ParentMap Learning 2020

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The Search Is On A fear-free primer to starting the college search

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Minimize the Misery 5 ways to help your kids embrace the challenges of remote learning

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C ONTENTS

Learning

2020/2021

FEATURES

The Search Is On 8 A fear-free guide to starting the college search Tips for Returning to a Child-Care Routine 17 Expert advice to support a smooth adjustment — for kids and worried parents How Green Is Your 21 Child’s Education?

Dynamic ways area schools are rising to the climate change challenge How to Minimize the Misery of ‘Crisis Schooling’ 27 5 ways to help your kids embrace the opportunities of distance learning Affordable Ways to Trick Out Your Home School Setup Nifty ideas for creating an environment that’s conducive to learning

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Remote Learning Resources to the Rescue!

37 Complementary learning options to fill the gaps in your kid’s virtual curriculum Resource Directory

“We can be ‘rocks in the river’ for our children: solid, present, allowing the water to flow past us without taking us down.” p. 27

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The challenges presented by the pandemic provide new opportunities to innovate environmental education.

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37 PARENTMAP.COM Find clever ideas to make school at home feel more like the real deal.

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P UBL I SHER ’S NOT E

LEARNING 2020/2021

This is this.

PUBLISHER

Alayne Sulkin EDITORIAL MANAGING EDITOR Patty Lindley OUT + ABOUT EDITOR Nancy Chaney

That famous phrase derives from a key scene in the classic 1979 film “The Deer Hunter” in which Robert De Niro’s character, Mike, refuses to lend a spare pair of hunting boots to his irresponsible friend Stan, played

by John Cazale, hoping to teach him a lesson about the consequences of being unprepared. To this day, interpretation of the line is extensively debated. What is not widely disputed, however, is how uniquely challenging education is around the globe for kids at every age and stage due to the COVID-19 pandemic — we might all do well to take Mike’s note about the virtues of acceptance and responsibility when it comes to enduring difficult situations we didn’t ask for and can’t escape.

DIGITAL CONTENT EDITOR Vicky McDonald

This is this.

SENIOR ADVERTISING AND PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER Ida Wicklund

We’ve selected a cornucopia of exceptionally pertinent content that will hopefully help support you and your children through what is certain to be a nonstandard 2020–2021 education journey. Screen-time consultant Emily Cherkin, who spent a dozen years teaching English to seventh-graders, tells it like it is in How to Minimize the Misery of ‘Crisis Schooling’ (p.27). “This is about trying to make the most of a bad situation, and none of this is easy or even fair,” she notes. Cherkin focuses on what we can do, from emphasizing (and, hello, modeling) executive function skills such as emotional regulation and cognitive flexibility to being “rocks in the river” for our children during this time of disruption — solid, present and as prepared as possible.

ADVERTISING PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER Jen Dine

As a parent you have suddenly become your child’s on-call revolving playmate, teacher, substitute bestie, lunch lady and life coach, adapting to what the situation demands. Cherkin reminds us that a goal of “getting by” wins the day, and that keeping calm in the chaos is always the biggest gift to yourself and to those around you.

This is this.

What is your biggest wish or worry with respect to school/child care this fall?

DIGITAL CONTENT PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Nicole Persun

My biggest wish is for people to social-distance, wear a mask and get a flu vaccine.

OUT + ABOUT EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Devon Hammer COPY EDITOR Sunny Parsons CONTRIBUTORS Gemma Alexander, Emily Cherkin, Mackenzie Schieck

DIGITAL MARKETING DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER Lindsey Carter SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIST + TRENDING EDITOR Diana Cherry EMAIL PRODUCTION SPECIALIST Angelica Lai

ADVERTISING SALES + PARTNERSHIPS

AD OPERATIONS MANAGER Elisa Taylor ADVERTISING CLIENT SERVICES SPECIALIST Jessica Collet ADVERTISING CLIENT SERVICES ADMINISTRATION Angela Goodwin

EVENTS

I hope when my kids look back on this year, they remember it fondly despite the challenges.

I’m worried about the teachers. This is an awful experience for many of them — they miss their kids and classrooms so much.

EVENT OPERATIONS Brenna McCown EVENT COORDINATOR Mallory Dehbod MARKETING + EVENTS ASSISTANT Taryn Weiner

ART + PRODUCTION SENIOR DESIGNER Amy Chinn

ADMINISTRATION BUSINESS MANAGER Carolyn Brendel

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CONTACT INFORMATION

Benjamin Danielson, M.D. ODESSA BROWN CHILDREN’S CLINIC

Advertising information 206-709-9026 or advertising@parentmap.com Fax 206-709-9031

Joan Duffell RETIRED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, COMMITTEE FOR CHILDREN John Gottman, Ph.D. THE GOTTMAN INSTITUTE PROFESSOR EMERITUS, UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON Laura Kastner, Ph.D. PSYCHIATRY + BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON Bea Kelleigh VICE PRESIDENT AT DOVETAILING, LLC Yaffa Maritz, M.A. LISTENING MOTHERS + COMMUNITY OF MINDFUL PARENTING

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Ron Rabin THE KIRLIN FOUNDATION Daniel J. Siegel, M.D. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MINDSIGHT INSTITUTE

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Getting started might be scary, but it’s not hard

A Practical Guide to Starting Your College Search

By Gemma Alexander

There may be some kids in real life who, like the character Rory Gilmore of TV’s “Gilmore Girls,” know at age 3 that they want to go to Harvard. But most young teens respond to the question “Where do you want to go to college?” with the deer-in-headlights stare that brainiac Rory reserved for social situations. The average middle schooler or high school freshman has no idea how to even begin looking for the right college. But starting the college search doesn’t have to be stressful or confusing. In fact, according to Samantha Pacampara, a counselor at Lincoln High School in Seattle, the college search can actually be fun.

Know thyself “It might sound cheesy or corny, but I believe that trying to approach it being true to yourself is the least stressful and most fun way possible to pursue the college search,” says Pacampara. She says too many families approach the college search as though it were a contest, aiming for acceptance to the most prestigious or competitive schools.

“Think of college less like a trophy,” she says, “and more like a pair of shoes. You want the ones that fit best, with some room to grow.” After all, your teen will be living with their choice for four years. That’s why Pacampara also recommends that students don’t use their intended major to guide their search. Comparing specific courses of study across hundreds of

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universities is confusing, and a teen’s interests will often change before it’s time to declare a major. Your high school sophomore may not have even heard of their future major yet.

So, how do you start?

It may sound counterintuitive, but Pacampara recommends that high school freshmen don’t worry much about college. “There’s not a lot of wiggle room in the course options for freshmen,” she notes. So instead, students should start building the self-knowledge that will allow them to identify what kind of college will ultimately be a good fit for them. That means asking themselves some fundamental questions, including: • What kind of person am I? What are my values?

• How do I learn best?

• What kind of classes do I enjoy most?

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In addition to these core questions of identity, students should also consider: • Whether they want to stay close to home or live in a new, distant environment • What kind of place they want to live in — urban or rural? Mountains or beaches?

• What kind of community they want to live in — how important is a faith community?

Diversity? LGBTQ inclusion? Opportunities to practice a favorite sport or activity?

“This can be a really fun conversation. For most students, it’s the first time they’ve been asked these questions,” says Pacampara.

