Uncharted Territory: Time Management with Online Learning

Education is very different right now because of the COVID-19 situation. With schools transitioning to online learning, educators, parents, and students are exploring uncharted territory. Expectations are being discussed through email, phone calls, and video chats which can be a bit overwhelming and sometimes confusing for all involved. I want to focus on how parents and students should manage their time with online learning. 

As an educator, I know that the normal, seven hour school day consists of so much more than just constant studying. There are normal core subjects, but also related arts classes, lunch time, transitional times, etc. Our students are children. They have shorter attention spans, they love to have fun, and they need to have a break. 

There are four core subjects required of each grade which include: English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. Here is the breakdown of how long students should spend on each core subject a day depending on grade level. 

• Elementary students should be spending 15-30 minutes on each core subject a day.
• Middle School students should be spending 30-45 minutes on each core subject a day.
• High School students should be spending 45-60 minutes on each core subject a day. 

Educators need to keep this in mind when making plans for their students. Parents need to keep this mind when helping their kids. Students need to make sure to stay motivated and follow these expectations set for them. The main goal is to not stress and know that we will get through this together. 

Stay safe!