Reminders to parents during distance learning

Ronald Tenio Salada

School Year 2021-2022 of the Department of Education has officially started, except for some places of the country which were hit by the past typhons. Distance Learning Modalities are still in effect this school year because of the current health crisis that we are all experiencing. In distance learning, there is a physical separation between teachers and learners. The learners are still learning the different lessons and concepts which are all aligned to the Department of Education’s Most Essential Learning Competencies. The only difference this time is the learners are learning those competencies at their respective homes with their parents, guardians and other significant someone of the learners.

The parents, guardians and other significant someone of the learners are playing a vital role in their educational journey during this new normal. It is because the learners are with their parents or guardians most of the time in this new normal of education. Teachers and other school personnel are still there for the learners, but most of the time learners are just staying at home with their parents or guardians. So, the parents and guardians are playing an important part in their children’s educational endeavor.

Because of this setting where learners are learning at home this school year, there are some reminders that parents or guardians of the learners need to remember during this distance learning of their children or wards. Parents or guardians should always remember these reminders for the benefits of their children or wards. If the parents or guardians of the learners really love their children or ward, these important reminders are very necessary to be followed by the parents or guardians of the learners. If these reminders will be followed, it would be beneficial to the learners.

The first thing that parents or guardians must teach or is the value of honesty. Parents or guardians must instill in their children’s mind the true essence of honesty. Children must be the one to answer their activities or modules and must be honest in answering their activities or modules. Parents or guardians can help or assist their children in answering the activities or modules, but only the children must be the one to answer. Let the children do their work by themselves and honestly as much as possible. If ever, they have some questions, confusion or clarifications about the topic or the activity and the parents or guardians do not also understand it, they can connect or contact with the teachers of their children. Teachers are always ready to help, guide, assist or teach children. The education of the learners is both a responsibility of teachers and parents or guardians, so they must be helping each other for the benefit of the children or learners.

Another thing is the sense of responsibility. Parents or guardians must also teach their children sense of responsibility. Parents or guardians should not be the one to do what their children are supposed to do. Let their children do what they are assigned to do. Parents or guardians must instill in their children’s mind that they should be responsible enough with the different tasks that they will do as a learner. They must train their children how to be responsible with their work as a learner, especially during this distance learning type of education.

Parents or guardians must also teach their children the importance of time-management. They must instill in their children’s mind that time-management is really important and can definitely help them to be organized with their works and eventually finish their works successfully. They can teach their children to make a time table or a time schedule of all the works that they are supposed to do. They can also teach their children about the concept of prioritization. Let their children prioritize their tasks by doing the most important or the most urgent one first. In this way, children can really do all their tasks smoothly and of course, successfully.

Doing some physical activities and exercises is another thing that parents or guardians can teach their children. It is because doing some physical activities and exercises is also very important for the children to be healthy in body and in mind. And if the children are having a healthy body and a sound mind, they can really do everything that they are supposed to do properly and successfully as well. Parents or guardians must not let their children do their tasks as a learner the whole day or the whole night, they should also teach their children to rest, relax and do some physical activities and exercises from time to time. It is simply because this can absolutely help their children with their tasks as a learner.

Another thing that parents or guardians must instill in their children’s mind that it is really important to keep in touch with their teachers. They can connect with their teacher if they have some questions or clarifications about the topic. For sure, their teachers are always ready to help their children. But in doing this, children or learners must contact their teachers following the etiquette in contacting their teachers, be it in the form of chat, text, email or call. They must greet their teacher first, then introduce oneself, then tell the teacher about their concerns, and do not forget to say thank you after. Parents or guardians must really teach their children how to properly contact teachers in case they want to connect with their teachers. Another thing to remember in contacting teachers is to do it during the proper time to do it.

These are just some of the reminders to parents or guardians during distance learning. Everything must be done properly in order to help the learners during this new normal of education. Teachers, school administrators, parents and guardians must be helping one another for the benefit of the learners. If everyone is doing his/her part well for sure it will be resulting to something good and really beneficial to the learners, especially if parents or guardians are following these reminders during distance learning.