Broaden the field There are nearly 3,000 four-year colleges in the United States, but at the time most high school students start their college search, they could count the number of colleges they’re familiar with on their fingers. So, for most teens, the first step is not selecting colleges, but identifying them. In the past, this meant spending hours at the library with thick reference books. Fortunately, there are online tools that make the process of identifying potential colleges much easier for teens today.

Tools like Naviance (naviance.com) allow students to play around with filters to build a list of

schools to research. Pacampara recommends that students start using lots of different individual filters to discover a broad field of schools.

Desired distance from home and city size are common starting points.

“Don’t leave out things you are passionate about, whether that’s class size or the ability to attend college football games or anything else that might seem silly,” says Pacampara. “Don’t lose sight of the things that make you feel fulfilled.”

These criteria may not carry much weight once a student starts narrowing their choices, but it’s helpful to include them when identifying schools.

It’s normal for students to generate a list of dozens of schools to look at more closely. Students will become more familiar with different types of schools as they start combining filters and looking at researching individual schools in depth.

“It’s hard for teenagers to prioritize their criteria,” Pacampara says. She recommends that students think about time allocation to remove some of the pressure of “getting it right.” Spend

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more time researching schools that fit the most criteria and use tighter filters for the criteria that are most important. But also spend a little time looking for “back pocket” schools that don’t quite fit the profile. For example, a student who expects to live at home may include all Puget Sound–area schools in their initial list, but also build a smaller list of out-of-state schools that meet the rest of their criteria.

Face hard facts Pacampara recommends that parents talk to their teens early in the process about things that may affect their ability to go to the school of their choice. But while students should know their decision will be affected by these facts, the search itself should not be. Let your teen know your budget and let them understand the impact

Even grade point averages won’t count in the same way they have in the past ... of grades and test scores, but don’t encourage them to ignore expensive and selective colleges while they are researching schools.

“Often the final decision comes down to money,” says Pacampara. But it’s not a good idea to eliminate schools with high tuition too soon in the process. Obtaining financial aid is such a labyrinthine process that students often won’t know the actual price of a school until after they’ve been accepted.

“It’s not a bad thing to experience the dreamy aspect of looking for the perfect school and then the reality of having to choose a different school.

It’s hard to watch your kid go through it, but it’s good practice for future life decisions. It’s actually empowering to walk away from an impractical choice. I’ve never had a student say, ‘I wish I’d never heard of that school,’” says Pacampara.

Commit to the timeline Freshmen should focus on settling into the high school experience and learning about themselves as students and as people.

Sophomores can begin to build a robust list of colleges to consider. They can use online tools, family conversations and virtual tours to develop an idea of the kind of college experience they are seeking.

Juniors take standardized tests and tour college campuses. They start to consider issues such as cost and competitiveness more seriously, and by the end of junior year, should be narrowing down their list to a dozen or fewer colleges to which they plan to apply.

Fall of senior year is when students apply, and unless a student has applied for early decision, the final choice is usually made once all the acceptance letters have gone out in the spring.

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There’s no need to panic if your student doesn’t follow this timeline exactly. Some people like to be prepared, and there’s nothing wrong with an eighth-grader browsing Naviance instead of Instagram. Or more likely, a student who is a bit behind schedule can put in some extra effort to catch up.

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stressful. Try to keep the fun in there,” Pacampara advises.

What about the pandemic?

For sophomores, the college search won’t be much affected this year, when online research has dominated the process. But the pandemic will still have a major impact on the college selection process for all current high school students. The most obvious long-term effects will be financial — many families may not have the same ability to pay for college that they had before the pandemic.

Several schools, including the University of Washington and the University of California, have already announced that they will not be looking at standardized test scores this year. And the

very real possibility that the SAT may not even be administered this year could lead to permanent changes in college admissions practices and the way in which academic scholarships are awarded. Even grade point averages won’t count in the same way they have in the past, as many schools switched to pass/fail grading last year.

“That means colleges will consider important things that were previously not considered. They’ll be looking at different ways that students shine,” says Pacampara. That’s good news for many students. It will probably make admissions more equitable, but it makes the process much less predictable.

For seniors who are trying to choose a school this year, and for juniors who cannot travel to visit campuses in person

before making a choice, attending school closer to home may be looking like a more attractive option. This is especially true for residents of Seattle, where graduates of public school are able to attend community college for free.

Fortunately, Pacampara says, “We are lucky to live in a region where the community colleges are top-notch. And even just looking at Western Washington, you can get almost any kind of college experience you are looking for, from big state schools to small, private, religiously affiliated ones.”

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Seattle-based freelance writer Gemma Alexander focuses on the intersection of parenting and the arts.

When she’s not writing for ParentMap, she blogs at gemmadeealexander.com and tweets @gemmadeetweet.

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College Search Resources The college search tool in Naviance includes several important filters.

Students can save their list of schools in the application, then use the tool to apply to those schools. naviance.com Corsava is an exploratory service using in-depth personal criteria that other searches may not consider. It’s especially helpful for students who are feeling lost before they’ve started. corsava.com The search tool on the College Board website is almost identical to Naviance but has a more intuitive interface and does not require an account. collegeboard.org Perhaps more useful to parents than students, DIY College Rankings offers tools and information about the college search, with a focus on paying for college. It includes a handy downloadable booklet, “7 Days to a Smarter College List.” diycollegerankings.com

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Don’t forget your high school counselor!

It’s their job to help students navigate the process. “Any time a student or family gets stuck, definitely reach out to your counselor. Sometimes just talking about it and hearing, ‘Yes, this is normal,’ helps. It’s fun for counselors to talk about these things, and we’ve seen it all before,” says Pacampara.

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Early Childhood Education

Tips for Returning to a Child-Care Routine Expert strategies to support a smooth adjustment â&#x20AC;&#x201D; for kids and their worried parents

By Patty Lindley

The COVID-19 pandemic has utterly upended all norms of education, for kids of all ages. The lack of a consistent daily routine, engagement with peers and with caring adults other than parents, and the structure of school is hard on kids accustomed to attending a child-care environment. Forced by necessity to become their childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on-call playmate, teacher and substitute best friend, working parents are also feeling stressed and beyond challenged by the pandemic.

As opportunities to return to child care open up, these same parents are left to struggle with what may feel like an agonizing decision with no easy answer: They must weigh the benefits of resuming the comforting and engaging routine of time with peers and teachers against very reasonable concerns of exposing their child and family to the coronavirus.

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Change is difficult for all of us, even in “normal” times. The uncertainties and fears attending the pandemic only serve to ratchet up the stakes, but creating a consistent routine — at the child-care center and at home — will go a long way in helping children to feel safe and secure in this time of great disruption.

We reached out to local early education experts for tips and practical strategies for easing the stress of back-to-child-care routines: 1. Prioritize sleep. The pandemic has turned time into Jell-O for families, and that has translated for many into impacts on the quality, quantity and consistency of sleep. To avoid the issues that result when kids are overtired, be sure to normalize your child’s sleep schedule beginning three to five days prior to their first day back on their new child-care schedule, advises Rachel Robertson, vice president of education and development for Bright Horizons. “This is great advice for kids — and adults — of any age returning to a school/work schedule.”

2. Set and stick to a daily schedule. In this day and age of family organization apps and digital time management solutions, it may surprise you to discover that maintaining a kid-friendly, physically tangible daily schedule will help your entire household adapt to the new routine. It is also a great tool for encouraging a sense of responsibility and developing other executive function skills in young children, including learning what a schedule is and how to manage it, tracking self-directed tasks on time and planning ahead.

