How to Make Virtual School Easier

Wow, school looks quite different this year huh? I would have never guessed that we would be doing virtual school right now, but here we are. Now, we have to figure out how to make this work without going crazy. Wouldn’t you love to know how to make virtual school easier? If you knew how to make virtual school easier, it would definitely make your life easier and give you a few more seconds to breathe!

The girls have been in virtual school for almost a month now. Things are going fine as far as connectivity and all that thank goodness, but it sure has been hectic juggling it all. I’m a work from home mom so it can all be overwhelming. It’s too many Zooms if you ask me! Makes me wanna zoom up out this house! I have Zoom meetings, the kids have zoom meetings, and I have a whole newborn so at times it feels like I can’t keep up! I’m only one person ya know? We are so glad we have a support system, but man it has been rough!

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12 Ways to Make Virtual School Easier

We’ve been at this virtual school thing for a while now and I have finally figured out how to make virtual school just a tad bit easier. If I come across any other ideas that help make remote learning easier I’ll definitely be adding them to this list. Make sure you pin this post so you can refer to it throughout the school year. Also, subscribe to my newsletter so you don’t miss any other parenting tips and hacks that will make mom life (dad life too!) easier for you.

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Give Yourself Grace

First of all, give yourself grace mama. This homeschool life/virtual school life is not normal for most of us. I normally work in the office while my kids are at school and daycare. Now, I’m working from home and we are all home the majority of the time which makes things hectic and I have to figure more things out in my everyday life that I normally didn’t have to.

It’s okay if the day didn’t go as planned. Read some of these mom affirmations and try again tomorrow. I promise everything is going to be okay even though it doesn’t feel like it right now. The ish is hitting the fan currently, but we have to get used to this madness.

Your child wants to go to school and be with their friends. This is so different for them and a hot mess! They are basically at a screen most of the day and the experience is just not the same. Some kids are bored, some will have to work harder to learn remotely, and some just hate virtual school and don’t want to do it at all. We are all learning how to deal with this. It’s going to take time. Give your kids grace and a lot of it.

Teachers Need Grace Too

The teachers are going crazy too believe it or not. You don’t think they want their kids in their classes with them? They miss their babies. It would be so much easier if they were in the class with them. Teachers are figuring this out as they go too. Some haven’t even used Zoom or Google classrooms before and had to learn new software and everything. They even had to totally change their lesson plans to make it fit this virtual school thing.

I know this is frustrating. I know it’s overwhelming. It’s not easy at all. Try to stay positive and help your child stay positive too. Try not to think about how crazy this all is or freak them out about it. Encourage them. Let them know that they will get through this school year. Check out our FREE printable affirmation cards for kids and a list of 100 affirmations for kids to help them get through the day with a positive attitude.

Ask for Help

You may feel like a Supermom or Superdad, but trust, you don’t have to do it all alone unless you absolutely have to. I know some parents have no other choice because family doesn’t live nearby or they are the only parent in the home etc. I get it, but sometimes you have to get creative. If you have more than one child, make sure your kids are helping out with everything as much as they can to take the load off of you.

Your kids understand that this is a lot for you and will be more willing to help out than you think. There are so many things they can do to help like making their own breakfast and lunch or helping their little sister get into her Google Classroom or simply helping with the baby during their breaks.

If you have family or a friend that’s available to stop by for an hour or two, please ask them to do so. My husband’s parents have been such a huge help to us and we truly appreciate it! Also, if you have a significant other make sure they are helping out as much as they can as well. If you’re both working from home, try to take breaks and lunch breaks at different times so one parent can help the kids and one parent can focus on their own work without any interruption.

If your significant other actually has to go to work, have them help the kids when they get home. He can help with homework, dinner, and winding down to get prepared for the next day. You have to figure out how to tag-team this thing! Teamwork makes the dream work especially now! We all have to work together.

Set a Routine

Make a routine and stick with it. I promise it will help so much. I wake the kids up the same time every morning. Then they wash up, get dressed, have breakfast, and they are ready to start their school day 10-15 mins before their class starts. I go over their schedule for the day and everyone knows what’s going on. They know when snack times are, when lunchtime is, recess, and when their school day ends.

