Updated
|
Tips to Maintain Your Child’s Education During School Closures
Schools all over the country have closed their doors to slow the spread of COVID-19, forcing educators and parents to switch to online learning strategies. Read on to learn where to start with homeschooling and for helpful resources for learning at home.

In early March, the spread of COVID-19 became an issue lawmakers and educators could no longer ignore. The difficult decision was made in many states to close the doors of public and private schools, moving children to online learning from home. In the hopes that social distancing will slow the spread of the virus, families find themselves dealing with the challenges of working and schooling from home.

In this article, we’ll explore the challenges associated with online learning and the impact of widespread school closures. We’ll also talk about how to establish a homeschooling routine and provide some useful resources for online learning and educational ideas for children and families.

Challenges Associated with Online Learning

As schools all over the country closed their doors, a wave of panic spread through the community. Though many schools announced an initial 2-week closure, others offered no end date.

Not only have these closures resulted in an interruption of education, but they also have a negative impact on other aspects of a child’s life. The stability that comes from a daily school schedule is important, as is the time children spend learning from interactions with others. At school, students benefit from the supervision of qualified professionals and a structured schedule. For many students, school also means consistent access to meals.

Though remote learning is the best option in the current situation, it is not without its challenges. Here are some of the challenges associated with online learning:

  • Not all students have
. . .read more

The Impact of Coronavirus on Public Schools

Updated
|
The Impact of Coronavirus on Public Schools
As schools around the country close for two weeks or more, parents find themselves asking some tough questions. Read on to learn about the current and future impact of COVID-19 on students in public schools.

During the initial weeks of the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic, authorities and lawmakers found themselves faced with some difficult decisions. When the threat to domestic health and public safety became clear, so did the necessity of not just encouraging but enforcing social distancing rules.

As more school districts send their students home, it leaves parents wondering not only what to do with their children during the break but how the break will affect progress.

Information about COVID-19 continues to develop while state and local legislators do their best to follow CDC and federal recommendations. The health and safety of the American public always comes first, but recent events bring into question the long-term effects of the measures taken to ensure public safety. Read on to learn more about the impact of COVID-19 school closures now and into next year.

School Closures for COVID-19

As the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic became clear, local and national government officials began to question whether social distancing recommendations were enough. In the last week, school districts all over the nation have announced temporary closures. The United States isn’t alone in these actions. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), governments in 113 countries have closed educational institutions. Over 100 countries have implemented nationwide closures, impacting nearly an estimated 850 million children and youth.

How Will It Affect Testing and Progress?

Since the No Child Left Behind Act was implemented by the Bush administration

. . .read more

How Scaffolding Could Change the Way Your Child Learns

Updated
|
How Scaffolding Could Change the Way Your Child Learns
Every child learns differently and it’s a teacher’s job to meet students where they are and guide them through the learning process. Scaffolding is a teaching tool that helps students develop critical thinking skills and the ability to learn independently.

It is a teacher’s job to shape the minds of the nation’s youth, teaching them the concepts and skills they’ll need to become functional adults. Early childhood education is critical and can affect everything from a student’s future academic success to his mental and emotional health.

Every child learns differently, and his educational success depends, in large part, on his teachers and their method of instruction. Children learn by listening, observing, exploring, and asking questions. The more a child understands the “what” and “why” of the lesson, the more motivated and engaged they will be. Scaffolding is an instructional tool teachers use to develop critical thinking skills and other skills they need to work more independently.

Read on to learn more about scaffolding, how it differs from other teaching methods, and its benefits for student success.

What is Instructional Scaffolding?

In higher education, students are often left to their own devices to take a project from the assignment phase to completion. A college professor might give a classroom full of students a research article and ask them to write a detailed essay about the critical topic. As the professor in this example, you might expect mixed results. Some students are more than capable of completing a project with minimal instruction, while others might struggle. In many ways, it comes down to how the student was taught in his early education years.