“Make it visual and accessible — take or draw pictures of your child brushing their teeth, getting dressed, eating breakfast and putting on their shoes, and then attach them to the schedule. Hang it in a central location in your home at your

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child’s eye level. You can also have them mark each task or activity as they complete it,” says Robertson.

3. Routines aren’t just for little people: Don’t neglect your morning routine, moms and dads! Take account of all you need to do to get your day started and reflect on how to get it all done in the least stressful manner possible. That might mean adjusting the times you go to bed and wake up in the morning in order to help you get enough sleep (see no. 1) and start your days feeling calm and unflustered.

“It may be bumpy at first, but your ability to stay calm and model persistence will go a long way toward helping your child do the same.”

4. Help set expectations: To lessen the potential for your child’s anxiety when you drop them off at the child-care center and during the first few days or weeks back, talk to your child ahead of time to explain what they can expect to happen when they return to child care. This conversation should include a few key elements: • Prepare for temperature checks.

Many child-care centers are requiring temperature checks when children are dropped off. Practice taking your child’s temperature and then have them take your temperature.

• Prevent unnecessary tears during drop-offs and avoid sneaking away.

Collaborate with your child on a special and consistent drop-off ritual that will make them feel safe. Arrive at the center early enough to allow time so you do not have to rush through your ritual.

Licensed social worker and parent

coach Sarina Behar Natkin is a big fan of the separation ritual. “Whether it’s 10 hugs and kisses or a high five, once your ritual is complete, calmly leave, trusting that your child is in the care of amazing, experienced teachers who are extremely skilled at helping kids adjust to their new environment.” She also suggests reading the book “The Kissing Hand” by Audrey Penn, which will give you some great ideas for developing your own soothing separation ritual.

• Keep your own emotions in check.

Yes, our stomachs seem perpetually lodged in our throats right now, but it is very important not to taint the dropoff by expressing any of your own worries. Children often pick up on our stress, and this can make the adjustment harder for them.

“Your parenting cues should be ‘confident and loving’ when it comes to the quality of goodbye your child needs to help them feel safe and to know that you believe they will be okay,” says Robertson. Find support for yourself — from your partner, a friend or fellow parent — or a favorite distraction so you can be fully present for your child’s emotions.

• Speaking of masking fears ... Despite the ubiquity of face masks in our dayto-day interactions, your child might feel frightened by child-care staff wearing masks. Help them understand why teachers — and other community helpers and workers — are wearing masks, as well as taking other precautions, such as washing their hands, checking temperatures, and covering coughs and sneezes. “One thing we have found that helps is having parents practice covering their face to demonstrate to their child that it doesn’t change you,” says Robertson.

• Play “pretend” and tell stories. If your child is expressing worry about going to child care or being apart from you, try a

role-playing game of “work” or “child care” at home, using dolls and stuffed animals as trusty stand-ins for any missing characters.

Capture the Joys Of Childhood

Another great way to soothe those first-dayback jitters? Read a timely book about child care or school that will help your child process any big emotions they are feeling. (From the aforementioned “The Kissing Hand” to the gentle rhythmic flow of “Llama Llama Misses Mama” by Anna Dewdney, you’ll find great book recommendations for helping children process those first-day jitters at parentmap.com/transitions.)

5. Offer comfort — to them and to yourself.

Whether your child adjusts with ease or struggles early on, making the transition into this new phase is a significant event in their life. Your job is to calmly and patiently reassure them that you will get through this transition together.

“While it’s hard to see your child struggle, giving him and yourself time to adjust is essential. It may be bumpy at first, but your ability to stay calm and model persistence will go a long way toward helping your child do the same,” says Behar Natkin.

These rites of passage and transitions can be difficult, and likely will be made more so with the additional stress and uncertainties of the pandemic and the general unrest in our lives. But whatever the emotions, remember that professional caregivers are experienced in soothing fears and helping children and parents alike adjust to a new child-care routine.

“From our experience of reopening our centers, we can assure you that children and teachers are thriving — we are here to help parents through this process,” says Robertson.

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Green Schools

By Nikki McCoy

How Green Is Your Childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Education?

Dynamic ways area schools are rising to the climate change challenge

By Gemma Alexander

Washington Green Schools (wagreenschools.org) started with the innovative idea that students can learn about the environment by making sustainable changes to their own schools. Today, the statewide nonprofit is offering a suite of Kâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;12 education resources and services in environmental learning and action. After a decade of creative problem-solving in service to environmental education, Washington Green Schools has accepted the challenges presented by the pandemic as new opportunities to innovate.

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GREEN S C HO O L S

continued from page 21

Rooted on campus Washington Green Schools’ flagship program is a certification system that guides individual schools toward more sustainable operations while providing environmental education. Participating schools form “green teams” of staff and students that develop a hands-on project to improve their school’s performance in one of six environmental categories: energy, healthy buildings, grounds and gardens, transportation, waste and recycling, and water.

Schools that complete their project by year’s end receive certification. Some schools participate year after year, earning higher levels as they work through all six categories and set new goals in previously completed ones.

Growing programs “We view teachers as heroes in our communities, and they are doing so much to support students and families, and, of course, preparing kids for the future. That includes science education,” says Meredith Lohr, executive director of Washington Green Schools.

While the certification program continues to be popular, Lohr says, teachers at some schools needed support that was more grounded in classroom learning.

“So, we’ve developed different programs that connect to academic

2019 Day of Service at Rising Star Elementary School in Seattle

learning requirements at different grade levels,” she says. These curriculum programs are driven by state science standards and always include a hands-on component. One of the most popular, Zombie Guacamole, teaches fifth-graders about decomposition, ecosystem resource cycling and waste reduction.

teachers from all over the state participated in the training. The communities they serve range from rural areas where climate change denial is still common to diverse urban communities experiencing environmental injustice. ClimEd strives to present the best available science in a way that is broadly approachable.

Beginning in 2018, Washington Green Schools developed ClimEd, a teacher training program focused on climate science. Last year, more than 500

“There are two main characteristics of our approach. One is we really focus on what’s local, on things that matter to people in Washington. Things

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like fires, droughts and coastal hazards, like the impact on our fisheries and our shellfish and agriculture. So, we really connect to local impacts, and we also focus on solutions,” says Lohr. ClimEd looks at both large-scale solutions and actions that communities can take to tackle climate change.

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School closures in March put the kibosh on most Earth Day plans, and only a few schools were close to completing their certification projects so early in the year. So Green Schools extended the certification deadline and shifted its attention to what was possible.

One proposal for Seattle Public Schools’ 2020–21 school year suggested moving most students to outdoor classrooms in the fall.

“We, like everyone, had to quickly pivot to new ways of working. The good news is I think we’re actually learning a lot about what is possible in education. We’ve found that by moving trainings online, we can get people who would have real barriers to attend to tune in and receive resources they can use with their students, whether school is in person or online,” says Lohr.

Washington Green Schools offered nine trainings online this spring, reaching 212 teachers in 27 counties. In the process, it learned to break daylong in-person trainings into shorter virtual sessions and to use breakout rooms to create opportunities for individuals to connect and build community.

“Some of these things are just having to think creatively and work with our partners collaboratively to best support students and teachers and families in this time when we all need each other,” says Lohr. “How can we try to

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GREEN S C HO O L S

continued from page 23

re-create the feeling of being in community even over the internet?

How can we be a part of solving the problems that people are facing and continue to help stay focused on protecting the environment and educating the next generation of leaders?”

