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Top 3 Benefits of Learning Pods
byKristina Cappetta
6 min to read
Enrolling in online public school can provide great opportunities for students to excel, but some families may be hesitant for fear that their students will miss out on other opportunities and chances to socialize that they would typically have in a brick-and-mortar school. Because of this, many Learning Coaches alleviate those worries by joining or starting a learning pod. Learning pods allow for like-minded Learning Coaches to bring their students together and enhance their education by pooling together their resources in order to provide opportunities for field trips, extracurricular activities, tutoring, and a space to socialize.
What is a Learning Pod?
A learning pod refers to a small group of students, often from different families, who all learn from home. They can be enrolled in online public school or a homeschool program, under the guidance of one or more Learning Coaches. Learning pods provide students who learn from home an opportunity for in-person, collaborative learning with their peers while taking part in different and fun activities to supplement their education.
Families in a learning pod pool their resources together to share the expense of school supplies, tutoring, and extracurricular activities. Learning Coaches volunteer their time and homes to host learning pods, especially for Families who decide to have one consistent location or rotate throughout the year to share the responsibility.
How to Create a Learning Pod
If you are thinking of creating a learning pod for your student and their peers, you want to remember that learning pods are often formed by families looking to supplement their student’s online learning experience, which means there is no one way to form a learning pod!
Learning pod members will need to plan and fund field trips and any other extracurricular activities, and learning pods are only as successful as the effort Learning Coaches put in. This is why you want to be sure that you are forming a learning pod with families who share your values and are looking for the same outcomes.
Follow these steps to create a learning pod:
- Talk to other Learning Coaches in your student’s class. Start here to find families who have similar needs, share the same educational values, and want to use a learning pod as a tool to provide different opportunities for their students. Local at-home learning groups can be another resource. You may also want to notify the school to see if they have had similar requests for learning pods. This will not only help you find members to form the group but will also let the school know that you will be forming a learning pod if future students would like to join.
- Decide and agree on the logistics. Everyone needs to be on the same page for a learning pod to work. Discuss where and how often the learning pod will meet and what will be covered. Decide who will be the leader and who will serve as a Learning Coach. You can also discuss whether the learning pod will meet online or in person. If it is going to be in-person, determine if the location will be consistent or rotate. If online learning pods are utilized, discuss how the Learning Coach will connect the students using videoconferencing tools.
- Set rules. All families in the learning pod should be on the same page when it comes to covered topics, break times, and what the learning environment will look like. Be sure that the dedicated space can accommodate all students and is productive for learning. This may mean removing distractions such as televisions and video games. You may also want to limit cell phone use and collect them at the beginning of each meeting so students can’t use them when they shouldn’t.
What are the Benefits of Learning Pods?
1. Socialization
While learning pods can offer great learning opportunities, they also allow children to socialize, since student success often includes positive connections with their teachers and peers. In learning pods, students can build social skills when they take breaks, have lunch, and work on projects.
Students in a learning pod who may have a hard time focusing on online school can also benefit from a learning pod because they are around other children who are also trying to learn. Research shows that being around other productive people can have a positive impact on your own performance. Having a shared space that a learning pod provides can allow students to focus better while providing the interpersonal connections they need.
2. Field Trips & Enrichment Opportunities
Learning coaches of online learning pods, homeschooling pods, and in-person learning pods can organize field trip opportunities that can also lead to socialization opportunities. Visiting local museums, zoos, and seasonal attractions allow students to learn, share their discoveries, and interact with their friends in real time. These types of places typically offer group rates, making these opportunities more affordable than going alone, as learning pod members share the cost.
Learning Coaches may also want to look into free community events that can provide enrichment opportunities. Local libraries may offer free book clubs or art classes that students will enjoy. Community garden projects are another example of an activity that learning pod members can do together to socialize and expand their horizons. These are just some of the many fun learning pod group activities that Learning Coaches can explore for their students.
3. Additional Support & Schedules
Learning pods can provide additional support for families as Learning Coaches balance their responsibilities with their student’s educational needs. Learning Coaches can set a schedule that works with theirs if they have a hybrid work model that calls for them to be in the office a few days a week, or if they work part-time. Their students can attend a learning pod when they cannot be present, and they can offer to host the learning pod on the days they are home. The Learning Coach overseeing the pod provides a structured daily and weekly routine that supports learning and development.
