LEARNING AT HOME

With Illinois schools currently closed statewide to slow the spread of coronavirus, Illinois PTA would like to share resources for families to use during this time at home to help keep kids engaged in learning as well as have fun and stay active.

We encourage families to check their school or district website to find links for the programs that your child may already use at school. Many schools use digital programs that students can access from home. These programs will align with what your child was doing at school. Your local library website, even if the library is closed, can also connect you to dozens of digital resources.

NOTICE – This information is provided as a resource. Illinois PTA does not endorse any specific company or organization. Please verify all information independently. We encourage parents to actively participate with their student learning to ensure tools students use are safe and age appropriate.

ISBE and IDPH Back-To-School Guidelines
For Families
PBS Kids DIY Nature Projects #CampYouTube (7/9/2020)
How to Choose the Best Apps for Summer Learning from pbs.org (7/9/2020)
5 Summer Camp Alternatives for Your Kids (6/25/2020)
Be a Learning Hero “Summer Stride” Program
Give Parents a (Summer) Break from Action For Healthy Kids (6/23/2020)
Notes from the Backpack
2020 Parents Guide to Google Classrooms (4/27/2020)
Kitchen Scrap Gardening from Action For Healthy Kids (4/23/2020)

5 Home Learning Experiences for the Elementary Grades from Edutopia (4/16/2020)
GPS Take 5 for Parents: Dr. Michele Borba on How to Help Kids Learn Empathy (4/16/2020)
Quarantined Mom: Week 3 by Cindi Williams from Learning Heroes
Kitchen Science: 3 Mini-Experiments to Try at Home from Great Wolf Lodge (4/15/2020)
Agonizing Over Screen Time? Follow the Three C’s By Erika R. Cheng and Tracey A. Wilkinson from The New York Times (4/15/2020)
Fun Activities You Can do With Your Kids Around Building a Rock Collection from Great Wolf Lodge (4/15/2020)
Take 5 for Adults: Dr. Ross Greene on Creating a Collaborative Partnership with Your Child from Glenbard Parent Series
(4/13/2020)
Family STEAM booklet (3/27/2020)
The (Actually Doable) Guide to Working from Home – While Your Kids Are At Home from camillestyles.com (4/8/20)
Wide Open School powered by Common Sense Media (4/1/2020)
COVID-19: Five Helpful Responses to Families(3/27/2020) This information was supplied by our Illinois Classrooms in Action.
Educational Apps That Don’t Need Wi-Fi or Data from commonsensemedia.org (3/24/2020)
“Quarantined” Mom blog by Cindi Williams (3/26/2020)
Audible free collection for kids (3/24/2020)
National PTA’s Frequently Asked Questions Regarding COVID-19 (3/18/2020)
Online Resources for Parents and Students During COVID-19 Closures (3/17/2020)
Leander Council of PTAs E-Learning Resources (English)(3/17/2020)
Leander Council of PTAs E-Learning Resources (Spanish)(3/17/2020)
Easy Hands-On Activities Families Can Do At Home (Teacher Approved!) (3/17/2020)
30 Great Educational Netflix Shows (3/17/2020)
Scholastic Learn At Home Day-by-day projects to keep kids reading, thinking, and growing (3/17/2020)
pbskids.org (3/17/2020)
National Geographic Kids (3/17/2020)
Free Educational Sites (3/17/2020)
DIY Escape Room for Kids (3/17/2020)
175+ Amazing Online Learning Resources from weareteachers.com (3/26/2020)
Coronavirus support from greatschools.org (3/26/2020)
Keep Calm, Learning is On! from bealearninghero.org (3/26/2020)
Reduced-cost Internet Access for Low-income Households, Access by AT&T (4/1/2020)
Low-Cost Internet Service Programs Tool Kit, EveryoneOn (4/1/2020)
School Meals During COVID-19, USDA (4/1/2020)
Stop Misinformation! COVID-19 Mythbusters, WHO (4/1/2020)
For Teachers
Getting Ready to Teach Next Year from Edutopia (5/27/2020)
Connecting Lessons to the Pandemic from Edutopia (5/27/2020)
Curated Resources for Educators During COVID-19 from the Schusterman Foundation (4/16/2020)
Creating Digital Lessons That Support Learning Differences by Kathryn Nieves from edutopia.org (4/15/2020)
Wide Open School powered by Common Sense Media (4/1/2020)
Trauma-Informed Approach to Teaching Through Coronavirus (3/27/2020) This information was supplied by our Illinois Classrooms in Action.
Teachers, The Next Weeks of Online Learning Don’t Have to Be Perfect (3/17/2020)
Scholastic Learn At Home Day-by-day projects to keep kids reading, thinking, and growing (3/17/2020)
175+ Amazing Online Learning Resources from weareteachers.com (3/26/2020)
For PTA Leaders
July Zoom PTA Leadership Training Schedule
Sign Up for the 2020 PTA Boot Camp
Running Your PTA When School is Closed

