class or even cutting school. 
  • Lying about circumstances or feelings. 
  • Trouble concentrating. 
  • Isolation from others. 

Some thoughts that your child might be thinking: 

‘What if the other kids laugh at me?’ 

‘Why do I have to go to school anyway?’ 

‘I’m not good at school. I fail.’ 

‘What if daddy forgets to pick me up?’ 

‘If I fail this test my mom will be mad at me.’ 

‘What if I throw up in class?’ 

‘I don’t like recess, it’s cold and I get scared of a thunderstorm.’ 

‘I just want to be home in my room.’ 

 

Are you asking yourself how this happened?

‘My child was fine and suddenly just started to not be ok at school. What did I do wrong?’ First of all, don’t blame yourself. Parental guilt will only make you and your child feel worse. Is school giving your child anxiety? Was it something else? The important thing is, to find healthy steps to move forward from here.

Let’s take some solid steps to help your child that is struggling with anxiety and school. 

 

The first step is to identify any potential triggers.

Look for the triggers that might’ve started this decline with anxiety and school. Is your child being bullied or struggling with peers? Did your child just get a new teacher or has a harsh teacher? Does your child struggle with tests? Have you noticed your child’s anxiety to be much worse since covid? Perhaps the fear of catching the disease, or wearing masks, or lockdowns, has caused them to feel a large amount of fear? Find out what could potentially be triggering these feelings. 

Second, notice if they’ve been trying to tell you about their anxiety in other ways. 

Anxiety can be really scary, especially for a little person who doesn’t understand what they’re feeling. Has your child previously said phrases like: “The work is too hard!” “I can’t concentrate in class.” “It’s so tiring, I hate it.” “I’m going to fail the test.” “I don’t fit in.” “I saw someone getting bullied.” “Joey keeps making fun of my clothes.” These phrases and concerns aren’t just complaints. Sometimes they can be cries for help. If your child brings any of these complaints to you, always dig a little deeper to see what the root cause is.

Third, ask more questions.

If your child has brought up concerns like those above, ask lots of questions! Even if your child is rolling their eyes at you. While pretending that you’re annoying them, you aren’t. Most kids actually enjoy your interest in them and in their day. If your child hasn’t brought up any concerns, but you can just tell that they are feeling off – ask questions. Even if your child seems totally normal, ask questions. Dig deeper.  Teaching your kids that it’s good to talk, and that it’s good to bring up their concerns – is so healthy. 

Fourth, reach out to their school. 

If your child is struggling in any area with school. Then reaching out to their school is imperative as working with their educational team is so important. Most schools and teachers are more than accommodating when it comes to mental health. So if you are wondering ‘is school giving your child anxiety?’ then this is an excellent step to take. 

Fifth, give your kid a ‘Worry Journal’. 

What’s a worry journal? It’s a place where they can write down all of those big, scary, feelings, that are causing their struggles. In the worry journal, they can write, draw, or doodle. Really, whatever they want. It’s their journal, and they can utilize it to express their feelings in whatever way seems best for them. 

Sixth, find helpful coping strategies to help your child. 

There are so many amazing programs out there that are fully capable of helping your child navigate on those tough days. Including our very own Emotional Intelligence: Managing My Emotions special interest unit. With this special interest unit your child will learn about why it’s just as important to take care of our minds as it is to care for our bodies.

What else will they learn?

They will also learn ways to name and describe common “unhelpful thoughts” that lead them down thought paths which make them less happy. And lessons on the S.T.O.P.P. strategy for regaining control and assessing the situation when their emotions are high. Along with management tools for runaway thoughts, and how to control their reactions. They’ll also learn lessons about calming strategies, for when they need to gather themselves and regain control of their emotions. 

Click here to learn more about the Emotional Intelligence: Managing My Emotions Special Interest Unit

 

Seventh, help your child understand that they don’t need to be afraid of their feelings. 

When we don’t understand what we are feeling it can make it seem much more scary. Helping your child understand that they don’t need to fight those scary feelings can be very helpful. Along with helping them learn the important steps to cope through those big feelings. Above all, telling your kids that you’re there for them no matter what is of the utmost importance. 

Eighth, consider switching up their education. 

