BlogStudyHow Not to Fall Behind While Homeschooling During the Coronavirus

How Not to Fall Behind While Homeschooling During the Coronavirus

It’s no news to anyone that we are entering new and unprecedented territory as quarantine sets in and normal schooling is chucked out the window. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, however, the unfortunate reality is that you are still going to be expected to keep up with your normal school standards.

Homework is still due and classes are still running, but with this drastic change in circumstance, it may seem like a daunting task to approach!

That being said, here are our top five tips for making sure you don’t fall behind while homeschooling during the coronavirus.

Let’s dive in!

Tip #1: Plan for the Day and Week
Tip #2: Check Your Online Classroom Platform Daily
Tip #3: Create a Designated Study Space
Tip #4: Make the Most of Your Online Space
Tip #5: Keep Your Mental Health and Well-being in Check 

Tip #1: Plan for the Day and Week

It’s important to keep a semblance of routine within your day to ensure you are getting all the work done that is required of you. One of the easiest ways to achieve this is to plan ahead.

At the beginning of each week, print or draw out a weekly planner. It should look something like this:

At the top of the column under each day, fill in the compulsory online classes you have to attend. This not only ensures you don’t miss any vital classes, but it also gives you a visual representation of how much time you have remaining.

Underneath the compulsory classes, fill in any tasks you have to complete for any assignments or exams coming up. This forces you to acknowledge your upcoming assessments (instead of procrastinating and pretending like they don’t exist) and plan them out accordingly. 

By completing these two steps, you’ll have a good idea of how much free time you have left each day. This is useful for you to then add in homework as you receive it!

The final result should look something like this:

Keep in mind that this planner works as a guide only. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you don’t finish all the tasks you planned – move them around and just make sure they are finished by the due date.!

This way, however, you will be able to ration your time correctly and stop yourself from procrastinating. 

Remember, time management is a vital part of study, even more so during self-isolation.

Tip #2: Check Your Online Classroom Platform Daily

As your classes move entirely online, communication becomes more important than ever. It also becomes more self-dependent than ever as your morning assemblies and daily announcements have now been moved to the digital sphere.

Make sure you check your Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams, Sentral, Canvas or emails daily!

It’s a simple but essential step to keeping up with all online communications from your teachers and school. 

Extra resources, careers opportunities, assignment reminders and exam information can all be communicated through virtual means outside of your classroom calls. It’s up to you to make sure you remain in the loop and on top of your academic life!

Tip #3: Create a Designated Study Space

Moving to online classes would’ve no doubt begun to blur your study space and personal space. It’s important to keep them apart so your mind and body know when to switch on and switch off. 

If you’re taking a break between studying, move to your bed or another space in the house. The physical change in space allows your brain to switch to relaxation mode. 

If you are “in class” or working, always move to your desk. Your brain will come to automatically associate this with school, and revamp its focus. It’s also more convenient and less distracting for all your study materials to be in one space. 

Keeping the two worlds separate is important for your mental health and it enables you to retain a school/life balance despite them being in such close proximity. It also maximises your productivity as distractions are kept physically away from your designated study space.

Tip #4: Make the Most of Your Online Space

Just like how there are various tools to help you with your study at school, there is also an abundance of helpful apps to help you study at home. Make the most of your online study by giving some of these a download!

Forest (Apple/Android)

Forest is a great app if you get easily get distracted by your phone while you’re studying. 

The app allows you to set a timer, at the beginning of which you plant a tree/some trees. For the duration of the time set, you are not allowed to leave the app, otherwise, your trees will die and you will be left tree corpses on your land as a reminder of your failure to be productive. 

It’s an odd but effective app that stops you from falling into the rabbit holes of social media and ensures you can sustain studying for longer. 

Tip: Focus also has ambient sounds (e.g. cafe ambience) that you can play during the time set if you hate working in a dead quiet environment!

Self Control (Mac)/Cold Turkey (PC)

Self Control and Cold Turkey are applications that block your laptop from certain websites for periods of time. If blocking your phone only makes you procrastinate on your laptop, these applications are great to sustain your productivity!

Gmail 

As aforementioned, it’s important to stay in the loop with your teachers and school. Download the Gmail app for Apple or Android and connect your DET and/or school email to your phone to ensure you are receiving notifications as new information comes through. 

This way, you won’t miss a thing!

Tip: Similarly, download any communications software your school uses on your phone e.g. Canvas or Google Classroom. You are far more likely to pay attention to notifications on your phone than to actively seek them when you are on your laptop. 

Night Light (PC)/Night Shift (Mac)

With the move to online classes, no doubt students are studying into the night. If you get most of your studying before bed, it’s important to switch on Night Light or Night Shift on your laptop.

The blue light that is typically emitted by your laptop limits your body’s production of melatonin, which in turn, stops you from feeling sleepy. This can affect your body clock and stop you from getting a good night’s sleep.

By switching to Night Light/Night Shift, your laptop screen filters out all/most of the blue light being emitted by your laptop so your sleep is not affected. It’s also just easier on the eyes. 

Tip #5: Keep Your Mental Health and Well-being in Check 

You don’t realise how important the school timetable is until you start going without it!

Without designated times for recess and lunch, it becomes easy for some to forget to eat food, drink water and care for their body. It can also become a bad habit to skip breakfast and wake up ten minutes before class.

Keep your food and water in check. Make sure you are eating regular meals and keeping thoroughly hydrated throughout the day. 

You can’t be studying effectively if your body is not functioning effectively.

Moreover, online classes have no doubt ceased what used to be regular social interactions with friends and classmates. Your social life is a large part of your mental health so make sure you are regularly socialising with friends, over a call or other means. 

It’s also important to reach out to others, as for some, this quarantine can be especially isolating and mentally straining. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed in these new circumstances, especially if you’re also in the midst of your final year and struggling to keep up.

Here are some free resources and contacts if you or anyone you know may be in this situation:

To not fall behind while homeschooling, your health and welling will be just as important as your study skills. 

So there you have it! Five top tips to ensure you get the most out of these difficult months. Though it may be daunting and confusing at first, with a little bit of practice and skill, you’ll be at the top of your game in no time!

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To find out more and get started with an inspirational HSC tutor and mentor, get in touch today or give us a ring on 1300 267 888!

 

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