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Course: Resources > Unit 3
Lesson 2: Helping your child- How to motivate students who are distance learning during COVID
- Create accounts for you and your children
- Encouraging your child
- Ways to support learners when you don’t know the content
- Start tutoring with Khan Academy
- Stories from parents using KA to tutor
- Find relevant content
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Ways to support learners when you don’t know the content
Some coaches are experts on the content their learners are studying and can provide alternative explanations and examples when learners get stuck. However, not every coach feels comfortable being the teacher, and that’s OK! Here are a few simple ways you can support learners without needing to know the material upfront.
Learn with them
Education is about learning how to learn. Since we all confront new challenges every day, we must all be lifelong learners!
Modeling this behavior is incredibly powerful. Practice math skills, watch videos actively, and create computer programs alongside your learners. If you have time, you might also find it helpful to take a look at the material before your learners do.
You and your learners can ask each other questions and discuss what you’re learning. This can be a great way to bond. Most importantly, listen to your learners and treat them as peers.
When the kids get a problem wrong, they don't need me to tell them the answer. The hints do that. They just need to vent about what went wrong and then they can move on and do the next problem.
- An afterschool instructor
Be the cheerleader
Sometimes a coach is most powerful as a cheerleader. Telling learners to "keep up the hard work" or "try one more time" encourages perseverance and builds motivation. When learners get stuck, remind them to watch the video, read the hints, and take notes on questions they still have so that they can ask you or another coach for help with specific concepts.
When your learner works on a skill they've already practiced, you might ask them why. ("Are you working toward a specific badge? Are you afraid to move to the next skill?") Based on this information, you can decide whether to encourage the learner to move on to the next skill.
The reports are so helpful. I check to see how many problems my kid tried and if they watched the video. If I don't see the camera symbol, I know they haven't watched the video and I tell them to check it out. If I don't see the question mark symbol, I know they didn't look at any hints, so I nudge them to take a few.
- A Khan Academy parent
Want to join the conversation?
I am about to introduce this learning site to my son. He has ASD.
He has not been educated for two years due to bullying and being assessed etc, so it's going to be a shock for him.
As your grades are different to England, which grade should an 11 year be on?
I am so nervous, it's really sad that the only way to get an education for an Asperger's kid in Cambridge, England is private school!! So if you don't have the money, your child does not get educated.
I hope it works. I have written to Mr Khan to see if he can make one like this for England, hope he can.(6 votes)
it was very sad to hear about him. bullying is becoming a major problem, i totally understand. introduce to him this new program. all of our wishes are with you.
i do hope they make a program like that. in the meanwhile choose KHAN ACADEMY thanks(2 votes)
how good are they or this program for chidlern or kids(4 votes)- vey nice this program activates children minds, speeding them up. they develop a passion for learning. do try khan academy. thanks(2 votes)
Well, why dont you make the 7th grader help the 6th grader give some tips and then you take it from their then you can help the 7th grader be more like a eight grader.(4 votes)- it is a possibility. but as i have searched they have not yet developed such a program. hope you find that helpful.(2 votes)
I am coaching three students and how can I be sure they are learning? Also, how do I know if a person asks me a question? And, I never see my programs on the tab on that says "browse programs", I would like to know why and how I could change that. If you could answer that would be great!(3 votes)
How do i give a student an end of the year exam on geometry?(4 votes)
Khan Academy doesn't have exams per se. However, you might find our missions helpful: https://www.khanacademy.org/coach-res/k12-classrooms/plan-and-teach-k12/a/choose-a-mission-for-your-class.(2 votes)
I appreciate the way common core materials are setup, its great! In the same map, it would be great if it also shows which skill was practiced / mastered. Once students are made aware of the map, they can navigate themselves and learn well.(3 votes)- ok i practice with them every day, they seem to get it!!(2 votes)
- square root of 64(2 votes)
The answer to √64 is invariably 8
though to be a rebel, write 8.0 as to confuzzle the reader(1 vote)
- Is there a way I can ask a specific problem and be coached or guided through the process to the answer?(2 votes)
- How do I assign a lesson plan to my son's account?(1 vote)