With schools closed many parents are navigating what the best resources are for teaching their children, but since there’s no one size fits all, here are some tips!

As another week passes people are starting to adjust to this “new normal” of staying at a distance, changing the manner in which they are used to working, and for most starting a new role as a teacher. Even in the midst of these changes, it’s understandable to feel stressed or anxious about the unknown, but as we say at Corage Dolls don’t give up!

We felt this quote from BKReader summed this statement up well: “Although there is much urgency around establishing some kind of temporary normal for our families, remember that children are resilient and sensitive. Talk to them, in an age-appropriate way, about what is happening and how it will affect their schedule for now. Reassure them that, although things may be different for a while, you are there to love and care for them, and they can depend on you to make sure they are ok. Be gentle on yourself too. Experienced homeschoolers suggest about 2-4 hours a day of “learning instruction” or activities that focus on a particular learning goal, and spread the rest of the day out with indirect learning activities, free time, rest, and physical exercise. Lastly, don’t forget to schedule some time to talk, cuddle, and share.” 

You should know that there are many parents who are feeling what you’re feeling. So, we hope that some of the resources we pulled will help you in your child’s learning, helps create new enjoyable moments, and helps ease some of the stress so you’re able to make room for the unexpected silver linings.

Now let’s get to those tips!

Time Management Planning

•     Daily Schedule - Photographer Jessica Mchale created this cool schedule as a way to keep her and her family sane during the times we’re in with rona. Feel free to use this schedule as is or use it as a jumping-off point to create a customized plan that fits you and your family’s needs.

Scheduling Board – For when you’re teaching multiple children and want to encourage different learning activities for them to participate in.

Free Online Children’s Course Materials

•     ABCmouse –is a subscription-based digital education program for children ages 2–8, in which children can learn math, art, music, social studies, and more in a fun online or app setting. Right now they’re offering the first month FREE!

•     Storytime Online –  is a children's literacy website created by the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, which provides free storytelling videos and resources for parents and teachers to foster a love of reading in children. This is a great platform especially for kids with learning disabilities like dyslexia, plus you’ll get to hear James Earl Jones aka the voice behind Darth Vader read children books aloud!

•     Flocabulary - is a Brooklyn-based company that creates educational hip hop songs, videos and additional materials for students in grades K-12.

•     Prodigy Game – is a free, adaptive math game that integrates common-core math (grades 1-7) into a fantasy style game that students love playing.

•     Khan Academy - is a free resource for students, parents, and teachers. From exercises, quizzes, tests, and instructional videos, students can practice and master educational skills. During the school closures, Khan Academy is having daily live streams 9 a.m. PST/noon EST on Facebook, Youtube, and Twitter.

•     Time for Kids – is a school-based publication from Time magazine. Created as a way to support students impacted by rona, the new digital library will provide access to new weekly issues of “TIME for Kids” and “Your $,” the financial literacy magazine for kids K-6 grade. “TIME for Kids” also includes access to teaching materials, curriculum guides and weekly virtual learning plans for each issue.

•     Frog Tutoring - provides one-on-one, online tutoring customized to the needs of the student. They specialize in math and science (though they can provide assistance in all disciplines), offering quality tutoring to students of all ages. Frog tutors are current students and graduates from local universities + it’s Black-owned.

•     PhotoMath - is an app that helps you learn math while taking the frustration out of learning the subject. The app allows you to scan a math problem and then it not only gives the answer but also breaks down how to do it step-by-step. 

•     Cosmic Kids Yoga - a mindfulness and yoga platform for children that has been around since 2012.

We hope you found this helpful. Hit us up on Instagram or Facebook @CorageDolls to let us know if you’ve applied any of these tools or have recommendations of your own. Thanks, Corage Crew and please be on the lookout for more resources and tools!