We talked to the Geiler’s about staring the school year, heard their famous goat-sound roll call, and more in our Facebook Live conversation!

This semester the family’s Wilson Focus School fourth-grader and Lewis & Clark Middle School seventh-grader are starting this school year off strong, and they’re passing on tips to others to adjust to the changes of this school year. 

COVID-19 has presented families with all kinds of new challenges and plenty of uncertainty. In all the commotion, the Geilers remind us it’s important to step back and take a deep breath. Doing this helped them realize that even though there’s much they can’t change, they could still have some control over the situation. 

With this in mind, the Geiler’s started to create an alternative learning environment that works for their family, one that can support e‑learning and traditional after school homework. 

The bright side can be elusive, but for the Geiler’s, focusing on the positives made all the difference. Nicole Geiler shared the importance of taking to their kids about the difficulty of the situation for everyone but also the difference it makes to embrace gratitude. 

The Geiler’s, like many families, found they’re grateful for the extra time they get to spend together. Being a family of musicians, they used some of this time to have at-home concerts and family jam sessions. 

Outside of music, they found other ways to enhance their kid’s remote learning with things they wouldn’t be able to do at school. ​“We’re good at being goofy, we’re good at being ridiculous,” Nicole Geiler says, so celebrating Dance Marathon Day and dressing in costumes each Monday seemed like a no-brainer way for them to add some fun during remote learning days. 

Take advantage of this time away from school to do some of the things your family loves and enrich your student’s learning with other experiences. Maybe it’s a one-on-one cooking lesson in your kitchen or a nature scavenger hunt in the yard, spend a school day dressed as your favorite movie characters or talking in a funny accent!

Connecting virtually can seem awkward and intimidating, but with limited options, it helps to make the most of it. Nicole tries to remind her kids that: ​“Yes, you may just be seeing your teachers on the screen right now but it’s the same person that you’ve seen in person. We just have to remember that there are other ways to communicate as well.” 

Many schools have started using apps to boost communication in the classroom. Get to know these platforms with your students and don’t be afraid to attend a virtual event at your school. Students can play online games together (after their school work, of course!) or host virtual book or movie clubs to connect regularly. ​“It’s just a little creativity in finding ways to stay connected,” Nicole says.

Let’s face it: remote learning means more work for everyone. Students, parents, teachers, and administrators are all being called upon to go above and beyond in a difficult time. The Geiler’s say what motivates them is a helpful attitude. ​“You want your kids to succeed, you want your kids to continue to be educated,” Mike Geiler said. ​“As a parent, let’s help. Let’s find a way to help that to continue.”

Figuring out how to best help your at-home student can be hard. Each classroom, family, and child is different. Talk to your student and their teachers about how you can be supportive and create a conducive learning environment. Check in to make sure your student isn’t overwhelmed and encourage them to ask for help if they need it.

To keep spirits high in the Geiler house, Mike and Nicole focus on celebrating all the wins. For them, a ​“hoot and holler” and a round of applause for even the smallest tasks go a long way. 

Turning small successes into little moments of joy boosts everyone’s attitude and shows your students that you recognize and appreciate the work they’re doing to adjust.

Plus, it’s just fun. If cheering isn’t your thing, try using intentional words of affirmation, or finding tangible ways to honor small accomplishments. Don’t forget to give yourself a pat on the back too, you’re trying you best and that’s the best you can do.