Suggested ‘Back to School’ Models for the 2020-2021 School Year

It is getting to be that ‘back to school’ season again, but this year, it is different from any previous year. As you all know, since March of 2020, schools around the world have closed its doors and sent their students home indefinitely as a part of the precautionary measures taken worldwide to avoid a Coronavirus outbreak.

However, within just a few weeks, the new school year of 2020-2021 is set to start. Students and their families are preparing to return to schools again and not exactly sure how will it work under the continuing risk of Coronavirus. With us, you can learn about the ‘back to school’ models that may be applied in your children’s school and the practical steps that will help you and your children adapt to them better and faster.

1. Hybrid Education Model

In this innovative model, two study models will be merged together, combining between being in school in limited groups and learning remotely from home. Schools will implement a plan to separate students into classes within groups, on the basis that the number of students in each group does not exceed 10 or 15 students, to ensure that the principle of social distancing is maintained in an ideal manner. The method of activating this model differs from one school to another, but most schools will adopt one of the following methods:

• Rotating different groups of students in going to classes, for example, students of one group will go on Sunday and Tuesday, while students of another group will go on Monday and Wednesday. And on the days when students do not go to school, the remote homeschooling system will continue.
• Weekly rotation of student attendance, meaning, a group of students will attend classes in school on a daily basis for a week, while another group of students remains at home receiving their education remotely. Then the roles are exchanged for the following week, and so on.
• Rotating attendance of student groups within the school day itself. This is so that school hours are divided into two periods within the day, where students are distributed by agreement between parents and the school in coordination with the school transport bus service providers.

How to adapt to the hybrid educational model?

Start Early!

It can be difficult for you and your children to accept being back to school immediately after the extended months of staying at home. So try talking to your son or daughter early on and at length to give them a chance to share their worries and express their anxiety. You also have to train them on the idea of going out again and meeting their friends and colleagues while maintaining social distancing and observing safety measures. For example, you can start arranging interviews with his friends in a public place with the activation of all measures so that your child gradually begins to get used to the idea of going out and mixing with others while respecting health and safety procedures to ensure his safety and the safety of his from infection.

Organize your time!

Whether you are a stay-at-home parent or a working parent, time management will be a crucial and essential measure, especially in the upcoming period. Therefore, it is important to develop a comprehensive strategy through which you will be able to cooperate with your partner and share the responsibility of getting children ready to go back to school and adapted to these new and unfamiliar systems.

2. Going Back to School at Full Capacity

In this model, the children will go back to school on a daily and full-time basis, but while reducing the number of students in classes and implementing the necessary safety and precautionary measures in order to ensure social distancing for the safety of the students and school workers. Going back to school through this model is still different from previous years because the number of students in each class will be less, which means that each class will be divided into two groups, which may lead to a division between friends as they used to? Also, returning completely to school attendance does not mean the return of their activities, including trips and school parties, as well as sports classes which will be temporarily suspended until this epidemiological situation changes.

How to adapt to going back to school full-time?

It is normal for you to be anxious about your children going back to school on a daily basis. Schools have given parents the option of distance education if they are uncomfortable about sending their children to school classes, so if you feel that this choice will reduce your fear, you can easily go for it. If you choose to send your children to school every day, it is important to do the following:

Talk to the school administration

You have to get familiarized with the measures taken by the school to achieve the highest levels of safety for the students, it is necessary to get acquainted with the mechanisms of school support systems to support the mental health of children, which have definitely been affected greatly by the Corona pandemic during the past few months. Learn about the requirements for lending a hand and support the school’s mechanisms in maintaining safety, that includes attending parent and teacher committees.

Talk to your child 

It is important to listen to your child, to hear their concerns, and to know their reactions and impressions on going back to school on a daily basis. Any concerns must be dealt with carefully and positively, and make sure to reassure them that the school has taken all necessary precautions to keep them and their friends safe. It is also important to talk to them about the health measures that they must take to ensure their own safety from infection. Focus on social distancing measures, hand disinfection, and wearing a mask at the times and places specified by the school.

3. Remote Learning

This is the model that you and your children have probably already got used to over the past couple of months. Of course, it may be difficult for your son or daughter to accept having to stay home while some of their friends and relatives go to school every day or even twice a week. But it is necessary to talk to them and reassure them that this is a temporary situation and that whether you were the one who chose this system or it was the school itself, this is definitely the best situation for the family, the school, and most importantly, for the child.

Regardless of what system you end up going with, Yajny Blog wishes you and your little ones a fun and safe return to schools. Stay safe, everyone!