A Principal’s Guide to Sur(thri)ving Remote Learning

As I had the chance to see my students and families—socially distanced, of course—pick up their textbooks and meet with their teachers to understand what’s in store as we open remotely, one resounding comment echoed time and time again.

“I’m not going to lie, Mrs. Essalat. Distance learning has been rough.”

It doesn’t matter which school, in which city, in which part of the country. The frustration is palpable and the desire to find our footing in a situation that is nothing short of abnormal has everyone begging for the familiarity of at-school learning once more.

As a principal, I totally get it. I want things to be back-to-normal, too. But, I also respect the process that we are going through—growing pains and heartache pangs that are helping educators become stronger teachers; enabling students to grow into adaptable scholars; and, allowing parents to gain further insight into what it truly takes to educate our children. We will get through this, together, coming out better versions of ourselves on the other side, no matter how wonky and messy the process is.

I promise—you can “surthrive” remote learning, and here are my tried and true ways to do so:

1. Remember that you are not alone. Educators everywhere are champing at the bit to collaborate with you to make remote learning successful. Reach out to us when you are feeling overwhelmed, when you and your student are waving the white flag and feeling defeated, when you can’t seem to access the correct Zoom link or learning platform. Call us, text us, email us—teachers are team players by nature, and we love nothing more than to problem solve. We’ve got you.

2. Growth can and will occur. Learning doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Teachable moments can and do happen anywhere, in any circumstance. While it doesn’t feel ideal and is an enormous burden to carry, remote learning is still going to offer your child the chance to gain knowledge in the crucial subjects of their academic development. Have their daily schedule posted around the house so that everyone is on the same page in keeping them on-task. Set alerts on your phone to check-in on them to make sure they haven’t strayed to YouTube or Netflix in lieu of Math. Check their homework at night, just as you do when they are at school, holding them accountable in putting forth their best effort. And, make it a point to review with them what they learned during the day, not settling for the typical, “I don’t know” and “Nothing” as their response. Make online school the focus of your conversations.

3. Increase your child’s capacity for self-reliance. You can’t do it all—no one can. This is not the time to try to be the hero (because you already are!). With your student learning remotely, it’s the perfect opportunity to help them hone their independence skills. Task them with making their lunch the night before, or have an area designated where they can find their mid-morning snack on their own. Have their workspace outfitted with the supplies they need throughout the day, and help them get into the routine of cleaning up their desk and charging their device each evening. Tasking them with personal accountability, just as we do in the classroom with specific jobs and functions, helps them recognize that they are productive members of a larger community. And, it takes a few things off of your plate in the process.

4. Get everyone back on schedule. It has been easy to slip out of our daily routines when learning from home. Alarms have gone out the window as frantic kiddos now awake and jump on their Zoom calls five minutes before class begins. But, this is school, and kids need to understand that their engagement in learning is serious and requires preparation, even if their commute time and distance is much shorter. Get yourself and your family members back into a morning practice of waking up, brushing teeth, getting dressed, and having breakfast before logging on, eyes bright and brains alert. No pajamas. No lounging while learning. Clothed, fed, and sitting upright at either their desk or a table. Guaranteed that this will help everyone feel a sense of purpose and resolve, even in remote learning.

Some days are going to be a breeze while others will be peppered with potholes and missteps. The most important thing that we need to do, together, is make sure that your children, our students, stay on-track, engaged, and growing in the wisdom and know-how they need to be academically successful long after remote learning has passed us by.