A Parent’s Advice: 5 Ways To Make A Smooth Midyear Transfer To Online School

 

Stories about gratitude and thankfulness abound during this time of year. As an accredited online school, we love hearing what our virtual school community is grateful for (spoiler alert: our teachers and Learning Coaches)! 

For us, we’re thankful for being able to offer an online or virtual school experience that will help your k-12 children grow into well-rounded, resourceful, and resilient adults! 
 

How to Practice Gratitude

Why should you care about getting your child involved in practicing gratitude? For one, teaching the importance of thankfulness at a young age means they can enjoy the benefits of practicing gratitude sooner – this includes better health outcomes and feelings of happiness. But where to start? 

Depending on your student, teaching your child the importance of gratitude can come in many forms.  

• You could teach them to write thank you notes, so they start to express and share their gratitude.  
• You could help them find a volunteer opportunity for kids nearby, so they can physically help others less fortunate, instilling a sense of appreciation for what they do have.  
• Or you could share some age-appropriate books about gratitude. Take a look at this list of books on gratitude that we have compiled below. These titles are perfect for showing your child the meaning of gratitude. 

These easy books for elementary school students will teach them the everyday reasons they have to be thankful. Whether your child is enrolled in a traditional brick-and-mortar school, is homeschooled, or is enrolled in a virtual school like Connections Academy, supplementing your young readers with these titles will make gratitude fun! 
 

5 Books About Gratitude for Elementary Students 

1. Gracias/Thanks

$19, Get the book here

This bilingual picture book from Pat Mora follows a young boy throughout his day as he says thanks in English and Spanish to everything that makes him happy. He starts by thanking the sun that wakes him and ends by thanking the cricket that serenades him to sleep at night. Gracias/Thanks is a sweet reminder of the simple, often-overlooked things that brighten our lives. 

2. Bear Says Thanks

$6, Get the book here

Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson is a heartfelt story about how to be thankful for the people around you. After Bear decides to throw a feast for his friends, he realizes his cupboards are bare! His friends each graciously bring a dish to the feast, and as Bear thanks each friend individually for their generosity, they teach him what he does have to offer them. When Bear sees how much his friends appreciate what he brings to their gatherings, everyone is thankful.

3. All the World

$8, Get the book here

All the World teaches young readers or listeners (k-2) to be grateful for all of the wonderful gifts in life, big and small. The rhyming story by Liz Garton Scanlon follows a family throughout their day and explores the simple beauties of the world around them. The illustrations will draw your child in, but the story will be what sticks with him or her.

4. Gratitude is my Superpower

$16, Get the book here

With the help of a magic stone, Little Betsy learns how to be happy for all things in her life—big and small. This practical story by Alicia Ortego will help your kids focus on all the small things to be thankful for everyday, and to learn to appreciate what others do for them. At the end, it even has prompts to write down what your child is thankful for, and to do it for a few days in a row. This book teaches gratitude, and shows you how to practice it with the beginnings of a gratitude journal for kids … a great habit for people of all ages to adopt. 

5. Thanks a Million

$8, Get the book here

Nikki Grime’s collection of 16 poems illustrates the power of showing gratitude to others. Thanks a Million explores the many different ways and reasons to express appreciation and helps children understand the impact of simply saying “thank you."

Things to Be Thankful For

Raising a child who loves to read is a gift to the world. Reading teaches vocabulary and leads to more highly developed language and communication skills. Check out our 11 resources on finding age-appropriate books for your child, and let’s be thankful for their interest in reading at this young age.   

By reading books on gratitude, your young reader will inevitably start the regular practice of being kind. This could pave the way for an interest in changing their local community. What are they passionate about? If they want to start a nonprofit in their high school years, or volunteer and provide community service now—a traditional brick-and-mortar school can’t offer them the flexibility in their school schedule that they’ll need. 