Running Your PTA When School is Closed – Part 2 Fundraising and Unused Funds

Running Your PTA When School is Closed – Part 3 Audit and Budget

Running Your PTA When School Is Closed Part 4 – Additional FInancial Issues
Daily PTA and MemberHub Hangout on Zoom (3/25/2020)
Running Your PTA When School is Closed (3/27/2020)
How Nonprofits and Board Members Can Respond to COVID-19, BoardSource (4/1/2020)
Three Tips for Facilitating Virtual Meetings, ASAE (4/1/2020)
Webinar Recording: Engaging Families through the Pandemic, NAFSCE (4/1/2020)
Tips on Crisis Management During COVID-19, The Chronicle of Philanthropy (4/1/2020)
PTA eLearning Library, National PTA (4/1/2020)
Local PTA Leader Kit, National PTA (4/1/2020)
Map: Coronavirus and School Closures (4/1/2020)
Frequently Asked Questions (en español) (4/1/2020)
National PTA Calls for Clear Guidance from Federal Government Amid Coronavirus Outbreak(4/1/2020)
A Message from National PTA President (3/19/20)
COVID-19 Relief Legislation Update (3/23/20)
Breakdown: COVID-19 Relief Legislation (3/26/20)
Mental Health
Make Mindfulness a Family Affair from PositivePsychology.com (5/15/2020)
Take 5 – Teen Talk: Dr. Chris Willard on Mindfulness and Managing Stress from Glenbard Parent Series (4/13/2o20)
Stress and Coping from cdc.gov (4/1/2020)
Parent/Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope With the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) from The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (4/1/2020)
Taking Care of Your Behavioral Health During an Infectious Disease Outbreak: Tips for Social Distancing, Quarantine, and Isolation from samhsa.gov (4/1/2020)
COVID-19 Resource and Information Guide from National Alliance on Mental Illness (4/1/2020)
Talking with children about Coronavirus Disease 2019 from cdc.gov (4/1/2020)
Helping Teens Process Online News During Pandemic (3/27/2020)
Working at Home? Self-Isolation Doesn’t Have to Be Lonelyfrom The New York Times by Olivia Judson (3/17/2020)
Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus from childmind.orgby Rachel Ehmke (3/17/2020)
Supporting Kids During the COVID-19 Crisis from childmind.org by Rae Jacobson (3/17/2020)
Relaxation Activities to Do at Home with Kids from savethechildren.org (3/17/2020)
Physical Activities
Adults:
14 Easy Yoga Poses for Kids You Can do at Home (step by step video) from Great Wolf Lodge (4/15/2020)
Keeping a Safe Physical Distance in Parks and on Trails During the COVID-19 Pandemic (4/7/2020)
Gym closed? Here are some free or discounted workoutsto do at home from nbcnews.com/better (3/17/2020)
How To Exercise At Home: The 50 Best Free Online Workout Resources from makeyourbodywork.com by Dave Smith (3/17/2020)
Muscle and Strengths Free Workouts Database (3/17/2020)
Kids:
Ways to Prevent Summer Physical Activity Loss (6/5/2020)
Action for Healthy Kids at-home Resources (4/2/2020)
Little Twisters Yoga & Emotional Wellness (3/27/2020) This information was supplied by our Illinois Classrooms in Action.
Playworks- Games to teach Social Emotional Learning(3/27/2020) This information was supplied by our Illinois Classrooms in Action.
12 At-Home Workouts to Do With Your Kids from qalo.comWritten By: Melody Erhuy (3/17/2020)
Fitness Blender Kids Workout – 25 Minute Fun Workout for Kids at Home from Fitness Blender (3/17/2020)
Savvy Schools Top 5 Youtube Exercise Videos for Kids from savvyschooling.com (3/17/2020)
25+ Ideas to Exercise with Kidsfrom kristendukephotography.com by Kristen Duke (3/17/2020)
Virtual Tours and Live Events
15 Virtual Field Trips for Kids of All Ages (3/27/2020)
Nature Works Everywhere Virtual Field Trips (3/27/2020)
25 Amazing Virtual Field Trips for Kids—Spring 2020(3/27/2020)
Cincinnati Zoo is Bringing the Zoo to You! Home Safaris at 3 p.m. EST everyday. (3/17/2020)
Over 30 Virtual Field Trips with Links (3/17/2020)
Try these virtual field trips and classes for educational fun at home from today.com (3/17/2020)

Action for Healthy Kids Events (4/2/2020)
“Caring for the Education Community During COVID-19: How Families Can Partner With Schools During Distance Learning” webinar, April 8, 1pm CST:This live, interactive session will provide parents and caregivers with concrete ways to connect and build relationships with educators during distance learning to support student health and academic success. Presented in partnership by Kaiser Permanente and Action for Healthy Kids.
“Caring for the Education Community During COVID-19: How Schools Can Partner With Families During Distance Learning” webinar, April 15, 1pm CST: This live, interactive session will provide educators with concrete ways for family engagement during distance learning to support student health and academic success. Presented in partnership by Kaiser Permanente and Action for Healthy Kids.
“Your Child’s Brain: What’s Going on in There? Building Resilience at Home and at School” virtual workshop, April 22, 3pm CST: This free virtual parent workshop will explore how our children’s brains work and think during their educational years and provide tips on how to help kids learn, build resiliency and keep the brain working most efficiently. Hosted by Action for Healthy Kids and Colorado PTA in partnership with Wellness Training Specialists.
Every Kid Healthy Week, April 20-24: Participate at home! You can find activity ideas on our Every Kid Healthy Week resource page, in our Game On Activity Library, and in this curated list of at-home activities. Be sure to follow us on social media for activities, videos, and more ideas each day of Every Kid Healthy Week.
School grant application deadline, May 1: Apply for a Parents for Healthy Kids grant for physical activity or nutrition programs at your school next year.

Stay Informed!