Is school giving your child anxiety? If you know that school is the main culprit of their anxiety, and you’ve tried to work with their school to help them. But nothing appears to be working. You can try to switch up their education, at least for the short term. A lot of children have been experiencing anxiety around school because of the uncertainties that the pandemic have caused.

As a result, there has been a significant amount of parents pulling their children from school to homeschool them.

And many parents have stated that online school/homeschool has actually been good for their child’s mental health. Obviously, there’s no scientific data to back up their claims. But the parents who are with their children full time, should have a pretty accurate view point. Homeschooling is obviously not going to be the best alternative for every child that is struggling with mental health concerns. However, homeschooling has proven to be beneficial for many. 

Benefits of homeschooling.

Some obvious benefits of homeschooling include: More one on one time with the parent. Minimizing stress and anxiety. No bullies or peer pressure. And in some cases homeschooling has been known to minimize depression that many students experience because of traditional schooling. 

There are many more benefits of homeschooling, including the freedom for your child to embrace who they really are. While also allowing you and your child to create a schedule that fits the needs of you both. Additionally, having a flexible schedule can give your child more time to play sports, go to social events, and have day time opportunities that they wouldn’t have otherwise. 

Is school giving your child anxiety?

There are many ways to help your child overcome the anxiety about school that they are facing. Just remember that this often takes time and a large amount of patience on your part. Showing your child that you are there for them, patient with them, and on their team will help immensely. 

Giving them options so that they don’t feel stuck is another excellent way to help them overcome the anxiety that is pulling them down. 

For a first hand look at a mama who had her child struggle with anxiety and school, check out this awesome blog with Meredith Blunt.

 Read her story and what she did to help her child with school anxiety.

 

 

Disclaimer: We are not licensed therapists or mental health professionals. If your child is struggling with a mental health condition and you are not sure what to do, please see your doctor for the proper steps to help them.

 

Additional Resources for this blog:

School Refusal – Anxiety Canada 

How Does Anxiety Affect Kids in School? – Child Mind Institute 

Anxiety in Kids – Anxiety in the Classroom 

Data and Statistics on Children’s Mental Health – CDC 

Global Student Network – Is Homeschooling Good For Your Child’s Mental Health? 

Youth Mental Health Statistics in Canada – YMHC 

Mental Illnesses in Child and Youth – Canadian Mental Health Association 

High School – Is My Teen Prepared?

Is your teen prepared for High School?

The last two years have shown us all a very different way of life and education. For many students, virtual learning became the norm. While the world tried to figure out how to live through a pandemic. Due to that, many students have unfortunately lost precious education time. And now parents and students alike are feeling very underprepared for the road ahead. Especially students heading into high school for the first time.

 

Transitioning from middle school to high school is already a very big change for students. Now throw in the fact that kids going into high school this September haven’t had a normal education experience since March 2020. That likely will make them feel pretty overwhelmed. But don’t worry, that overwhelm is completely normal, and to be expected. Pandemic or not, it’s a big change. Different school, different teachers, different peers, and for some students that are homeschooled and going into high school, it’s a whole new ball park.

You want your teen to be successful.

I have no doubt that you want your child to be super successful with whatever they choose to do with their life. So, it’s normal for parents to feel a twinge of anxiety about how well they do in high school. After-all, it’s the final step before University. So, you might find yourself feeling like there’s a lot of pressure to make sure your teen does the best job possible.

Listen, you don’t have to suddenly become the chill parent, or the super crazy, pushy parent. Finding a balance somewhere in the middle is your best option.  You can accomplish that by simply being there for your teen. By offering them the right tools to help them have a successful high school experience despite these beginning hurdles they are facing.

There are two categories that we will focus on to help your teen have a successful  experience with their secondary school experience.

 

Category 1: Emotional Well-Being.

Kids are struggling with all the trauma that they’ve experienced in the last two years. We often like to assume that they’re doing fine. For some, they are. Even so, there has been a lot of damage done to their social and emotional skills. This being due to the ups and downs, and isolation of the pandemic.

