In the new world of COVID-19, educators and parents are facing the difficulty of transforming what our traditional view of a classroom looks like. As school districts make decisions to transition to virtual learning, parents have taken on the role of educators in home school settings. Therefore, parents are facing new challenges and a need to transform homes into educational classrooms.
Here are some helpful suggestions to foster an environment that promotes learning in your home!
Set Up a Learning Area
Before beginning homeschooling or virtual learning, set up a designated area in your home as your child’s virtual learning environment. Designating an area in your home specifically used for school or academic time will help create a space for learning that mimics the classroom. When finished, this area should have all the instructional materials needed and be free from distractions.
Become Familiar with the Curriculum
If you have decided to home school your child, research curriculums, and grade standards that you can use to teach your child from home. Look at your state and local district websites for resources available to you.
> HERE is a resource page for homeschooling from the Texas Education Agency
If you are participating in virtual learning, it may be helpful to familiarize yourself with learning standards and goals for the academic year. If possible, provide your child access to resources and materials that will supplement his/her learning.
> HERE is a list of companies offering free subscriptions and activities for kids
Follow a Daily Schedule
Ask your child’s BCBA or teacher for a daily schedule to help establish routines and clear expectations. A daily schedule provides a guideline to use your educational time effectively.
Set SMART Goals
It is important to set realistic goals for yourself and your child. This is a unique time in your life and the life of your child. Therefore, set goals with your BCBA and teacher that are attainable for your child’s cognitive and social growth. Also, make sure the goals are realistic for a virtual learning environment and use the resources you have available.
Implementing these strategies will provide a guideline for a structured setting that helps foster learning while we develop an understanding of a new classroom design! For more support, contact your BCBA or teacher to help navigate these new virtual learning environments!
WRITTEN BY: Courtney Gorman, M.A., BCBA, LBA
Hi everyone! My name is Courtney Gorman. I am so excited to be part of the team at Apara Autism Center, working with children with Autism, as a BCBA!
My family is full of teachers, principals and speech therapists so we always say it runs in our blood! After college, I worked as a special education preschool teacher for a non-profit organization in Manhattan for 3 years. As a teacher, I worked with children with Autism in an 8:1:2 classroom setting. While pursuing my Master of Arts in Professional Behavior Analysis through the Florida Institute of Technology, I decided to leave the classroom and work at a private developmental clinic in NYC. I worked there for the last two years as a Case Supervisor working with children with Autism and their families to help reach their goals and improve their quality of life.
I look forward to meeting everyone and working together, utilizing ABA Therapy to help your children succeed!
