Resources to Help Parents, Teachers + Kids Get through the #COVID-19 Quarantine
March 19, 2020
One of the things I've been grateful for in all of this coronavirus quarantining is knowing/following quite a few authors, illustrators, homeschooling parents, and teachers. Many of these people have been generous with their time and experience and are offering useful resources and/or perspectives. As I have run across things that I think are interesting or useful, I've been sharing them on Twitter @JensBookPage and on my personal Facebook account. I usually round up shared links once a week on this blog, but these are not usual times. Here are the links that I rounded up and shared earlier in the week. Today, I have some new resources that are well worth a look.
For what it's worth, the two online resources that my nearly 10-year-old daughter has found most useful are these two (oddly, both from people named Jarrett):
Draw Every Day with JJK - Every weekday at 2 pm ET @StudioJJK will host free webcasts to help parents get kids "creating, drawing, using their imagination" ow.ly/xtuW30qpMp6 - #SchoolClosures #homeschool. My daughter doesn't need me to remind her about this one - she's been asking for it every day. She participated in the first one live, and got a kick out of knowing that at least three of her friends were participating at the same time. Since then, she's been using the archived version because she's not a big fan of schedules, but she LOVES these webcasts.
Author/illustrator @Jarrett_Lerner has posted a bunch of free activities for kids, from blank #ComicPanels to incomplete comics to story prompts. I have printed several for my daughter ow.ly/9ICK30qqzSF #creativity #homeschool. My daughter was hesitant about these at first, and only asked me to print out four of them. But a day later, without any prompting from me, she had me go back and print them all. She likes the incomplete comics best.
For Parents + Teachers
This is my current favorite of the new links: A message for stressed out #parents: You Really Don't Need to Formally #Homeschool to Keep Kids Learning During #SchoolClosures | Let them read + learn via #play ow.ly/XwcK30qr1pF @parentsmagazine @KristiPahr
This is also very cool. For as long as schools are closed, @audible_com is giving kids free streaming access (no account or p/w needed) to a collection of #audiobooks in 6 languages ow.ly/gP4F30qraIo | Mostly classics + audible originals but some other choices, too | @amazon
Solid roundup of resources here: How to #homeschool during the coronavirus crisis ow.ly/XXtS30qqKR1 @lisatolin @TODAYshow via @litsafari | webinars, online #ReadAlouds, #podcasts + more
Suddenly #homeschooling? Don't try to make it like school. Longtime homeschool mom + author @melissawiley shares tips + encouragement ow.ly/I1Bf30qqKpK | Let them follow their interests, give plenty of downtime | #coronavirus
"Experts suggest keeping things simple: Invest in two 30-minute high-quality #reading sessions a day + engage in #math exercises" | Keep those skills up ow.ly/D8Pv30qqzLD @yoreekoh @WSJ @khanacademy #RemoteLearning #Homeschool
Some tips for Emergency #Homeschooling from veteran homeschooler @MarlaSzwast ow.ly/5IKF30qqzDz | #ReadAloud, find #Podcasts, give kids #ScreenFree free time, make a routine + lots more
Basic Principles for Parents Coping w/ #SchoolClosures from @McKenzieRoss20 @HonorsGradU ow.ly/mWaQ30qqtZw | talk, read, write, sing, and #play
RT @MrsPStorytime: I have a FREE way to entertain & educate kids too! Check out my website and YouTube channel for free stories and resources for #parents and #teachers https://t.co/f1cjCdrQWI?amp=1 [This is a great resource that I recommend year-round, not just now.]
Resources for teachers to share w/ parents during #COVID-19 #SchoolShutdowns – @McKenzieRoss20 @HonorsGradU ow.ly/5SRb30qr0Qm @The_Pigeon @ProvoLibrary + more
RT @lynchem1: You might have already seen this, Jen, but here’s a link...great place.: RT @NYWolfOrg As schools are closed to help slow the spread of #COVID19, the Wolf Conservation Center aims to do its part to help keep students engaged + learning by offering FREE distance learning programs to classes nationwide. https://t.co/xU9KMQY9Ep?amp=1
Other Stuff, including Libraries + Book Lists
Latest Hot Spot for #Coronavirus Hoarders: The Public Library - @JamesRHagerty @WSJ ow.ly/zj9y30qqQIu | One librarian "was relieved to find that people would rush to stock up on books, not just tuna fish and toilet paper"
Well this is good news for #libraries (and anyone checking out digital books from home): @MacmillanUSA Abandons Controversial New Release Library #eBook Embargo ow.ly/EkPz30qqA4j | #BookAccess #coronavirus
South Asian #Kidlit Roundup for Spring 2020 from Darshana Khiani ow.ly/Rurd30qr0OQ #DiverseBooks #BookLists
As #coronavirus concerns shutter #schools around the world + #homeschooling ramps up, will poor students be left behind? asks editor @L_willen @hechingerreport ow.ly/JFVc30qqzJa #EducationalEquity
For more, see my post from earlier in the week.
© 2020 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. You can also follow me @JensBookPage.