That’s why it’s incredibly important to:

 

  1. Reassure your teen that we are all trying to figure it out. Life is different now, and unfortunately that means that your teen won’t have the same high school experience as generations before. It will be different. Let them know they aren’t alone in this. Other students, teachers, principals, and even you yourself, are all learning this new chapter of our lives together.
  2. Make sure that they know it’s OK to be a little freaked out. It’s totally natural to feel this way, and they are safe to talk to you about it.
  3. Don’t force toxic positivity on your kids. Is your child struggling with the fact that they didn’t get a real ‘Grade 8 graduation’? Could they be upset that they didn’t get to play that final season with the homeschool soccer team? Are they hurting inside because they never got to go to the science fair to show off their amazing experiment? Don’t ignore that. Let them be upset. Let them tell you that it made them sad. Don’t just jump to a silver lining. Teach them that sometimes it’s ok to notice the bad, sit in it and then when they’re ready, get up and move forward.
  4. Never compare how your teen does to the other teens around them. Every kid is different. If your child is struggling with the big change that is high school. Don’t be like “Well, my friends teen is doing just fine.” That will only cause frustration and a spike right down the middle of your relationship. If you notice that your teen is having a much more difficult time adjusting,  continually reassure them that they are going to be OK. That you are always there for them. And that with time, things will work out.

 

Category 2: Academic success.

As stated above, you obviously want your teen to be super successful on their secondary school journey. However, that doesn’t mean you should put unrealistic goals on their shoulders. Let them go on this journey, encourage them, be there for them. And give them the right tools to be successful.

What does that look like?

 

  1. Understand that he/she has their own learning pace. You should know your teen more than anyone else. So, you are the one that knows their learning pace (especially if you’ve homeschooled them). Therefore, you should be able to help them choose the right classes, to be successful on their high school journey.
  2. Help them build good study habits. Every day you can help your student learn good study habits, organization, and time management.
    1. Create a space that is just for study, or reading.
    2. Encourage them to keep a planner, to write down important dates and events.
    3. Show them how to take notes that are effective.
    4. Demonstrate to your child that it’s healthy and safe to ask for help. And reassure them of that when they get worried.
    5. You and your student both need to tone down the distractions. Are you someone that is easily distracted by your phone/T.V.? Limit those distractions when you’re working to help your child also learn to limit distractions when they need to be studying.
  3. Take an in-person or virtual tour of their new school. Depending on what is available to you, based on COVID guidelines. Letting them see where they are going to school can be really beneficial in that it helps them visualize their new digs.
  4. Brush up on pre-high school materials. Does that mean summer school? Nope! Instead, encourage them to spend about 15 minutes every day looking through their old material. This will help them remember so that they aren’t totally side-lined when they get to Secondary School.

 

Still worried about your teen starting high school?

If you are worried that your teen may have lost a lot of precious academic learning throughout the pandemic, there are steps that you can take in order to help them gain knowledge and get back to where they need to be academically.

 

You can sign up for the Schoolio High School Readiness Assessment. It’s free and simple to use. Your student will go through each question and section. After the assessment is finished, it will identify areas that your student may need a little extra support. And areas where they’re doing extremely well.

 

Sign up for The High School Readiness Assessment and we will notify you once it’s ready!

 

CLICK FOR HIGH SCHOOL READINESS SIGN UP

 

 

Check out these additional resources for helping your teen be prepared: 

 

 

Healthy Friendships Matter

As parents we want to be able to set our children up for success, whether that’s emotionally, financially, mentally, or with healthy friendships. We want our kids to have a vibrant and joy filled life. It’s important that our children learn positive communication skills in order to be able to cultivate healthy relationships with the people that will come into their lives.

As always, the best form of education for your child is what they see from you. When they see you as the parent modelling healthy friendships with open communication and boundaries, they will in turn understand what relationships should look like. That said, life can be tough and sometimes we as adults aren’t up to par on our communication skills either. That’s ok, we all have those days. Which is another important lesson to teach your kids. That sometimes, even in our relationships with others, we make mistakes. But it’s where we go from there that determines whether or not we are maintaining healthy friendships.

There’s this huge misconception about homeschooling.

