Approximately 56˳6 million students attended elementary and secondary school in the United States in 2019˳ With the current COVID-19 global pandemic, school districts across the nation made the tough decision to close schools and move to online classes due to public health and safety concerns˳ Parents and caregivers have been charged with stepping into a more active role of facilitating their child’s educational learning˳ Below are a few educational tips, strategies and resources for parents˳
1˳ Ensure that student is participating in all required online activities including instructional time and any additional online chats’ participation˳
2˳ Discuss with teachers your child’s ongoing academic progress including completion of homework assignments, projects and exam scores˳
3˳ Parents are recommended to supplement their child’s learning with additional academic enrichment activities including educational websites, at home science projects or fun learning games˳
4˳ Parents should make sure to create an at home learning environment to help their child focus including having a quiet place away from distractions, routine homework and study times and learning materials including a computer/laptop, textbooks, etc˳
5˳ For students who are receiving exceptional student education (ESE) services, are under an IEP or 504 plan, should follow-up with the school counselor or school psychologist to determine if there are any required pending updates or meetings required prior to the end of the school year˳
6˳ If your child was undergoing a psychoeducational evaluation for determination of special education services, please follow-up with school personnel for a status report and to see if the school psychologist may be conducting testing over the summer˳
7˳ If your child was unable to start his/her evaluation prior to school closing, discuss with school staff if it is possible for your child to have a private psychoeducational evaluation completed if you are very concerned about the potential delay at the start of the next school year˳ Please be mindful that a private psychoeducational evaluation may be at your own expense and the school does not have to accept the results or recommendations˳ Additionally, if submitted to the school it becomes a part of your child’s educational record˳ Please take all of the above into consideration before spending hundreds of dollars for a private evaluation˳
8˳ If you would like to pursue a private psychoeducational evaluation, consider a more affordable alternative of having the evaluation conducted at a nearby university that has a university-based clinic with graduate students who can complete the testing under the supervision of a licensed clinical psychologist or certified school psychologist˳
9˳ Students finishing their senior year and planning to attend college in the fall, should contact their selected college/university to determine if classes will start on time as previously outlined˳
10˳ Graduating students already admitted to college for 2020-2021, should follow-up on the status of their financial aid including any awarded grants, scholarships or G˳I˳ bill disbursements˳
EDUCATIONAL WEBSITES:
Abcmouse- subscription-based digital education program for children ages 2-8˳
BrainPOP- Animated educational sites for kids
Discovery Education- standards-based digital curriculum resources for K-12 classrooms worldwide
Funbrain- online educational games for kids
Khan Academy- offers practice exercises, instructional videos and a personalized learning dashboard for self-paced learning
PhET Simulations- provides free fun interactive math and science simulations
Scholastic- offers books, literacy resources and educational solutions for kids
Scistarter- connects people to citizen science projects, scientists and resources
Starfall- reading, phonics, and math educational games and activities for kids in preschool through 2nd grade
Tutor˳com/military- The program provides on-demand academic support 24/7 online in more than 100 subjects for grades kindergarten through college students˳ Now available at no cost to any adult or child in a DoD civilian or Active Duty, National Guard, Reserve or Wounded Warrior military family˳
FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIPS:
Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)-studentaid˳gov
FastWeb- online college scholarship search provider
INFORMATIONAL ARTICLES:
“20 Tips for Applying for College Scholarship”, Felecia D˳ Sheffield, PhD, EzineArticles˳com
“Minimizing Summer Learning Loss- 5 Tips for Parents”, Felecia D˳ Sheffield & Shameeka T˳ Meredith, ezinerarticles˳com
Parent Center Hub, Center for Parent Information and Resources- “All About the IEP”
Parent Center Hub, Center for Parent Information and Resources- “Developing Your Child’s IEP”
U˳S˳ Department of Education, “A Guide to the Individualized Education Program”
Greatschools˳org “A parent’s guide to Section 504 in public schools”
Additudemag˳com “is an IEP or 504 Plan best for Your Child? How to Decide”
Copyright © 2020 Felecia D˳ Sheffield˳ PhD, HSP All Rights Reserved Worldwide in all Media˳
Source by https://ezinearticles˳com/?Tips,-Strategies-and-Educational-Resources-for-Parents-During-Social-Distancing&id=10287322
