How to Prepare Your Child for Blended Learning in New York
The State of education in New York — and around the world — is rapidly changing as a result of COVID-19. Currently, the State of New York is looking to reopen some schools for blended learning in the new school year.
Prep Academy Tutors of Westchester is prepared to provide private tutoring to help students adapt to the blended learning that they can likely expect in the school year to come.
Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced that schools will only reopen in regions that are in phase 4 and maintain a daily infection rate of under 5 percent.
Due to fluctuating numbers, the government will make the official decision to (or not to) reopen schools in August. The government has also said it will react quickly and ask students to return home and engage in virtual learning if numbers in regions rise.
As we prepare students and teachers to return to school potentially, it is essential to provide students with the tools they need to adapt and find success with blended learning.
What is Blended Learning?
Blended learning refers to educating through both traditional in-class and e-learning practices. Blended learning blends the flexibility of remote learning with face to face learning to provide a comprehensive education.
Blended learning will likely become students’ new standard for the considerable future and will require some accommodation and time management. This transition will be a significant learning curve for educators, students, and parents who are new to balancing online and in-class learning.
The good news is that Prep Academy Tutors of Westchester is prepared to give students the tools they need to adjust to these changes and develop time management and study habits for academic success.
Tips for Transitioning Your Child Into Blended Learning
Talk About Hygiene
When schools reopen, it will be a requirement for students to social distance on campus. Schools will reconfigure community spaces like gyms and atriums to make this feasible. It is essential to emphasize the importance of social distancing at school (and in general) and to educate your child on how to maintain hygienic safety in the classroom.
The New York State Education Department presented a framework of guidelines to the Board of Regents that schools will need to maintain to sustain operation after reopening. These guidelines include consistent hygienic practices that will be enforced and expected from staff and students, including social distancing, wearing masks, regular handwashing, and disinfecting common areas.
Consider One-On-One Tutoring
Every student learns differently, which means that students will respond to blended learning in various ways. Depending on an individual’s learning style, this style of learning may elevate a student’s learning abilities or create gaps in their knowledge.
One-on-one tutoring can provide students with the additional tools and resources they may need to accommodate this transition.
At Prep Academy Tutors of Westchester, our private tutors provide a personalized approach to education to fill any gaps in knowledge. We give students the tools they need to gain academic confidence.
We believe that every child is capable of learning and requires a personalized approach to education to set and reach their academic goals. Consider how your child can benefit from private tutoring at this time.
We can provide one-on-one, small group, and micro-classroom tutoring services across Westchester County either at your home, in your backyard, or a safe public space of your choice. Note that our micro-classroom students contain a maximum of 5-7 students.
Streamline Communication with Educators
Blended learning will be a new experience for students, educators, and parents alike, which is why it’s essential to keep all communication lines open. Discuss with your child and their educators (both teachers and tutors) to monitor their progress and identify the tools they may need for further success.
Prep Academy Tutors prioritizes communication to ensure that everyone is always on the same page and involved in a student’s educational journey.
Check In
It’s essential to understand how significant changes in education and life can impact a student’s mental health. How is your child coping with these changes? What do they find to be the most challenging about the transition? Talk to your child to understand where they are at; encourage dialogue to address different pain points as they come.
Encourage Classmate Discussions
No one will understand quite what students are experiencing right now more than their peers. Students all learn differently, but they can also learn from one another and their shared experiences. Consider encouraging your child to talk to their classmates so that they can form feasible strategies and find success at this time of transition.
Manage Online Distractions
Technology plays an essential role in blended learning. It is crucial to help your student manage any online distractions that may occur when e-learning.
Consider how you can help your child stay on task when learning on their device, even when entertainment sources are just a click away.
You can reward your child for staying on task with free computer time, or integrate other incentives that will motivate them not to let their attention wander. You can also challenge them to focus for specific periods and allow breaks in between tasks. It all depends on how your child learns best.
Stay Informed
Stay informed not only on your child’s academic journey but also on the overall state of education in New York.
Considering that circumstances are changing quickly in the state due to the fluctuating cases of COVID-19, it’s essential to utilize the news and school newsletters to stay in the know. Staying informed will help you better plan ahead and discuss future changes with your child before they occur.
Prepare to Pivot
It will be confirmed in August whether or not schools will reopen in New York come September. Governor Cuomo has stated that if numbers and conditions change between when announcement and the first day of school, schools will not reopen.
He has also stated that schools will close again if numbers change. It is essential to be aware of the fluctuating circumstances that impact this situation and have the tools and resources to pivot quickly.
Prep Academy Tutors of Westchester will continue to offer online tutoring and other tutoring services to help students continue education as these changes occur and help minimize the gaps in knowledge they may experience.