Environmental justice The pandemic shined a light on inequities in the school system that some of Washington Green Schools’ newer programs were well positioned to help address. One such program was the curricular supplement Breathing Easier, which introduces third-graders to environmental justice and air quality “We helped support a food recovery program in Seattle Public Schools where uneaten food from four pilot

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schools would go to hungry people in the community through a partnership we set up with Operation: Sack Lunch [OSL].” The partnership with OSL (oslserves.org) was so successful that it has already expanded to the entire district, eliminating the waste of thousands of pounds of food, and getting more food to hungry families.

Our state has 30,000 migrant students, many of whom do not speak English at home and had already faced challenges to the continuity of their education before the shutdown. “Over the summer, we supported at-home summer school. Working with five different school districts, we created a program about migrating monarch butterflies and we adapted some of our other resources so that migrant students could continue their education over the summer,” says Lohr.

Fall focus Place-based education has always been the foundation of Washington Green Schools’ approach to learning.

This approach “helps people develop a sense of stewardship for the place you call home. Now, because we’re all at home, we have some interesting opportunities to do more place-based learning,” notes Lohr. She is not the only person making that observation. One proposal for Seattle Public Schools’ 2020–21 school year suggested moving most students to outdoor classrooms in the fall.

However, Washington Green Schools is operating under the assumption that remote learning will be a major component of the coming school year. The organization is developing home-based activities for students in

kindergarten through eighth grade (K–6 in Spanish); teachers can send the activities packets home with school lunches, and or families can download them for free. It also is expanding its online carbon calculator to include actions families can take at home to reduce their carbon footprint.

Lohr says, “We have to face this pandemic. But climate change is not going away because of it. We can’t ignore the next crisis. I’m glad teachers are still willing to tackle it.”

■

Seattle-based freelance writer Gemma Alexander writes at the intersection of parenting, the arts and the environment. When she’s not writing for ParentMap, she blogs at gemmadeealexander.com and tweets @gemmadeetweet.

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Remote Learning Rx

By Nikki McCoy

How to Minimize the Misery of ‘Crisis Schooling’

There is no question: As parents, we are heading into fall with tremendous uncertainty, particularly when it comes to our children’s education. Earlier this year, with the arrival of COVID-19, schools and families scrambled to connect remotely to classes and work. It was a duct-tape approach for most; a typical learning experience for few.

Five ways to help your kids embrace the challenges of remote learning

But now, fall is upon us, and the majority of the country’s students have returned to school not in person, but online. And let’s be clear: This isn’t “home schooling”; this is “learning at home

By Emily Cherkin

LEARNING / 27

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REM OT E L E A RN IN G Rx

continued from page 27

during a crisis.” (I home-school one of my two children. It does not look like this at all.) No parent started 2020 imagining that in April we would be our child’s on-call teacher, and, thankfully, no one expects us to do the job as well as a teacher does. Along with being a parent (my kids are 9 and 12), I am also a former middle school teacher (12 years of seventh-grade English), and I am here to tell you, as an actual teacher, that teaching your own children is a vastly different experience than teaching other people’s children.

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You would think that the experience of remote learning this spring might have us better prepared for fall, but the reality is, our national priorities are misguided (let’s reopen bars before schools). Politics aside, the fact remains: Most of our kids are going to be learning from home all day. Again.

Remote learning is not what works best for most children, but this is where we are, unfortunately.

As a former teacher, a parent and an advocate for healthy screen use, however, I have a few tips on how to minimize the misery of remote learning:

1. Whenever and wherever possible, emphasize building executive function skills. Executive function skills are ones we work on for our entire childhood and beyond, and those skills include planning, prioritizing, organization, emotion regulation and cognitive flexibility.

When teaching, I found that the single most important thing I could teach my students was how to use a planner. A paper one. Of course, as education moved to online platforms, the excuses grew: “Why should I write it down when I can just look it up online when I get home?”

But what young people don’t always understand,

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and what adults (both teachers and parents) can prioritize during remote learning, is that using a planner helps develop executive functioning skills by learning to manage schedules, track assignments and plan ahead. Content and curricula are just vehicles for skills, especially in elementary and middle schools. (Also, remember that multitasking is a myth. Do not be fooled by your child arguing that he can “totally listen to his teacher while watching a movie.” He can’t. We can’t. And we shouldn’t try.)

2. Establish a dedicated space in the home to

“do” school. Establish a workspace on a flat surface, away from distractions — not in or on a bed.

If possible, set up a standing desk as an option.

Why? Well, first of all, it’s harder to fall asleep while you’re standing up, so those kids who start to zone out during class calls might be more likely to stay engaged. Hydraulic lift-and-lower desks might be useful, but a box or stack of books on a counter or table also works.

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REMOTE L E A RNI NG Rx

continued from page 29

Secondly, kids can move more when standing than if they are sitting in a chair. A lot of kids struggle to sit in a chair for extended periods of time. (My daughter is one such child.)

Set up the space for success in whatever way works best for your child, but most importantly, attempt to minimize distractions. You don’t need expensive noise-canceling headphones. A fan and ear plugs can do the job just as well.

3. Encourage your child to use paper and pen or pencil as much as possible.

Have a paper calendar on the wall.

Print off and display the class schedule. Write it down in a paper agenda.

This isn’t simply about good organizational skills (though those are important, too) — it is about the benefits of writing with a physical paper and pen versus typing on a computer. (It is also true that it is better to read on paper versus on a screen.)

With remote learning, our kids will be spending more time than ever in front of a screen. Even if the hours spent in online “classes” is reduced this fall, will homework and assignments still

Anything that encourages movement will improve focus and decrease the risk of obesity, which sedentary screen consumption can increase. be posted online? In order to work independently, will kids still have to use a screen to access the materials? The

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more we can minimize excessive (or extra) screen use, the better.

A word about doodling: Some teachers (and parents) don’t like it. However, research shows that doodling, a form of fidgeting, can help increase focus. So, add a jar of crayons or colored pencils to your child’s schooling space.

Two of my colleagues have said that expecting kids not to be distracted during online learning is “akin to holding an AA meeting in a bar.” Children who must stare at a laptop screen for school will be tempted to touch the keys, toggle between windows, search the web, chat in message boxes, play video games, even stream videos — during class. So, take any opportunity to provide productive activities for restless hands during remote learning.

And a shout-out to teachers: It’s hard enough to monitor all the fidgeting, under-the-desk texting and distractions that happen in a real-life classroom on a normal day; imagine

trying to manage those same things remotely, across 27 video-conferencing screens, while also attempting to teach!

4. With all this heavy screen use, sitting and the lack of organized sports practices or after-school activities, children will be overstimulated and underactive. We must also make room for movement every day.

Despite the fact that so much of schooling these days involves sitting at desks, effective teachers know that movement is key to successful instruction and learning. Ideally, every day, for at least 30 minutes — the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 60 minutes — our kids should be involved in some form of physical activity. With students’ increased time in front of a screen, the likelihood is that this number will actually be far less than children get or need in a typical school day.

We have to encourage it in other ways: jumping rope, jumping on the couch,

jumping on a trampoline. Dancing.

Getting one of those stretchy bands that you can tie between chair legs for those kids who have to jiggle. Use one of those big exercise balls instead of a chair, or try a wobble stool or a small block on which to do calf raises while participating in a virtual class.

Anything that encourages movement will improve focus and decrease the risk of obesity, which sedentary screen consumption can increase.

