At some point, one of your students may have to miss school for more than a few days, whether due to an illness or unforeseen circumstances. How can you help this student keep up with their peers, while still handling your usual workload? Read on for our advice.
First and foremost, you need to know any relevant details about the circumstances surrounding the absence. Talk to the student’s family to learn more about the situation and determine how easy or difficult it will be for the student to continue their learning while they are out.
Loop in your school principal. They may have an opinion on how involved you should be with supporting the student, and this will help you clarify expectations on both sides. Here are a few questions to ask yourself:
What are your expectations of the parents?
What are your expectations of your student?
Do the parents or the child have any expectations of you or the school principal?
Remember that the student and their family may be going through a difficult time, and burning yourself out trying to help won’t improve things for anyone. It can be helpful for you and the family to communicate your respective boundaries so everyone has a clear idea of their role in supporting the student.
You can also talk to the parents to determine how often you should touch base with them during the absence. Check-in meetings are an opportunity to discuss the student’s situation, either with or without them, go over the concepts you have covered in class since the last check-in, and, when the time comes, start planning to welcome the student back to class.
Every situation is different, and not all of them require the same degree of involvement from the teacher. For example, a long vacation will probably not be handled the same way as an extended illness. Note that, according to the Ministère de l'Éducation du Québec, only a few situations may exempt a child from compulsory school attendance.
Remember that every situation is unique. The resources you recommend to students will vary depending on a number of factors:
The context
The student’s physical and mental abilities
The student’s needs
The level of teacher and parent involvement
The equipment and materials available to the family (internet access, technology, etc.)
It can be hard to know where to start, but here are a few suggestions:
Make a list of the concepts that will be covered in class during the student’s absence.
Emphasize the concepts you consider essential for the child’s academic progress, as they may not have the time or energy to do everything.
Offer alternatives to school workbooks.
You can also give the student a roadmap with information about the essential material that will be covered during their absence. Ideally, this roadmap should serve more as a guide than as a checklist.
While parents should not be expected to take the place of a teacher, you can help them by providing tools like those offered by Alloprof. These tools can be particularly helpful for demystifying concepts and making learning fun. Here are some examples:
Concept sheets covering a wide variety of subjects
Exercises and games that allow students to put their learning into practice while receiving immediate feedback
Videos, including Crash Courses, that feature teachers explaining a concept using grade-appropriate language
The Help Zone, a forum where students can ask school-related questions 24/7
In psychology, three elements are recognized as contributing to engagement and the intrinsic motivation to learn:
Competence: The student must feel that the task is achievable—all the more reason to adapt the work you give them.
Autonomy: The student must feel that they have some control over what they are doing, for example, by choosing from among a number of learning activities or by determining the order of their work.
Purpose: The student must understand the relevance of what they are doing. In an exceptional situation such as a prolonged absence, it may make sense to think outside the box and give the student other options for learning activities that are more adapted to their circumstances, such as reading or developing other skills.
Whatever the reason for the student’s extended absence—illness, hospitalization, or another situation—their life is probably more complicated right now. This may not be the opportune time for them to develop a deep understanding of the scientific method, and that is totally normal!
However, the situation may present other opportunities for learning. Depending on the context, you might suggest that parents do the following:
Encourage the development of other skills, depending on the student’s difficulties, such as emotional management, social skills, or self-confidence
Play educational games with their child:
Use everyday situations as opportunities for informal learning
Reading is also an important tool to help students keep up with their learning and stave off boredom:
Suggest these reading comprehension questions.
Recommend playing Book of Spells, a multi-platform game that challenges students to answer reading comprehension questions.
Send the student suggestions for books they can borrow from public libraries.
Recommend free audiobooks available on platforms such as Unite for Literacy or the OHdio app, which can be used to practice oral comprehension and hear the pronunciation of words.
Students on extended absences benefit from feeling that they are still part of the school community and that they are still important to you and their classmates.
Studies show that a positive teacher-student relationship is a key factor in academic success and engagement and acts as a protective factor. In a situation where the student is vulnerable and their life is unstable, such as during an illness, you can help them retain a sense of normalcy.
If possible, try to find ways for the student to stay in touch with their class. For example:
Schedule short video calls to check in.
Have your class sign a card, then bring it to the absent student yourself or have a classmate deliver it.
Make a short recap video where your students talk about what their friend missed in school that week.
Make videos with encouraging messages.
Etc.
Welcoming a student back to class after a prolonged absence must be done with respect for their needs and preferences, especially when it comes to sharing information about their situation with other students. This list of book recommendations could be a good tool for dealing with a variety of delicate situations.
The key to successful reintegration is clear, compassionate communication. If needed, work together with the student and their parents to develop a personalized catch-up plan that will not overwhelm the student. Alloprof’s Crash Lessons and concept sheets can be invaluable tools to support your teaching.