Letter to families from National Teacher of the Year

Hello Families:

WideOpenSchool.org, a free resource hub for distance learning during COVID19. These are tech giants that typically compete against each other and they are now collaborating to provide resources to students, parents and schools. Please take advantage of the resource.

Distance Learning

RIVALS BEFORE COVID-19, MEDIA, EDUCATION AND TECH GIANTS WORK TOGETHER TO CURATE RESOURCES:

Apple and Google, Scholastic and Time for Kids, a gym teacher and an NBA player — school shutdowns are bringing together some unlikely partners, including some competitors in the education technology business, to help students continue to learn during the coronavirus pandemic. With the help of some of the biggest players in their fields, Common Sense Media last week launched WideOpenSchool.org, a free one-stop-shop site for education resources for K-12 students, teachers and parents. The site is updated daily with suggested schedules for several age ranges and new activities and materials vetted by Common Sense, a nonprofit known for rating education and entertainment content. “Everyone [invited] has agreed to participate,” said Common Sense founder and CEO James Steyer. “They saw the magnitude of the crisis and the magnitude of the problems facing particularly low-income families and schools … that don’t have the same resources to do the distance learning and to do schooling from home.” Laura Fay reports.

4Fams

OPEN LETTER FROM NATIONAL TEACHER OF THE YEAR:

“Dear Parents/Guardians, I know that, amid all the uncertainty and fear right now, it’s overwhelming to suddenly take over as your children’s teacher. Don’t worry — they’re going to learn just fine with you in charge.” So begins an open letter from Rodney Robinson, 2019 National Teacher of the Year and a 20-year veteran educator. “But we could all use a little extra help at the moment, so here are some tips to help you get through the next few months while the education system adjusts.” From self-care for parents and patience in making decisions to academic and social-emotional support, he writes, “Remind yourself that although we are experiencing perhaps the greatest challenge since World War II, everything is going to work out. … Love, empathy and compassion will get us through this pandemic. … We can’t wait to see you when school opens.”