Not all of the most selective colleges have given out their acceptance letters yet. The Ivy League will announce Tuesday evening, but the trends are already clear. The pandemic has not hurt the college admissions; it’s helped them. It has sent them new applicants, new minority and first-generation applicants, and new attention. The results are starting to come in — and they suggest that the most selective private and public institutions are going to have…
Looking for COVID-safe spring activities for your children? Below are some sure-fire, family-friendly staycation ideas to keep your kids busy, sparing you some much-needed time to get work done. 1. Play online board games. Boardgamearena.com works in your browser and on most game consoles (no download necessary), and it offers 175 modern board games. Tabletopia is another online arena for virtual board gaming and contains more than 800 board games. Pogo is another option for…
For as long as anyone can remember, taking attendance and rewarding kids for showing up has been a time-honored school ritual. Like so many other aspects of education, that simple measure — “here” or “absent” — is not so simple anymore. States are having to update their attendance policies to cover the realities of virtual learning, and where school is being held in-person, strict coronavirus health protocols mean students must now stay home at the…
As we look forward to a foreseeable future of mostly online learning, teachers are finding themselves walking a tightrope of keeping students motivated while not letting their own morale down. Student motivation is a major concern regardless of which study model is adopted by each school: online, blended, hybrid, or a myriad variation. In the current pandemic scenario where teachers must deal with alternative learning modes, student motivation is especially important. Here are 5 strategies…
For the kids in our lives, the last nine months have been many things. Scary, because an invisible illness was suddenly spreading across the globe. Confusing, because even the adults in their lives didn’t have many answers. Maybe even fun, at least when the possibility of school closing felt like a snow day. But for many, that novelty has given way to frustration, sadness, and even depression and anxiety. Just like adults, kids are wondering:…
Despite the popular Atlantic article that claims early COVID-19 data seems to show schools can safely reopen, many worrisome questions still remain. The article flatly denies that schools are superspreaders in spite of new reports from the CDC noting that 90% of Americans live in counties falling into the two highest risk categories for reopening schools. Additionally, the American Academy of Pediatrics is showing a rapid rise in pediatric COVID-19 cases over the last six…
Many teachers, parents, and students are wondering how COVID-19 will change schools in 2021. In order to safely reopen school buildings, administrators have had to work closely with state and federal organizations like the CDC to find ways to protect everyone entering the school as much as possible. While many agree it is not yet safe to reopen schools, some may not have a choice but to open due to local laws, policy, and legislation.…
In our first blog post of the new year, we will be taking a look back at some of the biggest pieces of education news in 2020. Let’s start with the obvious: the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted education for tens of millions of students (along with the lives of their entire families). The deaths of educators and the 1.2 million child coronavirus cases have contributed to a tragedy of unimaginable proportions. Although it’s still not…
There is no denying that we are living in uncertain times, and many don’t know where to start with managing uncertainty and pandemic anxiety. No one knows exactly how or when the pandemic will end, or what it will mean for our lives and the lives of our loved ones in the future. There’s so much to worry about: health, finances, politics, and even our social fabric. I know I’m not the only one lying…
How to have safe holiday gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic has surely been on everyone’s mind as Christmas approaches. With COVID-19 cases hitting an all-time high, making the decision not to gather in person may be the most loving one a family can make this holiday season. This is especially true in families with high-risk members, such as older adults and people with pre-existing conditions. There is no such thing as completely safe holiday gatherings…
