SOUTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — For some parents of Fulton County students, preparing their homes as a virtual classroom has presented a unique challenge.
Channel 2′s Mike Petchenik talked with a South Fulton family who turned the family “man cave” in their home into a near replica of a classroom for their first grader.
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“I’m very nervous. I have a college degree and I’m still nervous to teach a first-grader.” said Nakeedra Grimes, who spearheaded her family’s renovation project.
“Have a family meeting to assess what everyone’s needs are, what their schedule is going to look like and who needs what.” suggests organizational expert Michelle Cooper
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The Grimes family was able purchase a white board, bulletin boards, books and a desk.
“We started in March at the kitchen table. That was fine for a little bit and then he got distracted with everything around him so I thought why not set up in a space that feels like a school.” Grimes said.
The challenge for some families Cooper says is finding what works best for each individual.
“How many work stations do you need? How does everybody work best? There’s not a one size fits all,” she said. “Some students might need to be in an area where they hear noise or hear music to study and others might need complete silence.”
Grimes said she was able to create her in-home classroom without spending much money by purchasing used furniture and items from dollar stores. She’s also come up with a plan to get her and her first grader through the day.
“When we’re in the classroom we’ll do it for a few hours a day. Once the classroom is over I’ll start on my projects. I wanted to make it so that when we leave this room, now it’s time for me to work so he can know the difference.”
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