With more flexibility, an online school might be the right school choice for your child and their budding interests. Learn the differences between a traditional brick-and-mortar school and an online school, and see if we’d be a good fit for your family.  

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This post was originally published in November 2012, and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness in October 2021.

 

As parents and as Connections Academy^® Learning Coaches, we know that kids will push our buttons—and our limits—almost any way they can. Some kids may even rebel a bit more with Mom or Dad guiding their homeschool day.  

Until they mature a bit, it’s not unusual for children to lack the motivation to “be good” just because it is expected. It might even be the result of a common child behavior change that all families might experience. But how can an adult teach a child to improve their behavior during online school classes and beyond without resorting to frequent arguing and punishment? 

The answer may be a reward system. Because reward systems for kids at home provide positive reinforcement(opens in a new tab) for good conduct, this kind of behavior modification program can be a valuable tool to encourage children to change. 

Here are 10 tips for developing an effective reward system for your k-12 virtual school students.

 

1. Tackle one behavior at a time

Don’t overwhelm your child with a lengthy list of faults—imagine how you’d feel if someone did that to you! Instead, focus on one top priority behavior change until that problem is resolved. 

 

2. Consider what motivates your child

When planning appropriate reward systems for kids, think about your child’s personality and what’s most important to him or her. Chances are, it’s different for each of your children. Rewards needn’t be expensive; many parents use dollar store items or small privileges. Here are several low- or no-cost rewards your children may appreciate: 

• Adding 15 or 30 minutes to “recess” time 
• Earning an extra 15 or 30 minutes of gaming or TV time 
• Staying up 15 or 30 minutes later 
• Choosing which movie the family will watch 
• Enjoying an edible treat, like a small candy or dessert 
• Doing an enjoyable activity with a parent, like playing a game or taking a walk 
• Visiting a local park 
• Having a friend over to play when schoolwork is done 

 

3. Involve your child in planning

Kids are more likely to comply with a virtual learning reward system they agree with and helped create, so before putting your plan in place, talk about it together. Ask for your child’s input about the goals, rules, and “prizes,” and try to incorporate suggestions that are reasonable. 

 

4. Make sure your reward system is age-appropriate

Young children still struggling with their patience may have trouble waiting to collect multiple points or stickers before earning a reward. It’s best to structure programs for them to provide immediate gratification. Reserve points systems for older kids who can grasp the incentive for “saving up” for a higher-value reward. 

• Download a Sample Reward System Template for Kids 
• Download a Sample Reward System Template for Older Kids

 

5. Be clear and specific about the desired result

When you work with your homeschool child, state the desired behavior as a positive outcome.  

• DON’T SAY: “Stop whining about starting your math problems.” 
• REPLACE WITH: “Let’s begin math schoolwork today with just one reminder.” 

 

6. Make the “rule” measurable

Specify the details of how your child earns the reward, such as start time, location, and steps involved in the task.  

• To clean up a bedroom, the steps might be making the bed, putting dirty clothes in the hamper, and placing shoes in the closet.  
• For schoolwork, you might list the number of problems to complete or the duration of a study session.  
• When learning is involved, you may also want to add a quality measure, such as “complete spelling (math, etc.) assignment with two or fewer errors.”  

Put the rules for earning virtual school rewards in writing so you can refer back to them. 

 

7. Be consistent

Enforce the rules consistently, without “stretching” the boundaries or giving credit for almost hitting the goal. Always remember to give the reward when it’s earned! And no taking back virtual school rewards that have already been earned—that’s not fair! 

 

8. Use positive feedback

Don’t rely on the “treat” or “prize” only; be sure to continue giving your child a pat on the back, hugs, and plenty of praise to reinforce their good behavior. 

 

9. Keep trying

It can take 2 to 8 months to form a habit(opens in a new tab), so don’t be discouraged if you don’t see immediate results. Keep in mind that you may need to change the reward if your child becomes bored with it, but be sure to involve your child in choosing a new one of equal value. 