Thank your teacher in advance for supporting you in helping to keep your wiggly child focused.

5. Above all else, remember that it

is the relationships forged between student and teacher that facilitate meaningful learning. Children are not empty vessels to fill with information; they are very real and vulnerable little

humans who need extra love and support right now.

These are strange times we are living in.

Children have been watching and listening these past few months, struggling to make sense of dramatic changes in our world. When they are stressed, they simply cannot learn. Any family living in poverty, or in a violent home, or with illness knows this firsthand.

Parents, we can help here. We can find ways to support our schools and teachers (a simple “thank you” goes a long way); we can have patience with our children when they act out (big feelings are normal and very real right now); and we can forgive ourselves for not being able to do it all — or much of it — as well as we used to.

willingness to let go of a lot of things. My hope is that we can look back at this experience as one in which we learned to do better by our children, our teachers and our communities. Perhaps even for some, there will be positive memories of slowed-down schedules, more time with loved ones, the freedom to be a child. A wise colleague of mine told me that we can be “rocks in the river” for our children: solid, present, allowing the water to flow past us without taking us down.

At the very least, may we be rocks in the river.

■

Emily Cherkin is a mother to two, a former middle school teacher, and the founder and owner of The Screentime Consultant.

This article first appeared on Medium.

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Homeschool Cool

Tips and Gear to Make Virtual Learning Feel as Normal as Possible

By Mackenzie Schieck

Have a remote learner or two under your roof?

Help them adjust to a new school year with these five strategies for creating a home environment that’s conducive to learning.

Create multiple ‘desk’ options throughout your home.

While helpful for combating restlessness in both siblings and only children, designating a few areas around the home as “learning spots” may be crucial if you have multiple kids who need personal space to focus. These spots don’t have to be fully decked-out desk areas — it can be as

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continued from page 33

simple as getting a lap desk that your child can take to the living room couch or their bedroom to do their lessons. The blog DIY Passion (diypassion.com) has a great tutorial for making an easy no-sew desktop lap pillow. You could also create a reading corner with a floor pillow and blankets, or just pull a favorite chair you already have over to a special spot during the day.

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A great way to break the monotony of sitting in front of a laptop is to find creative ways to use different areas of your home as learning spots.

Your kids can rotate from one spot to another throughout the day, reinvigorated by a change in their surroundings.

Indulge in some of the back-to-school rituals.

Why the heck not, right? Finding small bits of normal can make a big difference during these strange times, so if you’re able, go ahead and get some new school supplies, such as colorful pencils and cute notebooks — perhaps even one with a sequined cover? How about a new lunch box?

It may not be a bad idea to keep up the tradition of packing lunches the night before so when your kids are hungry for their midday meal the next day, lunch is ready, even if — and especially when — you’re not.

And while kids may not need the full back-toschool wardrobe for attending school in person, there’s definitely something exciting about having a few cool new items of clothing, the anticipation of new attire making it a bit easier to get going in the morning.

Incorporate easy storage ideas to keep school spaces tidy.

There’s no getting around it: There’s going to be a lot more stuff around the house with school happening remotely, so investing in some new storage items can help keep everything in its place. Magazine racks are great for loading up with books and binders at the end of the day;

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inexpensive portable shower caddies can contain everything from pens and pencils to headphones; and having a few extra storage baskets on hand as catchall “dumping grounds” will likely come in handy.

Involve the kids in customizing their learning space.

Generally speaking, we all know buy-in is critical with kids, so letting them pick out items to decorate and personalize their learning space can get them more excited about settling in each weekday. This could be anything from a poster or special calendar to a small figurine or stuffed animal — you know your kid, so you know what would get them amped — with the idea being to get them involved so they feel invested.

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Introduce typical classroom characteristics.

Take any opportunity to make school at home feel more like the real deal. This can be in the form of a new whiteboard, a map of the world, a name tag for their desk or a bulletin board to share finished projects. Need more ideas? Ask your kids what their favorite thing was about their classroom last year and see if it’s something you can re-create in your own space.

And when the school day is done, anything you can do to “close the classroom door” will help to keep school and home separate, even when they’re under the same roof. Put school supplies away, clear temporary “learning spots” or literally close the door if you have one room where school happens.

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Mackenzie Schieck is a writer and photographer obsessed with lattes, stuff that’s funny and assorted pretty things.

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Thursdays 11am – 12pm For children 3–5 years of age Looking for new and different ways to engage your children in meaningful play?

Offered weekly on a virtual format Kaleidoscope Play & Learn is from Best Starts for Kids, King County and is for parents and caregivers with children birth–5 years old. Each session is 1.5 hours where a facilitator joins the group to engage, play, read and sing. This program is free and offers fun activities that help young children prepare for success in school and life. Activities include music, arts and crafts, storytelling, block play and other creative activities for parents to take back home.

Interested Families please reach out to directorcommunity@iaww.org iaww.org • 253-234-9989 ext. 5 LM20_india_association_1-2h.indd 1

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In-person and virtual programs

from birth to graduation!

EARLY LEARNING CENTERS in Auburn, Bothell, North Seattle, and West Seattle Y LEAP ACADEMY: In-Person School Support and Enrichment VIRTUAL FAMILY ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES including Circle Time, Cooking Classes, and Sports VIRTUAL TEEN HUB: Safe spaces for teens to connect and explore Y IN A BOX: Virtual enrichment classes for elementary school kids

Learn More seattleymca.org/youth 3 6 / PA R E N T M A P. C O M

Juanita Park

ED UCAT IO N

Learning Enrichment

Remote Learning Resources to the Rescue!

Complementary learning options to fill the gaps in your kid’s virtual curriculum

By Gemma Alexander

Last spring, teachers made heroic efforts to pivot to remote learning with almost no advance preparation. But the results were hit or miss.

After a summer to plan, districts are promising more consistent, quality online education.

However, many families are afraid that it won’t be (or have already figured out that it isn’t) enough.

Most of the virtual cultural experiences and outings we found last spring are still available. But now, with an eye to providing hands-on activities and filling academic gaps, we’ve rounded up some remote learning resources to help your

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kids thrive in what is likely to be a very weird school year ahead.

Library learning resources and exploration guides The Seattle Public Library, in partnership with Seattle Public Schools, has developed dozens of Exploration Guides (spl.org/explorationguides), which are curated collections of digital media on topics that are interesting to youths in three grade ranges (grades 3–5, middle and high school). Consisting of videos, podcasts, art, e-books, historical images and more, the guides encourage self-exploration of each topic. Most of the topics lend themselves to offline activities. For example, neighborhood history guides give high school students a chance to physically explore the city in search of landmarks; middle schoolers can learn to identify urban wildlife; and elementary school students can learn about and then practice culinary skills, or make a terrarium after learning about ecosystems.

A teen service learning project is introducing younger kids to the natural world through simple Bug Safari videos on the Seattle Public Library Kids YouTube channel, which also offers story times and STEAM projects. The King County Library System’s YouTube channel and Pierce County Library’s YouTube channel also have learning

See Kit and Ivy online at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

resources, such as Spanish lessons and DIY projects that are as varied as origami, drawing, rocket building and tarot card reading.

The Pierce County Library System (piercecountylibrary.org) has also made nondigital, age-specific activity packs for patrons (ranging from preschoolers through adults) available for curbside pickup.