Many people still believe that homeschooled children are not socialized, or not as socialized as children who go to school. Which in turn would make them less capable of maintaining healthy friendships and wholesome relationships. But, that’s not true! In fact, in a lot of cases, homeschooled children are sometimes more socialized than their peers who go to ‘real school’. How could that possibly be? Well, check out this blog from Lindsey about Socialization and homeschool: “Let’s Talk About Socialization”

In a normal world (pre pandemic) a homeschooled child had the opportunity to socialize and have fun with their peers just as much as children in traditional school. But, given the fact that we’ve been in a global pandemic for nearly two years. All children are truly lacking in the social category right now. Not being able to see friends and family has caused many children to struggle with their relationship building and maintaining skills. They still have the digital side of friendship, but realistically, seeing someone on a screen could just never replace the valuable time spent in the presence of their friends and loved ones.

Our children will always have tough times with their friendships, and relationships that sometimes get severed. But even those bumps in the road are vital to our children learning about how to maintain healthy friendships. All these things have generally been put on pause until things get back to some form of normal.

Most kids are truly out of practice when it comes to figuring out relationships (and adults are too). So, what are some steps we can take to help our kids after the pandemic to rebuild friendships, and utilize their friendship making tools to be able to get back on the healthy friendships wagon?

According to Very Well Family, you can try these activities once life gets back to some form of normal:

 

  1. Join School Sponsored Activities and Study Groups (Or a local homeschool group). These opportunities will help your child reconnect with their classmates (or homeschool buddies). Check out outdoor activities that they can do with their peers, like soccer, baseball, basketball, golf etc.

 

  1. Take your kids to the playground! Playgrounds are a breeding ground for friendships! And if your child learns healthy friendships skills (they’ll be one step ahead).

 

  1. Let your child play online games with friends (while we wait for the world to officially open up). Whether your child uses a game console, or maybe sets up a Zoom call. Playing together (even online), will help your child with their communication skills, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. And, once it’s safe to do so – they can play in real life again!

 

  1. Reach out to parents of children you already know. (Or better yet, have your child do it) Make plans for your kids to ride bikes, or scooters together. Do scavenger hunts, hikes, and the list goes on and on! Having a fun, planned activity to do together can really help the kids with easing back into a healthy friendship. (Being sure to follow all local social distancing guidelines).

 

  1. Reassure your child that it’s totally normal to feel kind of awkward when they start to socialize in person again. Let them know they aren’t alone, maybe you’re feeling that way too?

 

Remember to be patient with your child, and remind them to be patient with themselves also. Relationships can be tricky, and it’s important for them to know when a friendship isn’t healthy and how to either improve it, or walk away. Listen to your child when they voice their concerns and frustrations. Be present, try to understand where they’re coming from.  And, guide them to make healthy choices with their relationships.

If you need more pointers on how to help your child with their relationships, check out the ‘Healthy Friendships’ mini unit. There are tons of activities in this excellent mini unit, to help your child with things like: Conflict resolution, How to apologize, and more.

Click Here for Healthy Friendships Special Unit

For an excellent read on children’s friendships during the time of COVID-19, check out ‘How Kids Make and Keep Friends’ by VeryWell Family.

Read it Here

Learning About Finances

financial literacy curriculum

Learning About Finances – Why is it important for your child?

From a young age, kids learn that money means something, but what about finances? When they get a birthday card in the mail from their Auntie, they open it with excitement to see if maybe something special will fall out. Because sometimes their Auntie puts a special $5 surprise in that cute little birthday card. Should your child be learning about finances from a young age? 

Learning about finances is extremely important. 

Your child knows that when they lose their tooth, somehow a tooth fairy pops up in the night and exchanges that tooth for a shiny coin! The squeals of excitement erupt in the morning when they find that coin and quickly tuck it away in their piggy bank. Often times when they’ve received money, they walk through the toy aisle with the thrill of knowing something there can be theirs! And all thanks to that money that they have. But finances are so much more than just receiving money and rushing off to purchase something. Money has value. Money has purpose. And teaching our kids that from a young age is extremely important.

Your child knows that money matters, but do they know just how important finances are?

