Approximately 56.6 million students attended elementary and secondary school in the United States in 2019. With the ongoing global pandemic of COVID-19, school districts across the country have made the difficult decision to close schools and move to classes. online due to public health and safety concerns. Parents and caregivers have been charged to take a more active role in facilitating their children’s educational learning. Below are some educational tips, strategies, and resources for parents.

1. Make sure the student participates in all required online activities, including instructional time and any additional participation in online chats.

2. Talk to teachers about your child’s ongoing academic progress, including completion of homework, projects, and test scores.

3. Parents are encouraged to supplement their child’s learning with additional academic enrichment activities, including educational websites, home science projects, or fun learning games.

4. Parents should ensure that they create a learning environment at home to help their child focus, including having a quiet place away from distractions, routine homework and study times, and learning materials such as a computer/ laptop, textbooks, etc.

5. For students receiving Exceptional Student Education (ESE) services, under an IEP or 504 plan, they should follow up with the school counselor or school psychologist to determine if there are any required pending updates or required meetings prior to the final. of the school year.

6. If your child was undergoing a psychoeducational evaluation to determine special education services, follow up with school staff for a status report and see if the school psychologist can conduct testing over the summer.

7. If your child was unable to start their assessment before school closes, please discuss with school staff whether it is possible for your child to complete a private psychoeducational assessment if you are very concerned about the possible delay in starting school. next school year. Keep in mind that a private psychoeducational evaluation can be done on your own and the school does not have to accept the results or recommendations. Also, if it is sent to the school, it becomes part of your child’s educational record. Consider all of the above before spending hundreds of dollars on a private appraisal.

8. If you wish to have a private psychoeducational evaluation, consider a cheaper alternative of having the evaluation done at a nearby university that has a university clinic with graduate students who can complete the test under the supervision of a licensed clinical psychologist. or certified school psychologist.

9. Students completing their senior year who plan to attend college in the fall should contact their selected college to determine if classes will begin on time as indicated above.

10. Graduating students who have already been admitted to college for 2020-2021 should track their financial aid status, including any awarded grants, scholarships, or GI 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, how-to videos, and a personalized learning dashboard for self-paced learning

PhET Simulations – Provides free and fun interactive math and science simulations.

Scholastic: Offers books, literacy resources, and educational solutions for children.

Scistarter: connects people with citizen science projects, scientists, and resources

Starfall: educational reading, phonics and math games and activities for children from preschool to second grade

Tutor.com/military – The program provides 24/7 online academic support on demand in over 100 subjects for students from kindergarten through college students. Now available at no cost to any adult or child in a civilian or active duty military family, National Guard, Reserve, or Department of Defense Wounded Warrior.

FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIPS:

Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)-studentaid.gov

FastWeb – Online College Scholarship Search Provider

INFORMATIVE ARTICLES:

“20 Tips for Applying for a College Scholarship,” Felecia D. Sheffield, PhD, EzineArticles.com

“Minimizing Summer Learning Loss: 5 Tips for Parents,” Felecia D. Sheffield and Shameeka T. Meredith, ezinerarticles.com

Parent Center Hub, Information and Resource Center for Parents – “All About the IEP”

Parent Center Hub, Information and Resource Center for Parents – “Developing Your Child’s IEP”

US Department of Education, “A Guide to the Individualized Education Program”

Greatschools.org “Parent’s Guide to Section 504 in Public Schools”

Additudemag.com “Is an IEP or 504 Plan Better for Your Child? How to Decide”

Copyright © 2020 Felecia D. Sheffield. PhD, HSP All rights reserved worldwide in all media.

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