Hands-on projects Find free downloadable lessons for kids of all grade levels on the Washington Green Schools website (wagreenschools.org). These lessons reinforce math and writing skills while teaching students science lessons about pollinators, decomposition, wild-

life, climate change and other environmental topics. Most of them also include hands-on outdoor activities.

(See How Green Is Your Child’s Education? p. 21) KiwiCo (kiwico.com) is a monthly subscription box for hands-on STEM activities. Subscription “crates” designed for specific age groups (from infants to adults) and with emphases on design, engineering, culture or crafts, average $20 per month. Projects include building small catapults, kites, lamps or electric pencil sharpeners. You can switch your crate type at any time.

Little Passports (littlepassports.com) subscription boxes, for preschoolers through elementary school students, provide either hands-on science

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Catholic Liberal Arts Education Integrated Curriculum PreK- 8

hcabothell.org (425) 485-2585 info@hcabothell.org

StMonicaSea.org | 206-232-5432 4320 87th Ave SE Mercer Island, WA 98040

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projects or geography lessons with activities and souvenirs. They are a little more playful and less academic than some other learning boxes. Prices vary by subscription type and length, but average around $20 per month.

Brain Chase (brainchase.com) gamifies learning with virtual treasure hunts and escape rooms that have themes centered on multiple subjects yet share an overarching quest story. You can choose a mix of academics through Brain Chase’s online partnerships with Rosetta Stone, TypingClub and CodeCombat, or get the kids off their screens by choosing gardening, fitness or yoga. A four-week challenge costs $79; a 16week series costs $199.

Asia Pacific Language School

Vir tual Learning & Remote Learning Suppor t

Academic Success With A Second Language

PRE-K – 12th Grade • CHINESE & JAPANESE Preschool–1st grade • Enrichment Classes • Summer Language Camp • High School Credits Chinese & Japanese virtual learning & computer application • Small size classes & tutoring

www.apls.org • 425-641-1703 • 425-747-4172

PARENTS, You have your hands full this year!

Leave the learning to us.

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Curiosity at Home (pacificsciencecenter.org) is Pacific Science Center’s collection of live and self-directed virtual field trips and programs featuring videos, tutorials and hands-on science experiments for preschoolers through middle schoolers.

Best in Class is here to help make sure your children are on track for the upcoming school year. Receive $50 OFF your first full month of tuition when you enroll or re-enroll today!

join.bestinclasseducation.com/wa

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Languages Foreign language instruction was already missing from a lot of area schools before the pandemic, but with remote learning, it can be even harder to find. Duolingo (duolingo.com) is free and offers instruction in three dozen languages. It’s a pretty intuitive platform, but if you’re looking for language lessons aimed directly at kids, check out the animated videos on the BBC’s subscription-based Muzzy (seven languages; $44 for three months; muzzybbc.com).

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www.stthomasschool.org character • curriculum • community LEARNING / 39 0920_st_thomas_resized_1-4.indd 1

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One Third Stories (onethirdstories.com) works like a subscription box ($28 per month) for kids ages 4â&#x20AC;&#x201C;9, providing a monthly audiobook and picture book that progress from English to the target language (French, Spanish, German or Italian), along with activities and games to practice the new vocabulary.

Arts Outschool (outschool.com) is almost like a Craigslist for learning. Teachers offer thousands of live online classes (starting at $10) to small groups of kids ages 3â&#x20AC;&#x201C;18. Classes range from a 45-minute workshop on drawing sea turtles to full semester courses in core academic subjects. In between, kids can learn the basics of architecture and robotics, or take guitar, singing or acting lessons.

DIY.org offers all kinds of creative classes (art, coding, photography, Lego) and skills (archery, bookbinding, cryptography) with challenges that kids complete on their own to earn badges. Subscriptions cost $15â&#x20AC;&#x201C;$25 a month.

The Domestika (domestika.org) creative community has the largest online arts lesson catalog youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re likely to find, with courses ranging from calligraphy to architecture to Photoshop to watercolor techniques and even arts-related business courses, such as logo design and brand strategy. Most courses take from three to eight hours to complete and cost $45 each.

Our local Bureau of Fearless Ideas (fearlessideas.org) may be physically closed, but it is busy putting together a fall schedule of virtual writing workshops. Join the mailing list to be noti-

Family Fun Workshops at SAM Photo courtesy Seattle Art Museum

fied as workshops are added, or find free activities, writing prompts, projects and resources on the Fearless Times blog.

Seattle Art Museumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s weekly Family Fun Workshops for kids ages 3â&#x20AC;&#x201C;10 are now available online (seattleartmuseum.org).

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Online Fall Math Classes Health education Did your fifth-grader miss out on the FLASH (Family Life and Sexual Health) class last year?

Parents who want to give these lessons at home can access King County’s FLASH lesson plan online (kingcounty.gov).

Seattle Children’s Hospital (seattlechildrens.org) has converted its puberty workshops for kids ages 10–12 into a new virtual series called The Chat. If quarantine has got your kiddo down, take a look at the virtual workshop for parents on Youth Mental Health First Aid. Find more resources on the child development and parenting web page.

Get movin’ If your kids need more movement, and you haven’t already broken down and bought a Wii, fire up Just Dance Now (justdancenow.com) with its mobile phone app or follow along on the Just Dance YouTube channel.

NOW ENROLLING

The Russian School of Mathematics is an award-winning, afterschool math enrichment program for K-12 students; we help children of all levels build a solid math foundation and develop critical-thinking and problem solving skills.

Starting in September, all courses are taught in a live, interactive, virtual classroom setting.

RSM is “among the top 10 schools in the world.”

-Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth Bellevue (425) 518-6114

Of course, YouTube is loaded with fitness videos, and lots of them are aimed at kids. Check out Simply Soccer’s indoor drills, Cosmic Kids Yoga or Moovlee’s monkey-led workouts for pre-K movers and shakers.

Bellevue South (425) 230-6452

Redmond (425) 616-3511

RussianSchool.com

If you’re looking for something more like a traditional physical education class, Dynamic PE ASAP (dynamicpeasap.com) offers free lesson plans for different grade levels, and they include outdoor activities.

Carone Learning’s accredited cFitness Academy (caronelearning.com) offers dozens of online health and PE courses for kindergarten through high school. Traditional online courses cost $279; independent study is $149.

Free resources from Sanford Fit (fit.sanfordhealth.org) include videos, games, activities, lessons and printable materials that help families make healthy choices about food, mood, movement, mindfulness and more.

■

Seattle-based freelance writer Gemma Alexander focuses on the intersection of parenting and the arts. When she’s not writing for ParentMap, she blogs at gemmadeealexander.com and tweets @gemmadeetweet.

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DI R ECTO RY

Resource Directory Choose Full Time In-Class or Online Programs

The support of these family-friendly businesses enables us to deliver our high-quality parenting content to readers for free.

Camps, Classes + Activities

Serving Preschool - 8th Grade, in Bellevue

www.ecswa.org

Boys & Girls Clubs of King County....................................... 47 Full- and half-day camps, sports camps, teen programs 30 Greater Seattle locations; 206-436-1800 positiveplace.org Creative Dance Center......................................................... 25 Classes for infants, children, teens, adults Seattle; 206-363-7281 creativedance.org; info@creativedance.org

> Degrees & Certificates > Co-op Preschools > Parent-Child Center

Foundry Dynamic Productions.............................................16 Music instruction and music production Seattle foundrydynamics.com; foundrydynamic@yahoo.com Gage Academy of Art........................................................... 22 Art workshops and instruction for kids and teens Seattle; 206-323-4243 gageacademy.org; info@gageacademy.org Hibulb Cultural Center & Natural History Preserve............. 7 Interactive exhibits showcasing the Tulalip Tribes Tulalip; 360-716-2600 hibulbculturalcenter.org

Is “good enough” good enough for your child?