It’s imperative to teach kids that money isn’t just a way to get what they want, but rather a means to provide for what they need. Money is a tool that needs to be used correctly in order to get an abundance of growth from it. Talking to your kids about money even when they’re young is so beneficial. Teaching them the value of the dollar, and even how to save for long-term goals, and how to spend responsibly is so important. For example: Rather than running out to the store to purchase a small, cheap, toy every time they get a little money for their birthday. Teach them about saving that money for a long-term, exciting goal! Like buying a nice new bicycle in the spring.

Help your child understand donations.

Teaching your child about the importance of donating, and helping others through the profits which they have, is such a wonderful thing to do. Try finding an opportunity to help together. For example: If your child really loves animals. You could always tell your child that if they raise $50 for the humane society, you will match it with $50! Educating your children that money isn’t just a fun object to get them what they want. It’s something you must work for, care about, and that they can then use to help other people get what they need also.

It doesn’t have to be overwhelming.

Spending time teaching your child about finances doesn’t have to be overwhelming or boring for either of you. Start with simple ways, when they’re young. Like when you go to the store to get groceries, your child will see you pay for the groceries. And although, it can be as simple as tapping your card on a machine. It’s still your money being transferred from your account to the stores account in exchange for groceries. Explain that to your child. Show your child the receipt from the groceries. Show them how much money it costs to feed your family. Explain the value of the money that they have.

Create opportunities for them to earn money.

Try creating opportunities for your child to earn a little money. Your child needs to have money of their own so that they have the opportunity to learn how to make good decisions about how to use it. Maybe you could give them simple chores around the house in order to earn a weekly allowance. Something simple like “Help me fold the laundry” or “Put the dishes away” or “wash the car”.

And once they’ve earned it, you can give them their allowance for the week.  Then help them understand the importance of what they just earned. If you don’t have loose change floating around the house to pay allowances, that’s no big deal! Try setting up a bank account for your child in their name. Then when they’ve earned their weekly allowance, you can transfer their allowance right into their very own bank account. Then show them that their account now has a little more because of how hard they worked. You could even get them a journal to keep track of the money that they have in their bank account.

So many fun lessons to be learned!

There are so many more excellent lessons that your children can learn about money. Like how their money can grow, the importance of giving, and good spending decisions. But the very best source of education about financial habits comes from you. Yep, that’s right. You need to model good financial habits in order for your child to pick up good spending/saving habits. Just like your kids copy the way you talk and walk; they also copy the way you spend.

Need help making math make sense? Check this out!

Don’t become overwhelmed by the task of teaching your child about finances. There are many resources out there that can help your child learn wholesome financial habits. Included in that is our very own Financial Literacy Mini Unit. In this excellent mini unit, your child will learn about Canadian coins & bills, their names and values. Your child will learn how to count money with coins and bills. And even get to play fun grocery store games, exploring methods of payments. They’ll have the opportunity to learn more about purchasing, earning, spending, saving, investing and donating. There are just so many fun lessons to learn, and we are excited for your child to learn them with us!

Learn more about the Financial Literacy Program here: 

Click Here for the Best Financial Literacy Program

Was this digital school year a waste for students?

Was this digital school year/virtual learning experience a waste for our students?

As much of Ontario still faces extended closures due to the third wave of the pandemic, most students are attending virtual learning.  Parents and students alike are at their wit’s end trying to balance their children’s online digital struggles while maintaining their own sanity. The efforts of teachers to pivot to the online curriculum in a versatile and engaging way for students across grades does not go unnoticed.

Even so, some parents believe that online schooling/virtual learning can be “detrimental” to the youngest learners with the constant time management required. Then there’s the struggle with procrastination, too much digital screen time. And a huge lack of engagement and interaction created in the online learning environment. Reflecting on a regular school day pre-pandemic, one parent references requests from her child to pick him up late from school so he can spend a few extra minutes talking to his friends. The parent noted that children are missing out on physical and verbal connections with their friends.   

Parent’s are tired.

Parents address their fatigue of working around the clock; Completing household chores and attending to their children’s virtual school crises, while also try to manage a career. Trying to deal with all of these current circumstances seems to be a giant task. The shuffle between the roles of caretaker and breadwinner, definitely takes a toll on every member of the family. Clearly the pandemic has restricted us in more than one way, our mental health being one of those. After all, it’s common knowledge that ‘humans are social’, so when you take away interpersonal relations, what’s left?

