EL PASO COUNTY — Colorado Springs mother and daughter Toby Lyn Bertch and Omari Jackson are not new to e-learning and are sharing some valuable advice with the rest of Southern Colorado, knowing many parents and families are still adjusting to a new way of life.
15 year old Omari is in her 2nd semester of online learning and she also teaches dance to local kids with the aspiration of teaching professionally some day.
She says staying focused on the task at hand is one of the biggest pieces of advice she would give to new at-home students, saying, "some advice I would give is just to hold yourself accountable and not be afraid to ask for help, that is what has helped me maintain my grades."
Omari says managing stress and taking time for little breaks can also be helpful, "if it helps make a schedule for yourself and make sure everything is set in specific times so you can have a 30 minute break for lunch bunch then you have to be right back on the dot for school."
Omari's mother also has helpful advice for parents and families as they adjust, she says it's important parents get to know the learning style of their kids and be willing to adjust.
Keep in mind that younger kids may not be able to sit down and focus on assignments for hours at a time might also help parents manage learning stress, that at the end of the day learning and family time should be fun, and everyone has to find their own way.
She adds, "I feel like with all of the uncertainty people really need to remember that their kids are scared... we actually say at our house things got weird.' It's like our way if coping, but since things got weird, I think it's important for parents to know that if it doesn't get done, it's OK, as long as you guys like each other at the end of the day."
