We’ve all been waiting for a lot of things to happen -- for vaccines in our arms, for businesses to reopen, … and for a return to in-person learning. That is now becoming a reality in some states and the District of Columbia. President Biden wants schools to open nationwide. So what do we want for our child? IT DEPENDS.
Even assuming the school districts are persuaded that it is safe, the choices are difficult. All remote learning, all in-person or a hybrid of the two. Which is best for your child depends largely on your child, the level of their need for support, and their support system.
CHOOSE IN-SCHOOL LEARNING IF:
1. your child has special learning needs or emotional/behavioral issues that are better supported at school.
2. your child needs some support with virtual learning AND both parents, or a single parent, needs to work full-time, even if at home.
3. even if your child is doing well, no one is available at home to provide any support with remote learning.
4. your child needs to work on social skills and/or has a strong need to interact with same-age peers.
CHOOSE TO CONTINUE WITH VIRTUAL LEARNING IF:
1. your child or someone at home has a medical condition that might make them high risk for developing serious complications from COVID.
2. your child has been doing well learning in this virtual environment, is reasonably content to continue doing it, and does not have a strong need for same-age peer interaction.
3. Your child is doing well enough in the current virtual environment, and you are sufficiently concerned that your child might get the virus or bring it home, that you feel pretty good about having them continue to learn virtually at this time to avoid anyone getting COVID.
Hope this helps. Contact me at sylvia@winikeducationalconsulting.com with any questions or concerns.