Students are also struggling with adapting to a new form of education (virtual learning/digital learning), that they’ve never experienced before. Kids are so smart, and resilient but they need support!  Some parents are concerned that the recent changes in their education and lack of support, may hamper the quality of their education. And concerns of lack of co-curricular activities may affect students’ motor development and physical wellbeing.

The Pandemic isn’t just a medical challenge, it’s a social one also!

We are already realizing that the pandemic is not only a medical challenge but also a social one; it has affected individuals and society alike. Causing anxiety, stress, and high levels of frustration for everyone. According to healthcare professionals, anxiety and heavy amounts of frustration have increased among children and parents alike. Parents are concerned about their new work-from-home lifestyle, while also monitoring their children’s virtual learning. And, this has left parents feeling like they are juggling two full-time jobs. While we know this is causing a mental strain on parents, it is also causing physical problems. Aches and pains, especially in the neck and upper back are now their constant companions, along with headaches. In these circumstances, emotional outbursts are common. We already know that a parents emotional state can directly affect the state of the chid’s mental and emotional well-being. So with all this stress and uncertainty,  what can parents do?

Some children are doing exceptionally well despite these challenges brought on by this new form of education, like virtual learning. So, what do we do with the ones who are struggling academically? We certainly don’t want these children blaming themselves for not being able to stay on track with their peers. How can we help both the students, and the parents during such an uncertain and emotionally straining time?

All of it can be a lot to handle for parents and students alike.

Check out these four simple tips to help your student finish off the school year on a positive note.

Finish off the digital virtual school year with positivity:

  1. Create the best space possible for your student. Having a distraction-free space can help to keep your student focused during their online classes.
  2. Establish Rules and Goals. Build boundaries around screen-time so that they are not always on a device.
  3. Set up daily routines. Maintain good morning routines, starting the day off right will help to build positive momentum for the day.
  4. Focus on the relationship with your child. Be open, listen and look for cues of your students mental and emotional health and well-being.

Children learn their very best when they are genuinely curious about what they are learning about.

Check out some of our Special Interest Units for  summer learning activities for your child this summer. 

Here’s another blog that might just help you, it’s about homeschooling through those tough days!

https://schoolio.io/when-homeschooling-is-hard/

 

Mental Health Benefits Associated With Homeschooling

Schoolio Addresses Mental Health Benefits Associated with Homeschooling

Toronto, ON, May 18, 2021. May is mental health month. Students and parents across Ontario are struggling with virtual learning and continued lockdowns. Schoolio, a Canadian education startup. Addresses the importance of both parent and student mental health struggles through a holistic approach to education. Today we are highlighting the mental health benefits associated with homeschooling.

Mental health is extremely important to the developmental growth of a child. Unfortunately, students often associate stress, anxiety, and other mental health concerns with a traditional schooling system. Additionally, parents across the province of Ontario are reporting increased mental health issues in themselves and their children. Mainly associated with virtual learning. Moreover studies show that students in school settings experience stress and distress 21% more than homeschooling students.

Additional Mental Health Benefits Associated with Homeschooling.

Additional mental health benefits of homeschooling include a better teacher-student ratio. Along with inclusivity for special needs students. And also positive social and emotional learning. There are primary factors causing stress and mental health issues in students who are a part of institutionalized learning. These factors include bullying, negative social interactions. As well as coursework that is inappropriately levelled and irrelevant to students, and a cookie-cutter approach to instruction. Homeschooling addresses these concerns by providing a less stressful learning environment. While also eliminating many of the negatives of traditional schoolings. These negatives include pressure to conform, grade-based goals, and bullying.  

Allowing Children to Learn and Grow at Their Own Pace.

Homeschooling offers schedule flexibility that focuses on individualized learning styles. Allowing children to learn and grow at their own pace. While also enabling more time for physical activities such as field trips, time outdoors, hands-on exploration, and socializing. All of which are proven to be essential for mental health. “Homeschooling as a concept is not new.” Says Sathish Bala, Founder of Schoolio. “We’ve been talking about home-learning to parents who have been doing this for a long time. Along with those who are attempting it for the first time this year. Alternatively those that are currently enrolled in virtual learning. We’ve been listening to their concerns and want to address their struggles.” He adds. 

