Tips and Tricks to share with DSC Families

Working together has never been more challenging or important. Our communication with families tells us that we could all do with some fresh ideas to make remote learning a little bit easier.

So, we asked our families to share their Tips and Tricks for keeping our young people motivated, active, happy, healthy and having breaks from screens!

Thank you to all the Year 7, 8 & 9 families who took the time to complete the survey. You’ve listed numerous positive coping strategies for us to share and we will summarise these below.

Ms Lisa Chiuchiarelli

Head of Middle School

What's your creative way of getting your kids to have breaks from screens during remote learning?

Turning the Wifi off at lunchtime.
Having snacks outside.
Going for walks during break times.
Charging devices overnight in a common area, instead of near where you sleep.
Making creative snacks and lunches at break times.
Learning a new skill like gardening, cooking, knitting, soccer tricks etc.
Playing music through the house at recess and lunch times.
Hanging out with a pet.
Drawing or colouring in.
House chores.

What has your child enjoyed about remote learning?

Working at their own pace.
Listening to music while they learn.
Being responsible for their own learning routine.
Being able to ask the teacher a question using the chat function means they aren't as nervous to seek help because the other students won't know.

Motivation is a real challenge but having a consistent routine can support our young people to self-motivate. What kind of routine do you have at home that helps your kids prepare for learning?

Waking up an hour before class begins to prepare for the day. Having a set time for lunch breaks Going out for exercise at a set time after school.
While my child and I both get to "sleep in" for an extra hour during remote vs onsite, the routine is the same. Get up, get dressed, make the bed and have breakfast all before school starts at 9am. After school I still ask "so how was your day" even though I mostly know as I check in during the day, being here with her all day long as I work from home, and I offer to make her a usual after school snack.
Get up at a certain time Recess and lunch at certain times Laptops off at a certain time.
We all work in different areas and rotate the area weekly. We take it in turns to prepare lunch on a day that suits us and our work schedules.
Positive vibe in the household, no tv during the day, limited screen time, lots of outdoor activities even in the rain, lots of physical activities, cooking with mum and or dad. Reassure them on a regular basis, kids want to hear the words well done or good job.
We have the same routine every day and make sure we have dinner together. We also spend one-on-one time together every day.

Students and schools perform better when there is a strong learning partnership between the school and the home. How does your family promote learning in the home and how can the school support this partnership to grow?

A good set up is imperative, where the child feels good and safe to study. Establishing a strong connection with your child so that they feel comfortable to open up when they need to. Make learning fun for them rather than a strain. For parents working from home, like myself, create a fun workstation where you work in the same space. It makes it fun for them and you are near them for encouragement.
We strive to have a positive and engaging relationship with DSC staff in all areas. We talk positively about what is being learned and funny experiences.
Being able to contact the teachers through Compass and up level or change the work is just amazing. The teachers are really flexible and can easily find a resource e.g EP to suit the level of the student.
I try to be aware of everything that is due and when, so I can ask: "How is your xxx CAT going?", and "So what homework have you got this arvo?". I like that I can look at Compass and I do LOVE the occasional email that says "this is due on such and such" as some teachers send kids and their parents a reminder of upcoming due dates. When this happens, I can use it to open up a conversation and say "I just got an email from Mr XXX and it said XXX was due this Friday, how's yours going?? Need any help?" It can be challenging for me to have these conversations with my kids if the teacher hasn’t yet updated the learning tasks. So I really appreciate when they have this under control.

What can we celebrate about our students? Please provide examples of things you have observed from them whilst they have been at home, perhaps something that has surprised you or made you proud.

They are resilient and responsible for their learning.
I think the fact that my child keeps attending every class. She sits there at her desk day in and day out and has never said "I'm just not going to do it today". I'm proud of her for that.
Their ability to switch from onsite to home environment is nothing short of incredibly impressive for someone so young. I don't think they realise the depth of their flexibility. It's not actually an easy thing to do and yet they've managed it so well.
Asking for help from the teacher and us, this has been a change.
Very proud of my daughter for creating her own timetables and being on top of her tasks without me having to remind her. Furthermore, she has a great balance between her screen time and outdoor activities which makes me so extremely proud.
That he gets up every day and makes the most of every day.

Have you noticed that some strategies have been more effective for your child? Can you please list what is or isn't working for them?

I find it incredibly hard to convince my "mushroom" to go outside. She never was an outdoor cat. She downloaded Pokémon Go on her phone and so now I try to goad her into going for walks by saying "want to get a few more Pokémon for your game???" saying that is more enticing that "let’s go for a walk it's good for you" - the latter doesn't really cut it for a 13 nearly 14-year-old!
She loves making music, thank goodness, so we have moved instruments into her room that lived in other rooms just so that she will move away from the screen and play them.
Just encouraging them to follow an interest no matter how bizarre it may seem, validates them and then encourages them to share everything with you because they don't fear being judged, they look forward instead to creating interest and conversation and sharing knowledge.
Given time to think and respond before being cold called upon. They are prepared for when they are asked a question.
She loves to be in control of her tasks and plans her time effectively however she greatly misses the classroom environment and interaction with her teachers.
Communication is everything. Time out to reflect on situations also helps.

How does your family 'create calm' and reduce stress in the home?

We all have one show that we watch together and put our phones out of reach.
We give each other space.
We go for long walks and walk side by side to unwind from the day.

How does your family create positive social connections, outside of those you live with?

We connect with the families of our kids’ friends with phone calls or Zoom.
We allow our child to meet up with a friend who lives close by, to exercise outdoors together (bike ride, kick a ball etc. whatever the health restrictions allow).
Our lemon tree is packed, so we put some out for our neighbours.

Contacting families with phone calls is tricky during remote learning. Most staff will be using their personal mobile and it will appear on 'Unknown or Private'. Using the Compass Parent Portal can reduce the need for phone calls about 'unexplained' attendance. How do you or your child make sure they are marked accurately during remote learning?

My child sends the Teacher a private message to say "Hi/here". This leaves a timestamp and helps the teacher to mark them accurately on the roll.
My child reads the instructions on the Lesson Plan, and in the MS Team for that subject. They give the teacher a thumbs up on the teacher's post.
I expect my child to complete and share evidence of completion for each class, each lesson to help the teachers to recognise when my child is engaged and trying their best. The teacher can the also review the work and assist my child more accurately, shall they need help, or give them praise and/or extension tasks.

What else would DSC families benefit from trying?

Getting everyone cooking in the kitchen, making all sorts of delicious lunches has been great fun. We each have a day to have our turn. Ingredients are bought the previous day. Ready .
Long walks and lots of deep breathing ; ) At a time like this it's all about bonding and working together to get through this. Having a clear mindset and a positive attitude is where it starts.
If I cut my child off from the internet and devices that would cause her stress. It is how she communicates with her friends which is so important. They chat, they play games after school and I hear them laughing and talking.
A standard bed time during the week. DEVICES OFF at 9.30, can read if she wants till 10 and then lights out. I give her that 30 mins to unwind device free before sleep.
As I told my daughter in law to be before she got married, my advice to you is "pick your battles, you cannot win them all, so prioritise". Same can be said about looking after children as well as husbands to be. Pick your battles. A strong open communicative relationship, a calm and relaxed environment free of stress is more important than forcing them to go for a walk everyday when they don't want too and then having them being grumpy and quiet and withdrawn and avoiding you because they think you're going to say "lets go for a walk now".
Make sure they eat well, healthy food. Try to encourage them to walk with you if you can, but if you can't, Pick Your Battles ....

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