20 Tips to Stay Focused During Online School
With more and more students choosing to make online classes a part of their education, students must learn how to stay focused on school at home. Online courses are a great way for homeschool students to have new opportunities and to study subjects that they would have a hard time learning anywhere else. Use these tips to teach your child how to focus on online school.
I received compensation in exchange for my honest review, but all the opinions in this post are my own.
Set Up Your Environment for Success with Online Classes
The first step for success during distance learning or online courses is to set up the perfect environment for studying. Here are some ways to make sure that your child is prepared before their online classes begin.
Make a Study Space
The best way to set your child up for success in their online classes is to have a dedicated study space available for them to work. Although the kitchen table can be a good option for young children who need extra supervision, high school students should have a dedicated workspace of their own.
Preparing your home environment for your child to be successful is an important step to help them stay focused on what they are learning. Choose a desk with a comfortable chair that is the right size for your student. Make sure that your child’s study space is comfortable and inviting to them.
Gather Supplies
When kids sit down to work on their school work, it is important to make sure that they have easy access to all the supplies they will need to complete assignments. It can be helpful to gather all the supplies that your online student will need and store those supplies near their desk, so they are easily accessible when it is time for school.
Eliminate Distractions
Online students will be able to do their best work when their work area is free from distractions.
One of the biggest distractions to students can be interruptions from family members, especially siblings. It can be a good idea to share the class schedule with the family in advance. Students can also put a sign on the door to remind younger siblings that they are focusing on their classes. This can go a long way towards helping your child have a better learning experience.
Another important thing to consider when students are trying to focus on online school is the noise level in the house. Noise-canceling headphones can be helpful to students who are trying to focus in a noisy environment.
Make a Schedule
You can help set your child up for academic success by helping them create a study plan. Work with your student to create a daily schedule for their online education.
Tools like a weekly calendar can help students keep track of their schedule, while a checklist can help students complete assignments at their own pace. While younger kids will need more supervision with their study schedule, older online learners can work independently and check in with status updates regularly.
Test the Tech
Before your student starts their online classes, it is important to make sure that they are familiar with the online platforms they will be using. Test the computer or tablet as well as the microphone, webcam, and headphones that your child will be using to make sure that everything is working correctly.
Get Plenty of Sleep
It is important to make sure that your child gets enough sleep the night before their online classes begin so that they will have enough energy to focus through their school day. The amount of time each child needs to sleep may vary, but in general, experts recommend that high school students get 8-10 hours of sleep per night.
It is also important that kids limit screen time in the evenings, as the blue light exposure from a computer screen can make it hard to fall asleep at night.
Tips for Success During Online High School Courses
These tips will help your child make the most of their class time during an online class.
Stay Focused
Shut other windows on the computer, and avoid the temptation to check text messages, browse social media, or play video games during class. In general, a good habit for your student to get into is not to do anything during an online class that they would not do during in person learning.
Wear Headphones
A good pair of headphones is a valuable resource for students that are taking online classes. In addition to making it easier to hear the teacher, headphones can also help to block background noise. Consider purchasing a pair with a built-in microphone so that your student can ask questions and communicate with classmates.
Take Notes By Hand
There is a significant amount of research that shows that taking detailed notes by hand helps students learn better and remember more. Taking notes by hand engages the human brain in different ways than typing does and helps create more effective online learning.
Taking notes is also a great way for kids to give their eyes a break from looking at a computer screen.
Ask Questions
It is important that students taking an online class feel comfortable asking questions. Make sure that you know how to contact your child’s teacher before a question arises. Check to see if the teacher offers virtual office hours, and ask which method of communication is preferred to get the quickest reply.
Encourage your student to speak up if they are confused by the material. Although asking questions online can be a step out of your child’s comfort zone, chances are if they have the question others may as well. And it is critical that kids get answers before they start to fall behind.
Take Breaks
Kids who are studying online should make sure to take breaks throughout the day. In addition to bathroom breaks, kids should get up and move away from the computer about once every hour.
During break time, kids should be physically active. Moving around during break periods helps keep energy levels high and helps kids stay focused on their work.
Short breaks are also an important way to help kids eliminate eye strain and headaches caused by too much screen time.
Stay Hydrated
Your child’s brain will work the best when it is hydrated. Keeping a water bottle at your student’s desk can be a great way to help them stay hydrated. Make sure to take breaks to drink water as a part of your child’s daily routine.
Have a Snack
Healthy snacks are also a great way to help your child stay focused during their online classes. Look for a snack with protein in it for the best results.
Tips for Motivation and Focus During Online Classes
Set a Timer
Using a timer can be a great way to help your child with the unique challenges and distractions that come with online classes. Older students can work for a short block of time and then take a break. Many experts recommend trying the Pomodoro Technique, which includes 25 minutes of work followed by a 5-minute break.