Taking the Academic Planning Pressure Off Parents’ Shoulders.

Schoolio’s programs take the academic planning pressure off parents’ shoulders. While also giving them the freedom to focus on the holistic education of their child in the ways they, as parents, know best. “We know homeschooling reduces mental health issues for children, but it can add stress to parents when it comes to planning what, when, and how to teach their children. That’s where Schoolio can help.”Says Sathish Bala.

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About Schoolio: 

Schoolio is a Canadian education startup that provides parents with a range of customizable in-home learning solutions. With an aim to empower parents to be teachers for their students. Additionally, Schoolio has created easy-to-follow curriculum modules for Kindergarten through Grade 8. We are engaging millions of students with the best academic foundation materials available. Schoolio sparks love for education and empowers kids to be fully prepared for their future. 

Contact Writer:

Nirmala Jadoonanan

nirmala@schoolio.io

At Schoolio, we provide the academic foundations of an elite program. Along with help and support for parents. And a growing library of unit titles that will include attention to wellness, personal development, and career-building skills. As much as on reading, writing, and math. Our goal is simple: We aim to reduce stress and worry of parents who are making the transition to homeschooling. Equally important is that we also support existing homeschooling families by providing them with the tools and support they need. While still allowing them the customization and flexibility that is a key pillar of the benefits of homeschooling.” 

Schoolio Offers Holistic Education

Schoolio Offers Holistic Education.

Toronto, ON, April 16, 2021– The pandemic has posed multiple challenges to education. The clear reason being that schools are oscillating between virtual and in-person learning. Schoolio, a Canadian homeschooling resource platform. Has a goal to empower homeschooling families through holistic curriculum. Created for children from Kindergarten to grade 8. 

The pandemic posed a question for parents.

Schoolio was originally geared towards homeschooling families. However, we here at Schoolio have seen a rapid rise in interest from parents with school-going children. The pandemic posed a question in parent’s minds. Obviously that question being: ‘Are their children learning and benefitting from the virtual classes?’ Without a doubt this question was asked while teachers, parents, and students all struggled to adjust. As the transition to the new normal for technology-based teaching mediums continued. Without a doubt, our Schoolio team works hard to put parents’ minds at ease. Doing so by offering flexibility to choose from specific curriculum units. These units being based on provincial topics in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.

Customizable in-home learning solutions.

Clearly, with the option of purchasing customizable in-home learning solutions. Parents have been taking the lead to boost their kids’ learning abilities. Indeed they are doing so at a flexible pace with Schoolio. Apart from this, Schoolio now offers modules that fill the gaps created by virtual and in-person learning. Through our learning modules, you can now add an extra layer of educational support. Whether that be for math, language, and social concepts. As well as coding and financial literacy. 

A recent study shows that parents are more likely to enrol their child in homeschooling.

It should be noted that according to a recent poll conducted by Schoolio. 41% of parents said they were more likely to enrol their child in homeschooling. Additionally, 43% of parents who were not homeschooling before the pandemic. Took the time to indicate that they are “very likely” to consider homeschooling now. Without a doubt, we support parents with the tools and resources that they need to make homeschooling virtually stress-free. By engaging with them through a unique, customer-only Facebook community that includes parents, teachers, resources and special events. Parents are also provided with resources and support such as assessment tools, listening sessions, ideas to keep children engaged and motivated and more. 

How Schoolio offers holistic education.

“We are living in unprecedented times. There’s a constant confusion between virtual and in-person learning.” Says Sathish Bala, founder of Schoolio. “What’s different about Schoolio is that our programs are designed specifically for independent learning. Our aim is to remove stress and worry from the parents who are homeschooling for the first time. Doing so by providing them with the right assessment tools, listening sessions, ideas to keep children engaged and motivated.” 

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About Schoolio: 

Schoolio is a Canadian education system that provides parents with a range of customizable in-home learning solutions. With a mission to empower parents to be teachers for their students. Schoolio has created easy-to-follow curriculum modules for Kindergarten to Grade 8. While enabling millions of students with the best academic foundation materials. Schoolio aims to spark a love for education. While also empowering kids to be fully prepared for their future. 