India Association of Western Washington........................ 36 Leadership programs for Indian-American youth Newcastle; 425-968-8539 iaww.org KidsQuest Children’s Museum............................................. 43 Hands-on exhibits, classes, summer camp, special events Bellevue; 425-637-8100 kidsquestmuseum.org; info@kidsquestmuseum.org Music Center of the Northwest........................................... 29 Music Together® classes, lessons, ensembles, more Seattle; 206-526-8443 musiccenternw.org; studentservices@musiccenternw.org The Parrot Lady Educational Enrichment.......................... 35 Amazing assemblies, parties and events with parrots All areas; 253-951-4452 parrotlady.com; debbie@parrotlady.com Roaring Mouse Creative Arts Studio................................... 25 Art-based preschool and kids’ art programs; ages 2½–9 Seattle; 206-522-1187 roaringmouse.org; director@roaringmouse.org Rock Solid Science............................................................... 35 Hands-on science and activities with rocks and minerals Seattle area; 206-715-2556 rocksolidscience.com

seabury • org 4 2 / PA R E N T M A P. C O M

pre-k – 8th

Russian School of Mathematics...........................................41 After-school math enrichment; grades K–12 Bellevue, South Bellevue, Redmond; 855-MATH-855 russianschool.com Samena Swim & Recreation Club.......................................... 7 Preschool, before- and after-school care, swim lessons Bellevue; 425-746-1160 samena.com School of Acrobatics & New Circus Arts (SANCA)............. 29 Classes for ages 6 and older; circus camps for ages 6–17 Seattle; 206-652-4433 sancaseattle.org; office@sancaseattle.org Stroum Jewish Community Center....................................... 2 Early childhood school, family and youth programs, camp Mercer Island, Seattle; 206-232-7115 sjcc.org Sunshine Music Together LLC.............................................. 35 Early-childhood music classes; ages 0–5 6 Greater Seattle-area locations; 206-281-1111 sunshinemusictogether.com YMCA of Greater Seattle ..................................................... 36 In-person or online school support, enrichment programs King and south Snohomish counties seattleymca.org Parent Resources Allegro Pediatrics................................................................. 26 Where healthier futures begin 8 Eastside locations; 425-827-4600 allegropediatrics.com Natural Dentistry, Ortho TMJ and Sleep..............................31 Natural, holistic dental treatment for all ages Mercer Island; 206-257-4921 naturaldentist.com; appointments@naturaldentist.com Puget Sound Independent Schools.................................... 48 Admissions collaborative connecting families and schools Greater Puget Sound area pugetsoundindependentschools.org Samis Foundation................................................................... 3 Supporting Jewish education in Washington state Seattle; 206-622-3363 samisfoundation.org Washington College Savings Plans (WA529).......................10 Helping families save with two flexible 529 plans GET, 800-955-2318; DreamAhead, 844-529-5845 wastate529.wa.gov

FOR

gifted kids W HO love to learn

SIGN UP FOR A VIRTUAL INFORMATION SESSION TO FIND OUT MORE A KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 8TH GRADE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL

(425) 747-2911 | www.openwindowschool.org

Love of learning starts here.

Creativity, play, and joy encouraged daily in downtown Bellevue!

Washington State Charter Schools Association............... 32 High-quality, innovative public school options Statewide; 206-424-2780 wacharters.org

LEARNING / 43

DI R ECTO RY continued from page 43 Schools + Preschools Asia Pacific Language School............................................. 39 Chinese and Japanese camps and preschool Bellevue; 425-747-4172 apls.org; apls@apls.org The Bear Creek School EE ................................................... 24 Christian liberal arts education; preschool–grade 12 Redmond; 425-898-1720 tbcs.org; chazeltine@tbcs.org Bellevue Children’s Academy.............................................. 20 Inspiring and nurturing excellence; pre-K–grade 8 Bellevue; 425-556-0791 bcacademy.com; bcacademy@bcacademy.com

Growing confident, curious, courageous learners since 1958

Bellevue Christian School.................................................... 45 Remote and in-person learning; preschool–grade 12 3 Eastside locations; 425-460-3300 bellevuechristian.org

Epiphany School is an independent, non-parochial elementary school in Seattle serving students in Pre-K through 5th Grade.

Bellevue Montessori School................................................ 25 Inspiring lifelong learners; ages 1½–12 Bellevue; 425-454-7439 bellmontessori.com

Visit our virtual admissions hub for online tours and open house info!

Besant Hill School of Happy Valley...................................... 40 College-prep, co-ed boarding school Ojai, CA; 805-646-4343 besanthill.org; contact@besanthill.org

epiphanyschool.org

Billings Middle School EE A dynamic academic community centering social justice Seattle; 206-547-4614 billingsmiddleschool.org Bright Horizons Early Education and Preschool.................19 Child care, early education, summer camp Multiple Puget Sound locations; 877-624-4532 brighthorizons.com

ENROLLING NOW FALL 2020 STARTS ONLINE

Bright Water Waldorf School .............................................. 16 Serving pre-K–grade 8; virtual tours available Seattle; 206-624-6176 brightwaterwaldorf.org; admissions@brightwaterwaldorf.org

FOUNDATION GRADES 1-8 MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADES 6-9

Charles Wright Academy......................................................12 Independent, co-ed day school; preschool–grade 12 Tacoma; 253-620-8373 charleswright.org; admissions@charleswright.org Dartmoor School.................................................................. 32 One-to-one, customized learning for grades 1–12 Bellevue, Bothell, Issaquah, Seattle; 425-885-6296 dartmoorschool.org; admissions@dartmoorschool.org Eastside Catholic School EE.................................................. 7 Faith-based learning; co-ed, grades 6–12 Sammamish; 425-295-3000 eastsidecatholic.org; info@eastsidecatholic.org Eastside Catholic School Options Program EE.................. 28 Special education and life-skill building; grades 9–12 Sammamish; 425-295-3000 eastsidecatholic.org; info@eastsidecatholic.org

info@morningsideacademy.org

901 Lenora Street. Seattle, WA • 206.709.9500 EE Education Online Explore dozens of local options at parentmap.com/education

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Eastside Christian School.................................................... 42 Academic excellence, commitment to Christ; pre-K–grade 8 Bellevue; 425-641-5570 ecswa.org; info@ecswa.org Eastside Community School EE .......................................... 32 Inspired by Waldorf education; early childhood–grade 8 Bellevue; 425-598-2914 eastsidecommunityschool.org; info@eastsidecommunityschool.org Epiphany School EE.............................................................. 44 Independent elementary school; pre-K–grade 5 Seattle; 206-323-9011 epiphanyschool.org; gjones@epiphanyschool.org The Evergreen School...........................................................14 Serving highly capable learners; preschool–grade 8 Shoreline/North Seattle; 206-957-1523 evergreenschool.org Explorer West Middle School................................................13 Challenging academics, core values, arts, outdoor ed West Seattle; 206-935-0495 explorer-west.org; katiea@explorer-west.org Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart.......................... 45 Independent, Catholic, all-girls school; grades 5–12 Bellevue; 425-641-0700 forestridge.org; admissions@forestridge.org Heritage Christian Academy............................................... 38 Preschool through middle school Bothell; 425-485-2585 hcabothell.org; info@hcabothell.org Hope Lutheran School EE .................................................... 28 Faith-focused and student-centered; preschool–grade 8 West Seattle; 206-935-8500 hls.hopeseattle.org; admissions@hopeseattle.org

