b'EXPERT TIPSSUPPORTING EARLY LEARNING AT HOMEBY ALICIA DIBARAAsnannies,manyofyouareexpectedto Sticking to a routine lets the child/ren knowteachyourcharges,supportlearning,and what you are doing, when it is occurring, andprovideassistanceorsupervisionfor how long it will last.homeworkinadditiontoyourotherresponsibilities.Thismaybeespeciallytrue Putting a time limit on your sessions will alsoduringthesummermonths,whereparents helptoensurebothyouandthechildrenand educators are concerned about children havethesameexpectationsforeachretaining information during their time off. focused learning session. Remember, youngchildrenlearnbyexperiencesandthroughAs an elementary school teacher, I often hearfrom parents and caregivers that continuing play, especially during the summer months, solearning at home can be a real challenge. this time may not be as lengthy as you mightThegoodnewsisthatwiththeright expect.Myruleofthumbforat-homeALICIA DIBARA informationandresources,youcanensure learningisroughly10-15minutesontasksthatyourtimeiswellspentonthemost suchasmath,sightwords,andphonemicAliciaDiBarahasbeenan crucial type of learning at home. awareness,thenanother10+minutesforelementaryschoolteacherin One of the first things you can do to make reading.EachgradelevelshouldhaveaHanover, MA, for over 20 years, at-home structured learning time successful recommended time limit for homework andwhere she currently teaches in a is to make a schedule.reading,sobesuretocheckyourchildssecond-gradeclassroom.She school handbook for specific guidance.holdsherbachelorsdegreein Children do best when they have a routineElementaryEducationand and clear expectations. Set up your learning It can also help to use the same languageEnglishfromEasternNazarene area in the same physical space each day and materials that the child uses at schoolandhermastersdegreein and have your learning sessions at the sameElementaryEducationfrom time each day whenever possible.whensupportingearlylearningathome.FitchburgStateUniversity.She Adding any visuals or manipulatives that theloves to read, go boating, and This will help to establish a consistent routine teachers are using in the classroom to yourtravel to Italy. She lives with her forbothyouandyourchargesandavoid workspacecanhelpstrengthenthechildshusband on Cape Cod, MA. stressful questions like, How much longer do understanding of key concepts.we have to do this? Or Why are we doingthis now? 14 Summer 2020|NannyMag.com'