 

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When Homeschooling is Hard.

When you were considering homeschooling you probably heard the experienced home school moms says “We finish school in a couple hours, then the rest of the day is play time.” So, when you shifted your mindset, to actually stay home with your kids, you thought: ‘This is going to be awesome!’ But now you find yourself sitting at the dining room table, listening to your child whine about how they hate math. They literally have 3 math problems left and you’ve been stuck there for an hour. You’re probably wondering what you’re doing wrong. Wondering if your kid needs the school setting. Or if homeschooling was a huge mistake?  

Now you sit here in your frustration, your anxiety, your feelings of inadequacy as a teacher. This right here was not what you signed up for. You signed up for something that made you feel connected to your child, something that helped them learn in a one on one setting. But you’re scratching your head thinking ‘WHY DID I DO THIS?’ Then there’s the whole virtual learning challenge. Maybe you didn’t take the full plunge into homeschool, but you decided to keep your child home and do the virtual learning option. Only to be overwhelmed by frustrations when the technology doesn’t work, or your kid can’t hear the teacher over all the other children’s noises. 

You still find yourself sitting at the table with your child, as they spend countless hours sitting in front of a screen. You notice that they are beyond frustrated, but there’s not much you can do to soothe them because you also are extremely overwhelmed by this whole situation as well. 

You find yourself longing for the days when you could just put your kid on a bus and let someone else educate them. Giving you some time to work, rest, clean, shop or visit friends. Let’s face it, life is completely different for so many of us. The overwhelm that we are facing today can be overtaking. It’s hard to manage your time and patience when so much is new, and more challenging. But you need to remember that you are an incredible human being, that has given up so much to help your child learn in a safe and healthy environment. 

How can you keep calm on those days that just never seem to end? How can be a pillar of peace for your child when everything has turned crazy in their lives and yours? 

First, remember that they are struggling too. For many kids this new virtual reality and/ or homeschool adventure can be really challenging to undertake. It’s not that they’re at you. They’re mad because their life has changed. They had no say in what happened, none of us did. No one had the chance to avoid a global pandemic. Remember, that your child is just trying to navigate this new reality. So, when he gets frustrated with you, or his virtual teacher, or his homeschool math problems – that’s not your fault. 

Second, take breaks. It’s OK to walk away from the schoolwork. It’s OK to say “Hey you know what? We need the day off.” A day off doesn’t mean that they won’t be learning. Give them some Lego, let them build. Give them some paint, let them create. Get them an apron, let them bake. There’re so many ways to learn that don’t involve workbooks and schedules. There’re so many opportunities for them to learn about the world, about creating things, about having fun, and about taking care of themselves. 

Third, model good behaviour. Obviously, you don’t want to throw a tantrum in front of your child about how much you despise homeschooling and or virtual learning. But if you’ve accidentally done so. Move forward. Show your child that it’s ok to become frustrated, but that we don’t sit in that frustration. We recognize the frustration and we move forward. Nothing is normal right now, and that is something that your child is feeling also. Connect with them, tell them that you’re also struggling. Model to them that it’s OK to share your feelings, that it’s OK to be frustrated. 

Fourth, talk to your child. Ask your child whether there are ways that she thinks you both can improve this new chapter in your lives. Sit down, PUT YOUR PHONE AWAY. Talk to your child like you are talking to your friend. Not a student, not your kid, a friend. Ask them how they are feeling, tell them what you’re thinking. Brain storm ideas to move forward. 

Change is hard for everyone. We here at Schoolio understand that. Some of us handle it so much better than others. So, teach your child that even though change can be challenging, it doesn’t have to mean that you will both be miserable. There’s no instruction manual for how to homeschool during a pandemic and an increasingly changing world. Just take it day by day. Don’t be hard on yourself, don’t be hard on your child. You’re both trying, and there’s a lot to be said for that.

Jaymee Davis is a stay-at-home/work-at-home/homeschool mama. She wants you to enjoy homeschooling, even when it can be challenging. And is dedicated to helping you succeed in this new chapter.