FAQs FOR EDUCATION CONNECTION VOLUNTEERS DURING THE CORONAVIRUS
Q – Are we able to read “virtually” (Zoom, Facetime, Google Meet, etc.) with students?
A – Currently, for liability reasons, Education Connection is not able to have volunteers meet with students on a “live” virtual platform.
Q – Can I contact the parent/guardian directly to keep in contact with the student I worked with?
A – If you would like to send a message to your student, you can send the teacher(s) you were matched with that message, and they can forward it to the student. IF the parent responds back; before you reply, make sure the teacher and your Literacy Partner Coordinator are copied on any/all communication with the parent.
Q – Can I meet with my students in person to give them their “end-of-year” book?
A – We are not allowed to meet with students away from school and during non-school hours. Please hold onto the books for students. When we are allowed back on campus, you can meet with your student from last year and give them the book. Other plans might be arranged with your Literacy Partner Coordinator or School Coordinator. Please contact the Coordinators with further questions.
Q – With the uncertainty of the 2020-21 school year, what can I do?
A – Pray for our leaders, students/families, teachers, and school staff.
Send the teachers you have worked with a quick “Hi” or “I’m thinking about you” email and continue to check-in with others.
Show love and kindness to others (and yourself).
The future for Education Connection 2020-21 will be announced by late July 2020.
RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES DURING CORONAVIRUS
Education Connection is here for you during this unprecedented time in history. As schools across the globe have been forced to close their doors and families are having to “homeschool” their students.
In an attempt to provide support, we have gather several links to education reading and learning activities. You can click on the picture or the link below to access each resource.
Please contact Education Connection at info@education-connection.org with questions or for further assistance.
Navigate social distancing and school closures with quality media and at-home learning opportunities for your kids.
Click here to access Resources for Families.
Free Online Events and Activities for Kids at Home:
Provide some structure and schedule to your family’s day (updated regularly).
Click here to access Free Online Events and Activities.
Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems:
Learners worldwide can draw, doodle and explore new ways of writing by visiting Mo’s studio virtually once a day for the next few weeks.
Click here to access Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems.
Read Aloud books:
Read Free For 30 Days. 35,000 of the Best Children’s Books of All Time. Nurture a Love of Reading and Learning With Epic! – The Leading Digital Library For Kids. Access to 40,000+ Books.
Click here to access Read Aloud books.
Resources for Caretakers:
This article offers basic tips that include open and honest conversation. Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus
This ever-updating guide from NPR includes advice for both health and education during the coronavirus outbreak. Coronavirus and Parenting: What You Need to Know Now
This free resource includes days of projects for children in grade bands of PK-K, 1-2, 3-5 and 6+. Scholastic Learn at Home
This is a curated list of free remote learning and homeschooling resources for a variety of subjects and grade levels. Free Resources and Subscriptions for Remote Learning and Home Schooling Due to Coronavirus
This article provides advice for structuring the home learning environment as well as a list of free online activity websites. Coronavirus: Learning Resources for Kids Home From School
Printables:
Mostly geared toward young learners, this website offers printable activities and worksheets. All Kids Network
This page offers printable activities for students in grades K-8. Scholastic
This website includes printable activities for grades K-8 in math and reading. Curriculum Associates
Additional Resources:
Audibles is offering free audiobooks on their stories service.They have over 300 free audiobooks in six languages – all free of charge for the foreseeable future. Categories that are currently free include littlest listeners, elementary, tween, teen, and literary classics. The six featured languages are – English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Chinese Mandarin. Sign up is required to access these free audiobooks that can be listened to on using a laptop, mobile phone, or tablet.
Stay at Home Story time with Oliver Jeffers
BookIt Program Reading Resources
Virtually Explore our National Parks
Local Resources To Help During The COVID-19 Pandemic
Kid President: Making Tough Choices
Read, Learn, GO! is a 2 hour high-quality educational show hosted by Readers 2 Leaders teachers every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Each episode follows a theme and is made up of short interactive segments featuring reading instruction and enrichment, as well as content in core subject areas, social-emotional learning, health and wellness, fine arts and more. It’s free for students and families everywhere! More information about Read, Learn, GO! can be found here: https://www.readers2leaders.org/readlearngo
Explore thousands of artwork in the Chicago museum’s wide-ranging collection, from Van Gogh, de Kooning, Rubens and O’Keefe to Aztec, Ancient Roman and Egyptian sculpture. The Collection | Virtual Tour
Calm has created a free web page featuring adult and children meditations, sleep stories, movement exercises, printable journals, and music.
Free coloring pages from world museums, libraries, archives and other cultural institutions around the world share free coloring content featuring images from their collections.
“Stars of Texas Storytime” will be broadcast on Tuesdays and Fridays at 10:00 a.m. on social media. The event will be live-streamed on Facebook on Governor Abbott’s page: https://www.facebook.com/TexansForAbbott/
This list includes hundreds of free e-learning platforms and resources that cover a wide range of grade levels, subjects and needs, including topics such as sex education, drama and language learning. Free Online Learning Resources for Schools Affected by Coronavirus/COVID-19
This list includes sites with ready lesson plans and activities for all grade levels, as well as e-learning platforms. 125+ Amazing Online Learning Resources
This is a list of education publishers offering free distance learning resources. Free Educational Resources for Distance Learning
Doc Academy features free clips from documentary films, including social justice topics, with accompanying toolkits and lessons. Doc Academy
On the TED-Ed site, users will find free videos on a wide range of educational topics, with portals for students and educators. TED-Ed
This website offers read-alouds of books for young readers. Books include a diverse range of authors and characters but should be vetted by educators. Storyline Online
On this site, astronauts read children’s books aloud. It’s out of this world cute, and the options include diverse representation of kids who love science. Storytime From Space
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Image Source: Good E Reader