Signal Summer 2020 Newsletter

6 www.alliancecom.net Resources to Help Kids Learn While Stuck at Home With schools closed to halt the spread of COVID-19, you may be looking for ways to keep your kids busy with learning while you’re busy trying to work from home (and keep your sanity). Check out these websites that teachers often recommend. Preschool and Elementary School Funbrain:  It offers games, videos, and books by grade level, from pre-K through eighth grade. Khan Academy Kids: Khan Academy has courses for all ages, but provides a special- ized program for children ages 2-7. PBS Kids: Kids can watch videos and play online games centered on different topics. You can sign up for a newsletter to get daily activities and tips. History for Kids: This online network features games, videos, and worksheets on many historical events. Squiggle Park: Personalized reading-skills games and an app built by literacy experts can be found on this site. National Geographic Kids: A great place to watch videos and learn about animals, history, science, and space. LEGOChallenge Cards: This giant collection of LEGO challenge cards sneaks STEM learning into playtime. Middle School NoRedInk: This site is designed to build stronger readers and writers through online assessments, practice, and action- able data. Virtual Nerd: Online help to learn middle school math functions by grade level. MathGameTime: Access math games, videos, and worksheets for sixth and seventh graders. Amazing Space: Your kids can explore comets, black holes, galaxies, and more through Hubble images. Is Working from Home New to You? Many more people are now working from home to help slow the spread of COVID-19. If this work arrangement is new to you, you may be struggling to maintain productivity and focus (not to mention balancing work and parenting responsibilities). Here are a few tips from seasoned pros who’ve worked from home for years: • Stick to your workday routine as much as possible. Work roughly the same hours you did before and con- tinue to get dressed in real clothes. Resist the temptation to work in your pajamas! • Set up a designated workspace. Work from a desk or table in an area away from other family members so you have the quiet you need to stay on task. Also sit in a supportive chair to help prevent back pain. • Stay connected to coworkers. Use applications such as Zoom or Face- Time to help maintain morale during this period of isolation. If you need to make changes to your home’s internet service to accommo- date working from home, dial 611 from any phone with Alliance service or call (605) 582-6311 from your cell phone.