A Westchester home schooling expert has some tips for parents grappling with remote learning as the start of the school year quickly approaches.

Former public school teacher Karen Aronian has a 10-year-old and a 13-year-old at home, and says she knows the struggles many families across the Hudson Valley are facing as they get ready for the start of the school year and remote learning.

Aronian is the head of her own education design company that helps families create engaging, at-home learning spaces for their kids.

For indoor classes, she says the key is to personalize the space.

It is not recommended for kids to use their bedroom for virtual Zoom sessions, but she says if kids do use the bedroom to think about privacy curtains or partitions. She says they can be made of an old blanket or sheet and can be decorated.

For shared spaces, ear buds or noise-canceling headphones are a must.

Aronian says now is the perfect time to take advantage of the great weather outdoors, but if taking the virtual classroom outside to be prepared.

"Get your pencils, get whatever essential need for classwork, workbooks, make sure to bring snacks and drinks and bug spray and sunblock," she says

She says it's also important not to forget a timer.

"A timer is always going to translate to someone visually, and you know that time has elapsed," she says.

The home-schooling expert says kids should have a say in what their remote learning space looks like.