Wednesday, October 28, 2020

 School Work Refusal

Tip Sheet for Parents  

One of the struggles that parents and teachers alike are talking about is trying to get students to generalize school-behavior at home…. in an environment they have been practicing home behavior. For some students, we understand that work avoidance is a particular issue. Since things cannot happen in the traditional classroom, here are some suggestions to make schooling as consistent as possible. 


-Make space for learning Many adults have a specific area of the home in which they do work, and it’s important that you create a similar space for your child. Your children will achieve their best work in a quiet, comfortable, and dedicated space that is strictly devoted to learning. This space should be a different set-up than where they normally play games or watch television, if your home will allow for that. 


-Don’t underestimate the power of a schedule To the extent possible, experts recommend keeping everyone on the same or similar sleeping schedule. Write down or post the schedule provided to you by your students' teachers.  Having a clear vision of what is expected of your child will help them to understand the expectations. Experts also recommend helping students to prioritize; to learn  to create goals, tasks, and deadlines, just like adults do when they go to work.

 

-Maintain breaks including lunch and recess Routines and schedules are extremely important for children at school, and this is no different for at-home school. Children will function best if they maintain their routine as close to normal as possible. Setting alarms similar to those they would encounter at school can be helpful for keeping them on a schedule. Around lunch time, encourage them to get up, get some fresh air, go for a walk or bike ride, or have a snack so that they are not sedentary for the entire day.  


-Allow Your Student Some Choice While maintaining an at home “school schedule’ allow for some choice and flexibility, depending on your students' *(and family) needs. During a ‘session’ allow them to choose if they are going to work on math or reading. Offer encouragement and positive reinforcement for efforts made. This is new territory for all, and as we all learn to be effective in this situation, we need to remember to offer positive encouragement for efforts towards completion of work. Even if the entire assignment isn't completed.With reluctant learners in the traditional learning environment, we often encourage teachers to express verbal approval for any sign of beginning the assignment, even if the student just completes a small part of the work. 


For more information, reach out by email, or check out the links below: 



Charlton Elementary School

Charlton Elementary School
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