Parent Resources

Webinar: Supporting Struggling Readers

Wednesday, April 29 at 2pm ET

This webinar is intended for parents of kindergarten through eighth-grade students who are struggling with, or below grade level in, reading. We will provide ideas and resources for how to support their reading skills, including their phonemic awareness, decoding, fluency, and comprehension.

Presenters:

  • Kristin Conradi Smith, Ph.D.; Associate Professor of Reading Education at William & Mary

  • Ellen Frackelton, M.Ed., NCBT; Kindergarten teacher at Clara Byrd Baker Elementary
    Mary Murray Stowe, M.Ed.; Virginia Coordinator for Specialized Reading Instruction and Educational Specialist with the TTAC at William & Mary

  • Tammy Williams, M.Ed., NBCT; Reading Specialist at Clara Byrd Baker Elementary

An open Q&A will follow. Bring your questions! The webinar will be available as a recording for those who are not able to attend the live event.

Register now: https://cwm.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_mkvh-o6gTw29G-PHJtyhvQ

Share the FB event: https://www.facebook.com/events/912291862555360/

Retweet: https://twitter.com/WMSOE/status/1252315643141070851


From the COVID-19 In Virginia Schools: Parent Guide

Parents and families can support student’s thinking and learning during extended school closures.

● Collaborate with your child to organize the day to include time for learning and exercise.

● Read to and with your child and have conversations about what you’ve read together.

● Take a walk and ask about your child’s observations and about being a good citizen.

● Encourage critical thinking.

● Encourage conversations about the mathematics in your child’s day.

● Explore your child’s creativity by creating art, music, or dance.

● Write a letter to a relative or friend or community hero.

● Be mindful of screen time and have alternatives for children to play outside.

From the Virginia Association of School Curriculum and Design:

TEN THINGS

to Do With Your Child Outdoors


1. Find a plant that has emerging leaves or flowers. Photograph or draw it. Come back every week to the same plant and photograph or draw it again. What do you notice about the way it's growing?

2. Mark off a 2x2 foot area in your yard. How many different life forms can you find there (a magnifying glass will help)?

3. Read and write outside. Take a good book to a comfortable spot outdoors. Write in a journal about what you see, what you hear, and what you're thinking.

4. Find a spot in nature where you can stand still and close your eyes for 5 minutes. How many things can you hear? How many of those sounds can you identify?

5. Find a tree and learn everything you can about it. How big around is it? Can you figure out or estimate its height? What is the shape of its leaves and texture of its trunk (make a rubbing to see it better)? How are these different from other trees nearby?

6. Take a bird walk. How many different birds do you hear and see? Make a graph of how many times you see or hear each type of bird.

7. Do some sky watching after-dark. Older students can use this website to identify planets and constellations.

8. Plant a tree. The world needs more trees. Or plant anything (and take care of it).

9. Help struggling populations of bees and butterflies. Here are some ideas.

10. Find a trail and take a hike with your child. Don't structure anything - just walk and talk. This website can help you find hiking trails, but a walk in any nearby natural area is great!

1) Topic: Creating Calm and Communicating about Anxiety

Hosted by Ruthie Lynn BA-MA,

Thursday, March 19, 1:30 PM EDT

Link: https://zoom.us/j/630949731

2) Topic: Self-Care: How Caregivers are Caring for Themselves

Hosted by Aviva Weiss, MS OTR/L, and Danielle Lake, MS OTR/L

Monday, March 23rd,1:30 EDT

Link: https://zoom.us/j/630949731

3) Topic: Setting up structure at home with e-learning (and get your kids to eat their veggies)

Hosted by Goldie Grossman Ed.D and Danielle Lake, MS OTR/L

Wednesday, March 25th, 1:30 EDT

Link: https://zoom.us/j/630949731

4) Topic: Screen Free Learning

Hosted by Ilana Mann MA MS and Goldie Ed.D

Thursday, March 26th, 1:30 EDT

Link: https://zoom.us/j/630949731

500 Women Scientists https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1KgWjybZicGMf3ZXz9LeGWeGuDN03BWsA2rlJC-DHPhY/edit#gid=0

An assembled list of science education resources.

STEM Action Center (Utah)

https://stem.utah.gov

Resources for STEM in the home: fun and challenging STEM activities to do in your home with friends and family.

COVID-19 specific Q&A for families

https://rockedu.rockefeller.edu/blog/rockedu-covid-19-qa/

Video and compiled list of Q&A for families meant to both educate and bring a sense of calm.

Finding Math

https://www.instagram.com/finding_math/

Instagram account from Uof WA Research Institute with tips to help kids of all ages celebrate math.

PAST Foundation

https://www.pastfoundation.org/stem-streaming

To support virtual education and distance learning, PAST created STEMStreaming, a wealth of teacher and parent resources that can help you get started.

STEM For All Multiplex

https://multiplex.videohall.com/

Provides playlists of 3-minute video presentations created by federally funded projects. These projects have developed quality STEM resources for teachers, students, and parents.

Skype a Scientist

https://www.skypeascientist.com/skype-a-scientist-live.html

Gives students all over the world the opportunity to get to know a “real scientist”.

CDC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7bfSuyt7bM&feature=youtu.be

Video explaining how coronaviruses work.