Instructional scaffolding is a teaching method that breaks up a lesson or project into

. . .read more

How to Help Your Child Succeed in and Out of School

Updated
|
How to Help Your Child Succeed in and Out of School
Your child’s education is not just his teacher’s responsibility. As a parent, you can supplement your child’s education at home to help him succeed in school.

Kids soak up knowledge from everything around them. Even before they step into school, you're their very first teacher, mom or dad! Learning doesn't stop with age—it's a lifelong journey. So, if you want your kid to be sharp and savvy, it's time to get serious about their education inside and outside the classroom.

When you ignite a passion for learning in your child, every day becomes a chance to discover something new. In this article, we'll dig into how you can help your kid make the most of their education.. We'll talk about tailoring learning to their style and adding extra learning at home. Let's dive in!

Understanding Your Child’s Learning Style

In the early years of public school, there was an assumption that all children learned the same way or, at the very least, material was taught in a specific way. More recently, it has become evident that there are several different learning styles, and every child is unique. By learning more about your child’s learning style, you can work with his teacher at school and with your child at home to help him maximize his education.

Here is an overview of the 7 different learning styles:

  1. Visual (Spatial) – This style learns best when they have an image to help them process the information or the opportunity to write out their thoughts.
  2. Aural (Auditory-Musical) – These learners respond primarily to sound. They may prefer to learn through rhythms or use rhymes to remember information.
  3. Verbal (Linguistic)
. . .read more

Should Schools Screen for Childhood Trauma?

Updated
|
Should Schools Screen for Childhood Trauma?
Childhood experiences shape who we become as adults, for good and bad. The new Surgeon General of California is pushing for childhood trauma screening in students in the hopes of resolving some of the issues that might later lead to the development of physical and mental health problems.

Childhood experiences shape who we become as adults, for good and bad. The new Surgeon General of California is pushing for childhood trauma screening in students in the hopes of resolving some of the issues that might later lead to the development of physical and mental health problems.

The new Surgeon General of California is working to implement an unprecedented plan to implement universal screenings for childhood trauma in children benefiting from the state’s Medicaid program.

Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, the first person to hold the newly developed role of Surgeon General of California, is a pediatrician known for studying the harmful effects of adverse childhood experiences and toxic stress. The goal of the program is to identify children living with untreated childhood trauma so they can get the help they need and prevent harmful health effects from developing later in life.

Though Harris has already taken several steps toward implementing this plan, there are those who question its cost. Read on to learn more about the program and to explore the subject of childhood trauma in greater depth.

What Constitutes Childhood Trauma?

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), a traumatic event is one that threatens injury, death, or the physical integrity of self or others and also causes horror, terror, or helplessness at the time it occurs. Examples may include sexual abuse, physical abuse, school or community violence, domestic violence, accidents, medical trauma, national or manmade disasters, and traumatic loss.

The

. . .read more

Recent Articles

How Does Bullying Affect a Student’s Academic Performance?
How Does Bullying Affect a Student’s Academic Performance?
We explore the significant impact of bullying on students' academic performance, discussing statistics, research findings, and long-term effects. It provides valuable insights for educators and parents on recognizing bullying behaviors and implementing effective prevention strategies to create a safe learning environment.
Can Students Be Legally Prosecuted for School Fights?
Can Students Be Legally Prosecuted for School Fights?
This comprehensive guide explores the increasing trend of legal prosecution for school fights, discussing recent incidents, age considerations, and the shift from traditional school punishments to law enforcement involvement. It provides valuable insights for parents, educators, and students about the evolving landscape of school discipline and safety measures.
Understanding Rubrics
Understanding Rubrics
This article explores the fundamental principles of rubrics in education, focusing on their role as assessment tools. It breaks down the key components of rubrics, including criteria, performance levels, and descriptors. The piece also delves into the two main types of rubrics - holistic and analytic - providing authoritative definitions and explaining their unique applications in educational settings.