Make a Dedicated Learning Space

Your learning space doesn’t have to be all fancy by any means so don’t stress it. I have noticed that having a dedicated learning space does help tremendously though. Rather than letting your child just lay in bed for virtual school, have an area for them to do their remote learning. It can be a corner in their room, the living room, kitchen, half of your home office, the spare room, the loft, whatever extra space you have available. We used half of our home office to set up a dedicated learning space for the girls. Click HERE for a tour.

You can simply give them a desk or fold up table and call it a day or you can set up some things and make it feel just a tad more like a classroom. Do whatever you’d like, however you’d like, and whatever you can afford that’s not going to stress you out.

Dollar Tree, Target Dollar Spot, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, and even Amazon have some classroom decor for the low.

Write out or print the schedule for the week

Write or print out the school schedule(s) for the week and put it somewhere everyone can see it so everybody knows what’s going on. This way everyone is all on the same page. My husband also works from home sometimes so he is able to help out so having everything laid out so he doesn’t have to ask me any questions is a lifesaver. We also are lucky enough to have his parents help out as well so they know what needs to be done too.

Set Alerts for Class Times and Breaks

All of these times can make you crazy real quick so stay ahead of the game. It’s so easy to totally forget about a class or remember at the last minute and be 15 minutes late. Ask me how I know! Set those reminders every single day. Put class times in your calendar on your phone or computer so that you receive an alert while you’re working or doing things around the house so you don’t forget when the next class is. You can also have your older kids do the same thing.

Alexa also comes in handy because you can set alarms or reminders with her as well especially if you have Amazon Echos throughout your home. Having to remember one less thing helps a ton.

Teach Your Child How to Use That Mute Button ASAP

The mute button may be one of the most important things your child will learn about remote learning. Things can get a little crazy at home with everybody having to do things at the same time and whatnot. Some kids in my daughter’s kindergarten class have not mastered that mute button yet and when I tell you it’s a hot mess at times. Learning how to mute will save you and the teachers from pulling hair out. Trust me.

Keep an Eye on Your Child

Make sure your child is paying attention and following the teacher’s instructions. I know you can’t always be right there with your child especially if you’re working from home, but pop in on them every now and then. You can also use a baby monitor if you have one on hand to keep an eye on them while you’re in another room or at work.

Let them know how important it is to listen and not interrupt the class by being silly on camera or making noises and talking while the teacher is talking. Act as if they were actually in class. Just because they are at home doesn’t mean they can just do whatever they want while virtual class is in session.

Bookmark Important Links

Knowing how to get to everything for virtual school is crucial so make sure you bookmark important links. This will make things easier for you and your child and make things go smoother and more quickly.

If you have a younger child, you can click on the bookmarked items each morning in preparation for the school day. Your child may not be able to get to different classes and activities themselves, but you can easily navigate to everything and have it ready to go without being lost and rushing at the last minute.

Praise Your Child

Let your child know how proud of them you are for handling all this madness! Let your child know when they are doing a good job focusing and getting things done as well as helping out around the house. This will make them feel special because they are! It will also keep them motivated during these difficult times. Hype them up!

Ask Questions

If you’re struggling with something or your child is, make sure you keep in contact with their teachers often and early. Don’t wait. Get things under control now. We are all learning how to do this virtual school thing. Ask all the questions and don’t feel bad for doing so.

Ask your child questions about their day and let them know you’re there for them. See what went well or what didn’t go so well. What could have been done better?

Don’t Forget Breaks and Fun

Usually, the school already has breaks scheduled through the student’s day so this should be easy to do. Make sure your child is getting some time away from their computer or device and stretching and getting those wiggles out.

Make sure you stock up on their favorite snacks and things to eat for lunch. Also, include some fun activities and go outside for some fresh air. Take a walk, let them play outside, ride their bike, or have a lunch picnic.

I hope virtual school gets better with time. Hopefully, this list is a start for you. If you found this helpful, please share it with your family and friend and pin it. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @MeetTheChambers for mom humor about working from home, virtual school and more.