Celebrating more than 70 years of Christian education Preschool–12th Grade

Clyde Hill, Medina & Woodinville

In-person & remote learning (425) 460-3300 / bellevuechristian.org

FOREST RIDGE

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THE SACRED HEART SCHOOL OF SEATTLE

JDS: The Jewish Day School of Metropolitan Seattle......... 4 Jewish community school; early childhood–grade 8 Bellevue; 425-460-0200 jds.org; admissions@jds.org KapKa Cooperative School EE............................................. 28 Experienced-based learning, small classes; grades K–5 Seattle; 206-522-0350 kapkaschool.org; registrar@kapkaschool.org Kid’s Country Learning Centers.......................................... 46 Safe and nurturing care for infants–age 12 9 Puget Sound-area locations; 360-668-5145 kidscountryinc.com; info@kidscountryinc.com Kids Klub Child Development Center.................................... 4 New Eastside child-care center opening October 2020 Bellevue; 425-502-8837 kidsklubcdc.com King’s Schools EE ..................................................................12 Challenging academics in a faith-focused community Seattle; 206-289-7783 kingsschools.org

SHE has the power.

To learn. To create. To explore.

Schedule a Virtual Visit Today! www.forestridge.org All-Girls, Grades 5-12 | Independent, Catholic

EE Education Online Explore dozens of local options at parentmap.com/education

LEARNING / 45

DI R ECTO RY continued from page 45 The Little School ...................................................................16 Blended indoor/outdoor learning on our 12.5-acre campus Bellevue; 425-827-8708 thelittleschool.org/explore; reganw@thelittleschool.org The Meridian School EE Inclusive K–5 community committed to balance Seattle; 206-632-7154 meridianschool.edu Morningside Academy EE .................................................... 44 Rigorous full-year and summer; grades 2–9 Seattle; 206-709-9500 morningsideacademy.org; info@morningsideacademy.org Open Window School ........................................................... 43 For gifted kids who love to learn; grades K–8 Bellevue; 425-747-2911 openwindowschool.org; admissions@ows.org

Independent Non-Parochial PreK–8 Confident Minds Compassionate Hearts Infinite Possibilities

thevilla.org

Contact us for Tour & Open House Info admissions@thevilla.org

206-527-9388

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Where Cool Days Rule!

Primrose School of West Bellevue...................................... 23 Early education and full-time care; infants–pre-K Bellevue; 425-315-7305 primrosewestbellevue.com Puget Sound Community School ........................................ 24 Turning passion into achievement; grades 6–12 Seattle; 206-324-4350 pscs.org; pscs@pscs.org Sammamish Montessori School EE .....................................15 Art, sports, science, more; ages 3–8 Redmond; 425-883-3271 sammamishmontessori.com; info@sammamishmontessori.com Seabury School .................................................................... 42 Advanced curriculum for gifted students; pre-K–grade 8 Tacoma; 253-952-3111 seabury.org; office@seabury.org Seattle Academy EE College prep curriculum for grades 6–12 Seattle; 206-324-7227 seattleacademy.org; admissions@seattleacademy.org Seattle Country Day School EE ........................................... 20 Inspiring gifted K–8 students through inquiry learning Seattle; 206-691-2625 seattlecountryday.org; admissions@seattlecountryday.org Seattle Jewish Community School ...................................... 2 Nurturing curious and compassionate learners; grades K–5 Seattle; 206-522-5212 sjcs.net; admissions@sjcs.net

Warm up to cool learning: Fall’s the time to love, laugh, learn, and grow kidscountryinc.com

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Shoreline Community College............................................. 42 7 co-op preschools with parenting education Shoreline; 206-546-4593 shoreline.edu/parenting-education Soundview School.................................................................41 Independent, private school serving preschool–grade 8 Lynnwood; 425-778-8572 soundview.org

EE Education Online Explore dozens of local options at parentmap.com/education

Spruce Street School EE...................................................... 22 Personalized instruction for students ages 5–11 Seattle; 206-621-9211 sprucestreetschool.org; info@sprucestreetschool.org St. Joseph Parish School .....................................................16 Seattle’s Jesuit parish school Seattle; 206-329-3260 stjosephsea.org; school@stjosephsea.org St. Monica Catholic School.................................................. 38 Catholic liberal arts education; pre-K–grade 8 Mercer Island; 206-232-5432 stmonicasea.org; info@stmonicasea.org

AT THE CLUBS

St. Thomas School ............................................................... 39 Non-sectarian education; preschool–grade 8 Medina; 425-454-5880 stthomasschool.org; info@stthomasschool.org UCDS: University Child Development School ....................... 2 Learning by design; preschool–grade 5 Seattle; 206-547-8237 ucds.org; admission@ucds.org UW Robinson Center for Young Scholars ............................ 11 Acceleration and enrichment for highly capable students Seattle; 206-543-4160 robinsoncenter.uw.edu; rcys@uw.edu Villa Academy....................................................................... 46 Catholic, independent school serving preschool–grade 8 Seattle; 206-524-8885 thevilla.org; admission@thevilla.org Whole Earth Montessori School.......................................... 29 Montessori learning environment for ages 3–12 Bothell; 425-486-3037 wemschool.org; info@wemschool.org Yellow Wood Academy..........................................................15 Customized education, supportive school; grades K–12 Mercer Island; 206-236-1095 yellowwoodacademy.org; info@ywacademy.org

Register today!

POSITIVEPLACE.ORG/FALLPROGRAMS

Tutoring, Testing + Consulting Best in Class Education Center........................................... 39 English, math, test prep, more; pre-K–high school 10 Puget Sound locations; 888-683-8108 bestinclasseducation.com Special Education Advocacy............................................... 24 IEP and 504 plan support and consultation for parents Seattle area; 206-914-0975 specialeducationadvocacy.org; larrydavis@specialeducationadvocacy.org

EE Education Online Explore dozens of local options at parentmap.com/education

Boys & Girls Clubs of King County

Safety& Learning& fun!

L E A R N I N G / 47

FIND THE BEST SCHOOL

FOR YOUR CHILD. Puget Sound Independent Schools

promotes the value of local independent school education, and works collaboratively to make the admission process more accessible for all prospective families.

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Annie Wright Schools Bertschi School Billings School Bright Water Waldorf School The Bush School The Downtown School Eastside Preparatory School Epiphany School The Evergreen School Explorer West Middle School French American School of Puget Sound French Immersion School of Washington Giddens School Hamlin Robinson School The Harbor School Jewish Day School The Lake & Park School Lake Washington Girls Middle School Lakeside School Leadership Preparatory Academy The Little School The Meridian School The Northwest School Open Window School The Overlake School The Perkins School Seattle Academy SAAS Seattle Country Day School Seattle Girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; School Seattle Jewish Community School Seattle School for Boys Seattle Waldorf School Soundview School Spruce Street School St. Thomas School University Child Development School University Prep The Valley School Villa Academy Westside School

An Admission Collaborative Connecting Families and Schools

pugetsoundindependentschools.org Our website features 40+ independent school profiles, application information, and a complete calendar of school open houses.

All member schools are accredited by the Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS).