middle school
A Study on Studying How parents can help when the lessons don’t come easy BY FIONA SOLTES
84 BACK TO SCHOOL | 2020
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ot long after the you, and what’s a strategy for coronavirus stay-atremoving the obstacle?’ ... And, home season started, of course, the simple truth is parents-turned-homeschoolthat our children really often just teachers took to social media want us to be empathetic, and to to joke about ways to get their say, ‘I’m here for you. I believe in kids “transferred” to someone you. I think you’re awesome.’” else’s class or implement courses Allyn, whose own children like honors laundry rather than are grown, says she learned complicated math. early on to create a supportive But in the midst of the stress learning environment at home. parents might have felt, the That includes a “safe, cozy, warm opportunities for learning and inviting” physical space, but became rich — and not just for also the security of a consistent the kids. routine and of encouragement. Before the new school “I’m not a big math lover, and year is in full swing, it when I was young, I was might be a good time afraid,” Allyn says. to open dialogue “But I remember ONLINE about what that my father ASSISTANCE worked — and set me up a little Parents can find resources that may what didn’t — in space in his help supplement their the previous one. office with him. children’s homework at “We love our He was nearby. It scholastic.com. children, and of wasn’t that he was course do not want helping, but that he them to have problems, was right there.” and that is a good instinct She also speaks of parents and good impulse,” says Pam being “co-learners” with kids, Allyn, author, motivational asking them how they go about speaker and senior vice president solving their equations, having of innovation and development them describe a plot or explain at Scholastic Education. “But very their scientific experiments. often it is most helpful to be in Parents can maintain a state the stance of a listener instead of of inquiry with their kids. That a problem-solver. might mean, for example, asking “Ask, ‘What didn’t work today? how they pushed through when What’s feeling hard right now?’ they got to a difficult part in their ... Instead of saying, ‘I’ll bet you reading, and then complimenting couldn’t do that because you the strategies they used. couldn’t read that hard word,’ try Kids can find comfort in something like, ‘I’m interested the knowledge that things are to know what might be stopping difficult for adults, too — and >