Students with special needs that may require them to go at a slower pace than their peers can also receive extra support in a learning pod. Learning Coaches can provide these students with the extra time they need to understand what they are learning. This can be especially helpful for students with dyslexia or other learning disabilities.
Learning pods not only provide children with a collaborative learning experience, but also give them the opportunities to socialize, visit area attractions, and learn how to work together. Learning Coaches and caregivers can also get help as they strive to balance educating their students with their daily responsibilities. The experience you and your student as part of a learning pod is all about what you put into it. That’s why it is important to find families who share your education values.
If you want to learn more about how your student can benefit from an online education and how to enroll, contact the Connections Academy enrollment team.
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12 Outdoor PE Activities for Kids
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Outdoor physical activities are beneficial for elementary school kids’ physical and mental health, giving them an opportunity to expend their energy and get some fresh air and sunshine.
Physical education (PE) for kids is an important part of learning at home. While outdoor exercise happens more naturally during the summer, how can families ensure that a child has fun exercising throughout the year?
Below are 12 ideas for PE exercises for kids that you may want to add to your list!
PE Games for Kindergarten through Fifth Grade:
1. Timed firefly (aka lightning bug) hunt.
Encourage children to catch as many lightning bugs or other harmless insects in a jar as they can, and see who can capture the most before you call time. Make sure to set the bugs free again! Lessons can also be incorporated into this fun PE activity by having kids learn fun facts about the bugs!
2. Sponge race.
Each participant in this race needs a sponge and two buckets, one bucket filled with water and the other empty. Starting at the empty bucket, players run across the yard to the full bucket, filling the sponge and returning to the empty bucket to squeeze the water into it. The first person to fill the empty bucket to the designated line wins.
3. Timed scavenger hunt.
Set a time limit for kids to find all the objects on a list of items found in nature. Whoever has the most items when the clock runs out wins. Older children can even coordinate the scavenger hunt.
4. Balloon relay race.
To make this race safe from germs, an adult should inflate balloons using a pump instead of blowing them up by mouth. Set up a laundry basket full of balloons and a hard chair for each relay team. Participants run to the basket, pick up a balloon, then run to the chair, sit on the balloon to pop it, then run back.
5. Sack race.
For this old-fashioned but socially distant favorite, each child will need their own sack or pillowcase. Players stand in their sacks and jump their way to the finish line.
6. Outdoor yard sports and games.
Outdoor physical education activities like sports require equipment, but you can easily set up and play them in a yard or nearby park.
Fun PE games for kids like soccer, kickball, or basketball can be played with just a ball at a nearby park. Games like “H-O-R-S-E" or "around the world” can be played with just two or more players on a basketball court. Net sports like tennis, volleyball, and badminton are great PE games for kids. Many public parks have tennis courts you can use, but you can also set up outdoor volleyball or badminton in the grass. Volleyball is always fun at the beach, but you might also find sand volleyball courts at a public swimming pool in your area.
Once you have a net, you’ll just need racquets and birdies or a volleyball. Two to four people can play each sport.
7. Solitary exercise.
Other traditional gym activities for kids include jumping rope or hula-hooping, both of which are excellent forms of exercise. Either of these activities can be done indoors on rainy days, too.
8. Group games.
Try some variations on classic PE activities for elementary school students: flashlight tag, “Simon Says” with balls or other items, and water-bottle bowling in the yard.
9. Outdoor pool activities.
As long as they aren’t crowded, pools can still be a safe option for some outdoor exercise. Swimming or jogging laps is great for cardio exercise and muscle toning. Elementary school children who want to become better swimmers and stronger athletes can do laps regularly and track their progress.
10. Diving games.
Diving for objects like diving rings and diving gems at the bottom of the pool helps swimmers practice holding their breath longer. It’s also a lot of fun for kids to play diving games, such as racing to find as many coins as possible within a time limit or within one breath.
11. Water aerobics.
Instead of signing up for a water aerobics class, create your own exercise routine to do in the backyard or neighborhood public pool. Kids of all ages and their parents can get involved. Watch water aerobics videos online to learn some moves and consider using a pair of water weights.
12. Water wars.
There are plenty of ways for children to have fun with water fights. Challenge them to stay on their rafts while practicing their splashing techniques on each other or shooting water guns.
If thunderstorms keep you inside, you can always try this list of indoor PE activities for online elementary students.
There are plenty of fun PE activities for kids to try that fit into their online school schedule. For more tips on keeping kids learning at home, visit Connections Academy’s resources page for families who are new to distance learning or online school.
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