Education will be going remote again for primary and secondary school children from Monday.
On Thursday, the Government announced a U-turn on its decision to keep schools open for Leaving Cert students and special needs classes.
It came after the Taoiseach confirmed that schools would remain closed for the rest of the month, due to the ongoing surge coronavirus cases.
Considering the toll that it took on parents and guardians alike during the last lockdown, the potential prospect of juggling work, home, and teaching kids will fill many people with dread.
Ciara Reilly, Assistant Lecturer in Education at the Marino Institute of Education, gave some tips on how to manage all of this to Newstalk Breakfast with Susan Keogh.
She said that schools had made "remarkable" advances in remote teaching since they first closed last year, and that most will be operating off some sort of platform from Monday, such as Seesaw or Google Classroom.
Parents should "manage that internal monologue of doom" and remember that teaching is a "complex craft", she added.
📻 Thanks to @susankeoghnews for having me on @NewstalkFM this morning!
Key takeaways for parents:
1️⃣ Just do what you can, utilising any online platform your child’s school is offering.
2️⃣ Infotainment is a super resource - the School Hub and CBeebies are tremendous supports!— Ciara Reilly (@PrimEdTeacher) January 9, 2021
Ms Reilly said parents are not homeschooling, rather they are conducting "emergency remote learning" through the online platforms.
She advised: "From next week, start there, refamiliarise yourself with these online platforms and get reacquainted with them.
"Remember, you're not a bad parent if you're struggling.
For parents of children who may seem reluctant to get involved with learning, Ms Reilly said a good idea is to give them a sense of routine around the online school hubs which will be broadcast from Monday.
This will help the child feel like they have a connection to other children, she explained.
"Ultimately, that's what the child is struggling with, they're struggling with the loss of social cohesion, friendship, and most importantly, play in their lives.
"By joining a wider audience, the child will feel like they're part of something and they're not quite so detached from their peers."
6️⃣ Lower your expectations and don’t compare your progress with other homes. Everyone is making it up as they go along. You are a good person, parenting in extraordinary times.
Be well. 👍🏻— Ciara Reilly (@PrimEdTeacher) January 9, 2021
Ms Reilly encouraged families who may not have access to a laptop or tablet to reach out to the schools.
She said schools will also be happy to come up with different ways of providing the content.
"Don't be embarrassed if you feel like you need to access the work in an alternative way," she said.
With regard to how long parents should spend on remote teaching during the day, Ms Reilly said many put themselves under too much pressure during the last lockdown to adhere to the normal school day.
She added that children can learn from home in "short, sharp bursts" and that activities are "layered into the day" for kids.
"I would really urge parents to look out for each other and to seek help if they feel like they need it," she added.
You can listen to the full interview here:
