3 ways distance learning has been good for kids in our community

Adjusting to at-home learning has been tricky for many families, teachers, and kids. Lots of kids have struggled, and for different reasons. A big one is missing that in-person interaction with the teachers who help them thrive every day.

But we’ve also heard that some kids who learn and think differently are doing well with some aspects of distance learning. That’s been the case for the daughter of our Understood’s head of editorial, Karin Bilich. We shared her story with our Facebook community, and we heard a lot in response. Many parents replied with their own reasons at-home learning has been a plus for their family.

Here’s what they said.

1. Improved focus

“My sixth-grade son with ADHD is doing great! He’s able to take lots of breaks and do all the fidgeting he wants. He’s not distracted by 30 other kids. He misses his teacher and friends for sure, but his schoolwork has really improved!”

“My son does much better with the online learning. Online learning cuts out the classroom distractions and he can focus on what’s on the screen in front of him.”

2. Free to learn at their own pace

“This has been amazing for my seventh grader. He still has sessions with his reading tutor via Zoom, but this change in structure has been magnificent for removing the external pressure to work at a pace that isn’t natural for him.”

“Although it’s not easy and he needs a lot of organizing to get schoolwork done, my son is feeling liberated and energized from this social distancing freedom. He can go at his pace and isn’t always trying to keep up. He has even mentioned how much energy he seems to have not being at school.”

“[My children] are thrilled. All twice exceptional and thrive with compacted learning at their own pace and using technology.”

“My 16-year-old with ADHD is doing very well with online learning. My son loves being able to know exactly what the assignments are, the exact day and time they are due, and having the freedom to do the work whenever and however he wants to.”

3. Helping parents see how their kids learn best

“As a parent, I’m going to rock my next IEP meeting! I have a better understanding of how my kid is learning, and how he doesn’t. What it takes to get him to do the assignments, and what kinds of support he needs to turn in work that meets standards.”

“I can see firsthand how [my kids] respond to different techniques and positive praise from their teachers, as they are interacting online. I love to see what makes them tick and motivates them to do the next exercise without too much pushing. I found that allowing my kids a little more freedom with how they learn has proven very rewarding.”

Join us on Facebook and let us know how your child has been doing with distance learning. Then get tips on how you can help your child with distance learning.