At the beginning of my teaching career, I found myself spending my evenings and free periods in my email inbox. Much of the time, it was simply supportive, wonderful family members asking questions about homework. I didn’t blame them – there often isn’t a reason for a grown adult to stay up-to-date on 4th-grade math skills! However, it was a huge drain on my time and energy.
It took me a long time to come up with systems to offer support that left me feeling balanced. With many of our students learning from home, these systems seem even more relevant today as we try to support parents with math distance learning.
Why Should We Support Parents with Math Distance Learning?
As I mentioned above, the average adult has been out of the elementary classroom for a long time. That fact, added with the stress of everything else going on in the world, often leads to frustrated and overwhelmed at-home learning support. At the end of the day, if we support parents with distance learning, our students are also being supported. The hidden benefit, however, is that supported parents rarely email – and if they do, the emails are generally much more positive than the alternative.
Simple Ways to Support Parents with Math Distance Learning.
Front-Load Parent Support
A few years into teaching, I had the “Aha-moment” that care-givers feel much more comfortable with supporting a struggling student on the front end of a unit, rather than at the back end. This lead me to the system of sending emails BEFORE I taught the material.
Care-givers feel much more comfortable with supporting a struggling student on the front end of a unit, rather than at the back end.
On my class website, or in a simple email or newsletter, I would:
- Outline what the next math unit was about. Sometimes I’d briefly outline a flexible timeline of what we’d be teaching when.
- Include all relevant vocabulary (especially important for parents who are frustrated with “new math terms”)
- Insert helpful learning tools like pictures of anchor charts or links to video tutorials.
I initially struggled with the idea that a student might work ahead in the unit. Then I realized that it’s a wonderful thing for a child to come into my math classroom feeling confident! All worries went away as I watched formerly struggling students thrive. They felt like they weren’t at a learning deficit for the first time.
Added benefits of front-loading support
- Far fewer parent emails with questions about homework. As they got used to the system they knew where to look.
- Easier communication with tutors and support staff. We were all on the same page, I just had to add them to my email list.
- Students that felt “smarter” and better prepared.
- More time to do enrichment and extra projects.
Record or Link To Examples
Record yourself working through example problems. Short for time? Link to videos already created online, or simply link to a helpful photo of an anchor chart. Post a link to the example on your digital math assignment.
Click here to learn how to link feedback to Google Forms.
Include QR Codes on Printed Worksheets
This is an extension of the last tip. If you are sending home hard copies of your learning material, add a QR code to worksheets with links to example videos. Find a free online QR code generator, create a code for a pre-created instructional video, save that code as an image, and copyright onto your worksheets. Students and parents will know exactly where to look for support.
Click here for a post with detailed instructions.
Set up “Office Hours” for Parent Support.
Parents will often still need personalized help, now more than ever. It’s much easier to support parents with math distance learning. them without feeling overwhelmed if you have given them set times and expectations for offering help. Structure this in a way that works best for you. Ask them to join in on the last 5 minutes of 1-on-1 zoom session with their child, offer a 30-minute window once a week where you can answer specific questions for all the parents interested at once, or just say that you’re happy to take parent emails about content on Thursdays from 4 – 5.
When the questions are coming at an expected time, it’s easier to address similar questions all at once and keeps you from feeling like you’re getting constant interruptions.
Websites That Offer Effortless Support for Parents With Math Distance Learning.
How Much Time Is This Going To Take?
Most of the time you’ll send out that front-loaded email and then hear crickets. But honestly, during some difficult units, supporting parents during math distance learning is still going to take up some time. But students learning and community with families will benefit exponentially.
Products Mentioned In this Blog Post:
Free Sample of Digital Sticky Notes
4th Grade Digital and Printable Anchor Charts
3rd Grade Digital and Printable Anchor Charts
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