 

10. Move on

The ultimate goal is to help your child become self-motivated to perform the desired task or behavior. When the positive change has been achieved, tell your child how proud you are of his or her success. After this, you have several options:  

• Increase the level of challenge for the same behavior (30 minutes of studying instead of 15) 
• Start tapering off on the reward 
• Move on to another goal (just be sure to continue with the praise for this goal) 

Learning to be self-motivated and well-behaved is an ongoing process for most school-age children. Remember that you may need to tweak your virtual incentives for students for more difficult tasks or goals. What works for one child may not work for his or her siblings, but once you understand the basic premise of the virtual learning reward system, it becomes easier to adapt it to each personality. With a bit of practice, the rewards system for kids is likely to become the most valuable gadget in your parenting toolkit! 

Helping your child become a self-motivated learner is the start of a rewarding online school career. Check out eight more tips to help your middle school or high school student adopt good habits for successful online learning. 

 

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At Connections Academy®, parents have the option to get involved in their children’s education as a Learning Coach. If they choose to do this, Connections Academy (CA’s) expectations of parents are that they will monitor their child’s daily learning and make sure they continue to understand and complete their lessons. 

Typically, the day-to-day for a Learning Coach looks like: 

• Structuring your child’s school day 
• Monitoring attendance 
• Staying in touch with teachers by phone or email 

 

New to Being a Learning Coach?

Download our Learning Coach Kickstart Guide for tips and hacks to jumpstart a new school year with Connections Academy. 

 

Download Learning Coach Kickstart Guide

 

Being your student’s Learning Coach doesn’t need to be overwhelming! With over 20 years of experience in the virtual schooling space, we’ve compiled 4 lifehacks to make coaching your online student a home school success:  

 

1. Help Your Online Student Get Organized

• Here are some tips to help the new Learning Coach get organized this school year.  
• In grades K-5, schedule your child’s day for school activities and breaks with our sample school schedules. In later years, make sure your child communicates with their teacher when they need assistance. 
• Reduce distractions, especially from “screens” not connected to schoolwork, and set up a quiet, clutter-free, and comfortable workspace for daily lessons. 
• Help older students learn to use a planner or an organization app to keep track of assignments, project deadlines, extracurricular activities, appointments, etc. Younger students may benefit from checklists you go over together. 
   

2. Monitor Your Online Student’s Progress

• Set some time after a couple of days into the new semester to observe your child and figure out the optimal length of learning sessions, the times that they are most engaged, and what helps them maintain focus. 
• Check regularly to make sure your child understands what they’re learning and is keeping their grades up. 
• Double-check to make sure the older and more independent online student is completing their assignments. 
• Touch base with your child’s teachers when needed and attend regular teacher conferences. 

 

3. Encourage Your Online Student

• Praise success with specifics about what the student has accomplished and point out progress when the going gets difficult. 
• For younger students, mark good work with stars, check marks and stickers, and display it on a bulletin board or refrigerator. Reward older students’ achievements, such as with extra recreational screen time. 
• Help your student develop their own problem-solving abilities and to use them with your guidance and encouragement. 

 

4. Instruct Your Online Student

• Take time each weekend to get prepared for virtual school lessons scheduled for the coming week. 
• Don’t teach; help the student to understand. Ask questions that lead your child to the answer they are seeking. 
• Do not be afraid to ask for help with your children’s education. CA teachers are here for you and your children. Learn more about the difference between teachers and Learning Coaches.  

 

Have Questions?

Maybe your schedule is unique, but supporting your student is doable. Connections Academy families can find many other helpful resources in Learning Coach Central (available from the home page), and by reading the Learning Coach Link e-newsletter. 

Learn how other working parents make virtual school work, and if you haven’t already, download our Learning Coach Kickstart Guide for more success tips on making the most of this new school year. 

 

Download Learning Coach Kickstart Guide

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