This article walks you through what happens between enrollment and your child's first day of learning. There are a few things to set up beforehand, and knowing what to expect will make the first week much smoother.
Before Your Child's First Day
A few things need to be in place before your child can start. If any of these are missing, they will not be able to begin.
Computer: Your child needs a Mac or Windows laptop or desktop no older than roughly five years. StudyReel does not run on Chromebooks, iPads, Android tablets, phones, or Linux computers, and there is no workaround. If you only have an unsupported device at home, you will need access to a compatible computer before your child can start.
Internet: A stable internet connection is required. Wi-Fi is fine. Frequent drops or very slow speeds may cause issues with StudyReel or the learning apps.
Workspace: Your child will be taking tests during the first phase. A quiet space with a flat surface for writing helps them work independently and produces more accurate results.
Materials: Have paper and something to write with nearby. Many math problems are easier to work through by hand.
What You Should Have Received
After enrolling, you should have received an invitation email at the address you provided. It includes your child's program email address, typically [email protected].
You should also have received access to Circle, the parent community platform, where you will find important links, announcements, and other families.
If you have not received the invitation email, check your spam folder. If it is not there, contact the Parent Experience Team.
Main Thing to Set Up Before Day 1
Install StudyReel on your child's computer. StudyReel is the application your child opens every day to begin learning. Without it running, work will not be tracked and lessons will not count. See "Installing StudyReel" for step-by-step instructions.
What Day 1 Looks Like
Your child opens StudyReel (not a web browser, not Dash directly).
A blue border appears around the screen, confirming the session is being tracked.
Your child logs into Dash through StudyReel using "Continue with Google" and their @2hourlearning.com credentials.
They click the graduation cap icon to open "My Required Learning."
Their first bracketing test will be waiting for them.
Bracketing is the assessment that determines where your child should start in each subject. It is not optional. See the Bracketing article for a full explanation of what to expect.
What to Expect During the First Week
The first week does not look like a typical school day. Your child will primarily take bracketing tests and complete Knowledge Gap lessons. There is no set daily routine yet. Some days will feel short, others longer. That is normal.
The daily pattern during this phase: open StudyReel, check My Required Learning, complete whatever is assigned, close when finished.
Things that are normal during the first week: seeing kindergarten-level content (the system starts low and moves up quickly), the dashboard looking sparse (it fills in as bracketing progresses), and some variation in how long each day takes.
Contact the Parent Experience Team if your child sees no content at all after logging in, or if error messages persist after restarting StudyReel.
Joining Circle
Circle is the parent community for Alpha Anywhere families. Your enrollment email includes a link to join. There you will find important links (including the booking link for Post-Test Coaching sessions), announcements, and resources. Plan to join during your first week.
Common First-Week Questions
It's Day 1, and nothing is working.
Confirm three things: (1) you are on a Mac or Windows computer, not a Chromebook, tablet, or phone; (2) StudyReel is installed and running, with the blue border visible; (3) your child is logged in with their @2hourlearning.com email. If all three are confirmed and the issue continues, contact the Parent Experience Team.
The tests on the first day look too easy.
The starting grade level is based on your child's MAP Screener results from enrollment. If the Screener placed them at Grade 4, their first bracketing test in that subject starts at Grade 3. The system moves up from there.
How long should my child be working each day?
During the first week, there is no fixed time target. Your child should complete everything in My Required Learning each day, including bracketing tests and any assigned Knowledge Gap lessons. Some days this takes under an hour, some days longer.
Do I need to sit with my child?
For the initial setup, yes. Once they are logged in and working, let them complete tests independently. Helping during tests gives an inaccurate picture of where they are, leading to harder corrections later.
We have a Chromebook. Can we make it work?
No. StudyReel requires a Mac or Windows computer. If you need to purchase or borrow a compatible machine, do that before starting.