Back-to-school season is in full swing, and it’s a whole new ball game. While plans vary by school districts and are based on local health authorities’ guidance, kids all over the U.S. are returning to distance or hybrid learning. In fact, 21 of the 25 biggest U.S. school districts are remote-learning-only this fall, according to data from Education Week. That said, if you already work for or are seeking a position with a family who has school-age children, you’ve likely been wondering how you can best support them as they dive back into online classes.
“Parents are really valuing caregivers who can not only support but build on kids’ learning,” says Katie Provinziano, managing director of Westside Nannies in Beverly Hills, California.
We asked Proviziano and other experts to share the skills and strategies that will bolster your success if your current or desired position involves caregiving and facilitating distance learning this school year.
Read more: 6 questions to ask before caring for kids during COVID-19
Skills you need to facilitate distance learning
Being able to speak to and demonstrate certain skills will reassure a current or prospective family employer that you’re able to support their child’s learning during this unprecedented time. “You’ll want to showcase your enthusiasm for children and for the ever-changing world of education, even if you don’t have experience as a traditional teacher,” says Melissa Lowry, founder of Melissa Lowry Education Coaching, which provides distance/virtual learning coaching services for students in grades K-12. “Present a ‘can-do’ attitude and willingness to think outside the box.”
Here are the top skills to hone and promote in your resume or online profile, according to the experts we spoke with:
Tech-savviness: Being up to speed on learning software will put you at an instant advantage. “You’ll want to know how to use Zoom and know Zoom etiquette — like how to use that mute button,” says Ryan Jordan, the founder of Educated Nannies, an award-winning, nationwide agency specializing in placing nannies who have a degree in child development or a teaching credential.
The child’s teacher might be using an alternative to Zoom like Google Classroom, See Saw, Class Dojo or Nearpod. If you’re not well-versed on whichever software they’re using, Jordan encourages nannies to ask if they can do a training on it ahead of diving into facilitation, which will set them up for success.
Patience: “Caregivers who are helping to facilitate a student’s distance learning need to be patient with students, families and school systems,” says Arash Fayz, co-founder and executive director of LA Tutors 123, a private tutoring company based in Los Angeles.
Jordan adds that patience especially comes in handy while working with children who are just beginning to navigate this unusual school year or contending with parents who might be present while you’re facilitating online learning.
“A child might be frustrated or under their desk and crying because they don’t understand their new Spanish immersion program or they’re not with their friends or they’re trying to grasp a math concept, and they just don’t want to look at a screen,” she says, emphasizing the importance of patience, as well as empathy, in moments like these.
Ability to make breaks productive and fun: You’ll want to brush up on your knowledge of fun recreational activities, which will ideally supplement kids’ education and might be done outdoors, like a scavenger hunt. “Parents want their kids to get outside and be active and move their bodies,” points out Provinziano.
Creativity: Being able to keep students engaged while addressing their educational needs might require getting innovative. One way to showcase your creativity to a current or potential employer is by offering a solution to an academic challenge a child might be facing.
Provinziano shares how one nanny responded when asked how she might handle a child’s disdain for math. “She said, ‘If she’s interested in animals, we might build a barn out of toothpicks or sugar cubes,’” recalls Provinziano. “‘We’d measure the materials. Then, we could figure out how much food they should be eating, based on their weight.’”
Offering parents concrete examples like this, individualized to their child when possible, could serve to reassure them that you’re more than prepared to take on the responsibilities of not only a caregiver but a facilitator or tutor.
Strategies that will help you be successful
Ensuring your success in this role will require taking your communication and research skills to the next level. Here are three strategies to try.
Ask lots of questions off the bat: It’s crucial to have initial and ongoing communication about what a child’s educational setup looks like and a family employer’s expectations. Before diving in, Jordan recommends not only doing a training on whichever online platform but asking any questions that will help you better prepare to facilitate learning. Perhaps you would like to know what materials the child will need or what their syllabus looks like.
Do weekly check-ins: Once you’ve started assisting a child with their schoolwork, you can preempt issues that arise from a lack of communication by doing weekly check-ins with parents that you can treat as progress reports, says Jordan. “Talk about what went well, and share some wins and cool a-ha moments that happened during the week,” she says. Share specifics, like you read aloud to a younger child or an older child read to you for 20 minutes a day.
Jordan encourages nannies to talk not only about strengths but areas a child might be struggling in. Then, you can offer and discuss strategies for supporting their progress over the course of the following week.
Tap colleagues and education resources: In addition to trading notes with other nannies in Facebook groups or even on a text chain, you might find tips and tricks, including lesson plans and activity suggestions, on sites and Instagram accounts targeted to teachers. A few Jordan likes:
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BusyToddler features activities for young children from a former curriculum specialist.
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Planning Playtime is filled with activity suggestions geared toward kids in preschool and Kindergarten.
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Blossom and Root offers a hands-on, creative homeschool curriculum covering nature, literature, STEM and arts.
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Teachers Pay Teachers is a popular online marketplace for original educational resources.
How facilitating or tutoring should affect your rate
Caregivers are stepping into more of a facilitator or tutoring role right now, says Proviziano. And the extent to which you’re stepping up to aid a child with their education might determine whether or not you should pursue a higher rate.
If you are adding responsibilities (like watching three kids versus two) or you’re going above and beyond to augment the curriculum (think building a volcano with a child to support their science curriculum), that could warrant an increase, notes Proviziano.
Other questions to consider prior to negotiating for more money, according to Lowry:
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Are you taking on a pod of multiple children?
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Will you be dealing with multiple aged children?
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How often and for how many hours a day are you seeing students?
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Do you have purchase materials or supplies?
Ultimately, there’s no harm in seeing how the role evolves, as this is a new, rapidly evolving situation for everyone involved. Parents, students and caregivers are all learning as they go. But, as Jordan notes, if anyone is capable of taking it on, it’s someone whose career has always required flexibility and who’s skilled in problem-solving — and that’s a nanny.
