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Bill Klaproth:(Host)The Healthy Hero Podcast tackles many topics that are top of mind for healthcare workers. A group that cannot telecommute and must put their faith and trust for remote learning in the hands of their childcare providers. Alley Hart is a first-grade teacher in Harford County Public School System, and she is with us to share tips on remote learning for children, including tools to help your child stay motivated, how to manage remote learning and what parents will need to do to set their children up for success. This is the Healthy Hero Podcast from UM Upper Chesapeake Health. I'm Bill Klaproth, Alley thank you so much for your time. It is great to talk with you. So first off, can you give us tips on what parents need to set up a homeschool/distance learning space?

Alley Hart: (Guest) Yeah. So there's no real right or wrong answer to this, it's whatever kind of space that you have available in your house. That could be a small table. It could be a little lap desk. It could be a corner with some questions. It's just whatever way that the child learns best. And then of course having, some organizations, some drawers, some bands, some baskets, just something where the student can find all the materials necessary. So they're not bothering anyone when they're looking for certain things.

Host: So it sounds like a comfortable space where they can be attentive to their studies and then make sure that it's organized as well.

Alley: And for younger learners' labels with, visuals just something where they can find it. So labels are really helpful. and yeah, like you said, just no distractions as possible. So just so they can learn best and headphones, that will really help with the technology piece of it.

Host: Yeah, That's really good. So it sounds like. a structured space that they know they're going to every day. And then do you have tips on how to keep kids motivated to stay on task?

Alley: So the best thing I can suggest is having expectations and rules, and then coming up with those together with your child. So having visuals of that, so coming up too, coming up with it together, and then even taking pictures of your child doing that activity and then posting it, or maybe having them draw it, just something where they can really understand those expectations. And then also the use of a timer is really helpful. So using a timer for the amount of time that they're working. So like 10 minutes working on this independent activity. And then you get to take a break with your favorite toy or your favorite, playdough or kinetic stand or something that will help them get motivated through the task.

Host: So expectations and rules and use a timer for tasks. So that's really good advice. And then what about recommendations for keeping kids calm and teaching them balance? If they get frustrated with distance learning, of course, it's easier when you're in person, the teachers in the room with you. What about keeping kids calm and teaching them balance?

Alley: Yeah. So having a space, maybe separate from the learning space, that's calming with maybe like a bean bag or something squishy that they can squeeze with their hands when they get frustrated. And making sure that they understand proactively that, if you get upset, that's okay. We all get upset. We get frustrated. You can go to this space and have a timer in there as well. So they know that they can go in there for that amount of time. And then you can talk about it or maybe help them through the issue, but having that space so they can calm down and get re-energized and ready to work again.

Host: And then what advice would you give parents from your point of view as a teacher on managing homeschooling?

Alley: So my number one thing would be setting a routine and a schedule, and then doing that consistently. So waking up the same amount of time. Which obviously, if we have a schedule for synchronous learning, that's not going to be difficult to have a schedule, but getting up, getting dressed, having breakfast before starts and then again, being in that quiet space, ready to learn every single day and then always being positive and getting positive reinforcement to your kid. Just anything that they're doing great. Like just tell them everyone likes to hear that. If your child likes stickers or something like that's good too. but the more positive you are, the more positive your child will be about distance learning.

Host: So make a schedule, be consistent, and be positive. And then any final thoughts Alley on making sure that they have the best experience possible.

Alley: Yeah, I think just being there for them as much as possible, like I said, being positive, everyone's going to do great as long as we all understand that we're in this together and that everyone's learning as you go. So just giving those educators that grace and communicating with them as well. So just as long as the parent and the teacher are communicating, then everyone will be on the same page with their child and their success rate.

Host: I was just thinking of that word grace as you said it as we all work through this together. Alley thank you so much for your time. We really appreciate it.

Alley: Thanks for having me.

Host: That's Alley Hart, and for more information, please visit umuch.org/hero. And if you found this podcast helpful, please share it on your social channels and check out the full podcast library for topics of interest to you. This is the Healthy Hero Podcast from UM Upper Chesapeake Health. Thanks for listening.