8 Ways to Catch Up in Online School When You’re Starting Late
byConnections Academy
5 min to read
Whatever the reason for a delayed start, getting your student back up to speed when making a midyear switch to online school often requires some patience and dedication.
Learning how to change schools in the middle of the year or how to catch up on schoolwork once you do can be a smooth and stress-free process with these easy tips.
1. Prepare for a Catch-up Period
Being behind their peers can cause anxiety for kids and their families alike, so consider having a discussion about what students should expect before they begin their new classes. Create a plan for adjusting to the new virtual online school. Personalize your student’s learning spaces, get familiar with any new technology, portals, or apps before the first day of class, and collect any supplies they’ll need for projects or homework. Make sure your student is excited and feels prepared for their first day.
Set expectations for the first couple of weeks. Help your student understand that there might be more work than usual during the first couple weeks to bring them up to speed with the rest of their class.
Create a schedule or calendar to stay ahead of due dates. A daily or weekly calendar can help students visualize the work they have to do and help them learn how to manage their time by and most crucially—when this busy period will end.
Encourage your student to take breaks regularly during the day. Pushing hard will only lead to burnout, so make sure you factor in time to step away from learning throughout the school day. Staying fresh and well taken care of will help maintain their focus and their ability to take on the challenge of catching up.
Make time for fun and celebration. Switching to online school is no small feat. Consider planning family outings to celebrate your progress and your student’s perseverance.
2. Talk to Your Student’s Teachers
A child’s teachers are one of their best resources for success. As their Learning Coach, you can send an email, schedule an appointment to chat in a video call, or talk on the phone to introduce yourself and kickoff your parent-teacher collaboration. Being proactive about this before your student begins their online school classes can be a solid step to help them become familiar with what to expect for the rest of the year.
Your student’s teacher can help caregivers and Learning Coaches understand:
Which learning activities students need to complete, and their due dates. They might even be able to extend due dates for your student as they get comfortable.
Plan supplemental lessons to help them catch up if needed
Some schools even allow students to skip over material they’ve learned previously, or may offer an even higher level of flexibility through summer school courses or other course recovery options.
3. Read Through the Orientation Materials
When new students are just getting started, they may be tempted to skip school orientation sessions so they have one less thing to do. However, an online school’s orientation materials can provide a good overview of the expectations and their responsibilities for the coming year, as well as instructions on how to navigate the online systems, portals, applications, and where to find resources.
4. Practice Using Any New Technology
When starting a new virtual online school, it’s essential to have reliable access to the internet and understand how the technology and learning platforms work. Check to see if your device’s hardware and software meet the school’s system requirements and take advantage of any training sessions or how-to materials that may be available to you before the first day. Parents and students might want to download or create “cheat sheets” for each new system or look up helpful videos online to ensure a smooth school transfer.
5. Get Organized
Organization is one of the most important tools for anyone beginning virtual school—but particularly for those students who start the school year later than their peers. In order to help students hit the ground running, take time before their first day to set up and personalize a dedicated learning space for your student that is not only comfortable and free of distractions but also set up in a way that allows kids to easily find the learning materials they need for the day and stay on task.
6. Take Advantage of Resources
In online public schools like Connections Academy, virtual classroom sessions are typically recorded and available for students to rewatch at any time. Teachers may often schedule real-time review sessions or “office hours” from time to time when families can call or meet with them. Students who need extra support or guidance on how to change schools in the middle of the year or how to catch up on schoolwork can reach out to their school counselors for advice.
7. Evaluate After-school Activities
While having a wide range of clubs and teams to join after enrolling in a new school, you may want to wait until your student feels settled in to their new routing before adding any extracurricular activities—though you might want to take this on a case-by-case basis.
While clubs and activities can be beneficial for your virtual student’s socialization and development, it may be overwhelming to have so much on their plate at once while they’re still navigating a big change. However, if your student is handling the transition to online school well, remaining in step with an existing activity might provide much-needed familiarity and stability that can help them make new friends and become more involved in their new school.
8. Connect with Other Virtual School Families
Online school newbies can learn a lot from families who are already experienced with navigating online school and who can provide immense emotional support in the form of practical tips, encouragement, or just a listening ear.
If the school offers in-person field trips or other events, try to encourage your student to attend so they can make these valuable connections in person. If they are not accessible to you, ask what online resources are available for parents to connect online or in person.
Thinking About Switching to Online School?
Changing schools in the middle of the year is easier with support. Our certified teachers and knowledgeable enrollment specialists are here to answer any questions you may have and can help you build a personalized plan to make your child’s switch to online school easy. Download our free eGuide to learn more.
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