What You Need to Know About the State of Education in New York
As a result of COVID-19, school boards in New York (and around the world) are currently considering the best ways to facilitate education come September — while also abiding by social distancing regulations.
Prep Academy Tutors of Westchester will continue to provide remote private tutoring services in New York to help students pursue their educational journey. At this time, when the state of education is continually changing, our tutors are prepared to provide compassionate and flexible personalized education.
Recently, CNN reported on New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s plans to reopen schools for at least some in-person instruction in September.
Following this announcement, Governor Andrew Cuomo released new information about the guidelines that will be put in place to maintain safety if and when schools reopen in the upcoming year. He also made sure to acknowledge that, given the circumstances, this Decision could change.
The state of education in New York during the pandemic is continuously changing, and it has yet to be confirmed whether or not schools will open in September. Here’s what we know so far:
The Framework of Guidelines for Reopening
On Monday, July 13th, The State Education Department presented a framework to the Board of Regent outlining guidelines for the safe reopening of schools.
This framework was a significant but necessary undertaking created after four virtual Regional School Reopening Task Force meetings and a student forum. According to CNYC Central, the state said that the framework was created after receiving the feedback of over 1,650 parents, students, teachers, administrators, school board members, and stakeholders.
Betty A. Rosa, the Board of Regents Chancellor, shared with NBC New York that the framework was created “to plan for the upcoming school year under three different scenarios that aim to keep our children, educators and school personnel safe and encourage equitable access to high-quality services for all students.”
If Schools Open: The Guidelines
The framework presented on July 13th outlines specific guidelines teachers, students, and other staff members will need to abide by if schools reopen in September.
These include:
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Regular Health Checks: We support parents and families who work from home and the growing community of families moving from Manhattan to Westchester. We work to help bridge the gap between school curricula.
Social Distancing:: Schools will be able to re-evaluate how they use their space to help students and teachers maintain social distancing practices.
Ventilation: Schools will need to consult with professionals to ensure that their ventilation and filtration meets or exceeds requirements.
Hygiene: Both students and staff will be required to maintain proper hygiene practices that align with CDC and DOH guidelines, including handwashing, wearing masks, and disinfection.
School Bus Disinfection Measures: All districts will need to maintain safety processes for the 150,000 NYC families who rely on bus transportation to get children to school. This includes both disinfection and social distancing practices. Students and staff will be required to wear masks and social distance when they are at bus stops, on busses, and when exiting busses.
Communication: We prioritize communication between tutors and families.
The Current Numbers
Currently, New York has a low and stable number of people testing positive for the virus. However, because numbers of cases in other states like Florida are of concern, schools will only be reopened if they are safe.
How Safety Will be Determined
There is a formula that the state will use to identify if and when schools are safe for reopening. Schools will only reopen in regions that are in Phase IV and maintain a daily infection rate of 5 percent. These metrics are believed to be a good signifier that the virus is under control.
When the Decision will be Made
The decision of whether or not schools will reopen in the new school year will be made the first week of August. If there is a rise in numbers between the time of the decision and the first day of school, and the regional rate surpasses 9%, schools will close immediately.
Prep Academy Tutors of Westchester & the New Normal
Prep Academy Tutors of Westchester offers private tutoring in Manhattan and across Westchester County, including Bronxville, Tuckahoe, Eastchester, Pelham, Scarsdale, White Plains, Larchmont, Rye, and the river towns.
Tools for Learning: Our tutors will prepare students for the possibility of blended learning in September. The combination of in-school and remote education will be an adjustment for all students, parents, and teachers. We provide students with the tools and support they need to maintain steady study habits and fill gaps in their knowledge. classroom.
Curriculum-Based Learning: We provide curriculum-based tutoring to help students gain and maintain academic confidence both inside and outside the classroom.
Flexible Learning: At this time, when the state of education is up in the air, it is essential to provide your child with the tools they need to learn flexibly. We provide our tutoring services based on your schedule to facilitate flexible education and provide students with consistent knowledge to help them maintain good learning habits.
Remote Learning: We offer online tutoring and other remote tutoring solutions to help your child reach academic success and approach learning in place with confidence and excitement. Our tutors act as a smart friend who can relate to your child and explain things in a way that they understand.
Personalized Learning: We focus on providing a personalized education that caters to your child’s specific needs, preferences, and learning style. The reopening of schools will be a time of transition, and we are prepared to provide your child with any additional support they may need to make this transition easier.
Contact Prep Academy Tutors of Westchester today to get paired with a tutor near you. We provide your child with the resources they need to facilitate a more seamless transition into what may be a year of blended schooling. Our tutors will keep you updated on changes in education as decision-makers release official announcements.