The Distance Learning Playbook for Parents

Foreword Letter From the Authors Acknowledgments How to Use This Book Hold Up! Please Read This! Distance, Remote, and Blended Learning 1. THE BASICS Establish Routines Create a Learning Environment Learn the Learning Management System Follow Zoom Etiquette Ensure That Your Children Sleep Monitor Screen Time Communicate With Teachers Take Care of Yourself 2. THE VALUE OF . . . The Value of Reading Volume The Value of Reading Widely The Value of Reading Aloud The Value of Vocabulary Games The Value of Oral Language Development The Value of Foundational Reading Skills: Phonemic Awareness The Value of Foundational Reading Skills: Alphabetics and Phonics The Value of Foundational Reading Skills: Fluency The Value of Writing Across the Day The Value of Scaffolded Writing Experiences The Value of Mathematics Across the Day The Value of Supplemental Mathematics Instruction The Value of Arts and Music The Value of Guiding, Not Telling The Value of Wait Time The Value of Practice 3. THE PRINCIPLES OF WELL-BEING Social Emotional Learning Is Not Just Soft Skills Happiness The Power of Dignity Separating Dignity From Respect Putting Principles Into Action Understanding Emotional Regulation Emotional Granularity Anxiety Self-Compassion Managing Conflicts Friendships in COVID-19 Teasing: It's Complicated Bullying Communication With Other Parents Pod Teaching: Learning Pods 4. THE MINDFRAMES MINDFRAMES FOR STUDENTS Student Mindframe 1: Know your current level of understanding. Student Mindframe 2: Know where you are going and have the confidence to take on the challenge. Student Mindframe 3: Select tools to guide your learning. Student Mindframe 4: Seek feedback and recognize that errors are opportunities to learn. Student Mindframe 5: Monitor your progress and adjust your learning. Student Mindframe 6: Recognize your learning and teach others. THE 10 MINDFRAMES FOR FAMILIES Family Mindframe 1: I am an evaluator of my impact on my children's learning. Family Mindframe 2: I see the power of collaborating with others in parenting our children. Family Mindframe 3: I value what my child brings to the family and world. Family Mindframe 4: I understand the centrality of my child. Family Mindframe 5: I have appropriately high expectations. Family Mindframe 6: I listen, build trust, and know how to gradually release responsibility. Family Mindframe 7: I know the balancing act between developing autonomy, relatedness, and competence. Family Mindframe 8: I appreciate the power of feedback and the place for praise as well as errors. Family Mindframe 9: I know how to work with the school. Family Mindframe 10: I am a parent, not a schoolteacher. References Index About the Authors

"If you want to be a Jedi master of distance learning, read this book! It's a guide for mental strength, practical know-how, and social-emotional support. This is the only pandemic parenting book you'll need, and I'm telling all my parent friends about it." -- Rachel Simmons, author and Good Morning America parenting expert "The Distance Learning Playbook for Parents is brilliant and timely. The tips in the book are fabulous-what every parent needs. Every educator should be recommending that parents get it." -- Dr. Michele Borba, Parenting expert and author of "UnSelfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About-Me World" "The Distance Learning Playbook for Parents isn't just for parents. It's for older siblings and all caregivers, too. Even teachers can gain knowledge from this book! It leads you down a path of understanding from the perspective of children and teachers, and advises parents to be compassionate during this strange time of distance learning. Every parent across America should buy this book-it can help you make a step- by-step plan for your own household while your student is learning virtually." -- Taylor Pittman, 17-year old student and big sister to a 6-year old brother "The Distance Learning Playbook for Parents is an amazing book. As a parent of a 4-year-old and a 9-year-old, I now feel equipped to handle the challenges that distance learning presents. This book gives me the tools to develop routines and strategies I can use to help my children in their distance learning process. I was feeling lost and stressed out about how I was going to handle the school year. Now I feel empowered, and I understand how I'm going to tackle the upcoming year." -- Farrah Lin "In a time of uncertainty, parents need to feel encouraged and validated. This resource does exactly that. Families need to understand that distance learning is not going to damage our children's education. Our children will succeed as long as parents, teachers, and students communicate and work together. We are not in this alone. We must remember to take care of ourselves so that we can be supportive and helpful to our children." -- Sylvia Porras