In addition to helping your student stay focused on their work, a timer can be a great tool to help your child be more aware of their time management. Awareness of how long an assignment takes is an important skill and a timer will help your child develop this skill.
Do the Most Difficult Assignments First
Another hack for helping your child stay motivated is to encourage them to work on the most difficult assignments first. This allows them to focus on challenging assignments when they are fresh. The satisfaction of getting the most difficult tasks done will help them be motivated to finish additional assignments as well.
Experiment with Background Noise
Another trick that can help students focus is to choose the right background noise. Some students prefer listening to music while they work on independent assignments, while others prefer white noise or no sound at all. Help your child experiment to discover what works best for them.
Study with a Friend
A study group can be a great way for students to ask questions, review what they have learned, and build social connections as well. This can be a great way for kids to practice the communication skills they would get from in person classes.
Choose a set time for your child to make a phone call or schedule a Zoom meeting with others in the online class. This study time with a friend is a great way to help your child remember what they are learning more deeply. Students can help each other with test preparation as well.
Check It Off
It is helpful for students to make a list of all the assignments that are due before their next class, and then check off the assignments as they complete them. This is a great way to give your student a visual reminder of how much work has been completed, and what still needs to be done.
Plan a Reward
School work can be challenging, so it is important to help your child plan a reward for when they have completed their virtual school assignments. Your child might enjoy some free time for physical activity outside, social media interaction time with friends, or any other reward that is motivating to them.
Choosing Great Online Classes for Homeschool
Another important way to set your student up for success with online classes is to choose high-quality classes. Look for online resources like Stepmojo that carefully curate high-quality classes for students. Here are a few reasons why I recommend Stepmojo.
High-Quality Classes
Now that we have homeschooled for a few years, we know that there are a wide variety of different classes available to families, some of which are better than others. I love that Stepmojo does the research for me, and curates only the best high-quality classes. This makes it so much easier for me to know that I am finding a high-quality resource.
Stepmojo curates classes with:
- An organized and well-thought-out curriculum that is planned to help kids learn in a sequential way
- A teacher who is an expert in their subject area
- A teacher who is skilled and experienced in leading a virtual classroom
- A teacher who is interesting and engaging for students
Check out all of the Stepmojo Courses that are available now!
Live Instruction
All of Stepmojo’s classes are offered live at a specific time so that students can meet with their teacher and classmates in real time.
Whenever I look for online classes for my kids, I always prefer live classes like the ones that Stepmojo offers. My kids always enjoy interacting with the instructor, and I love the way that excellent teachers can make sure that my kids have chances to ask questions, even during an online class.
I have also noticed that my kids have a much easier time staying focused and engaged during live classes than they do while watching a class recording. I love that Stepmojo is partnering with parents to provide engaging classes for students.
Especially for challenging subjects like high school math, this live instruction component is critical for kids’ success.
Learn more about how Stepmojo classes work here.
Communication Skills
Because all of Stepmojo’s classes are offered live, kids have the opportunity to practice communication skills as they interact with the teacher and other students during the class. As a homeschool mom, I am always looking for opportunities for my kids to develop communication skills and spend time with other kids, and I love that Stepmojo provides this opportunity in all their classes.
During Stepmojo classes, kids will be learning important skills like leadership, teamwork, and collaboration in addition to the subject area that they are studying.
Learning Environment
Another thing that I love about Stepmojo is their commitment to making each of their classes a positive experience for every student. As a homeschool parent, this is very important to me.
Stepmojo makes sure that every class provides a positive environment for learning for every student. This allows kids to concentrate on learning while they are in class.
Learn more about Stepmojo and its founders here.
Accredited Classes
I also love that every class offered by Stepmojo comes from an accredited program. This is especially important for high school students because it can be helpful when completing legal requirements and issuing a transcript. Many traditional schools will grant students credit for completing Stepmojo classes as well.
College Prep Curriculum
Stepmojo also offers college prep options for students, including college-level Advanced Placement (AP) classes. This is a great way for high school students to earn college credit by taking online college classes during high school.
The Stepmojo instructors also write recommendation letters for their students that can be used for college or job applications for no additional charge.
Check out all of the Stepmojo high school and college prep classes here.
Try Stepmojo Online Classes for Yourself
If you are looking for high-quality online classes for your high school student, I highly recommend Stepmojo. Their live classes will help your child focus on online school in a positive environment, while building relationships and practicing communication skills at the same time.
Stepmojo is offering a $100 discount when you register for any of their classes before August 1, 2022.
You can also take an extra $50 off your registration with the coupon code 50homeschooling4him (Expires September 1, 2022).
Learn more and register for classes on Stepmojo today!
