EAP 129: Preparing for "Back to School" During COVID-19

During this episode of the Early Accountability Podcast, Kimi is putting on her school psychologist hat and helping listeners understand how to navigate this upcoming school year with all of the adjustments that will have to be made due to COVID-19. We all got a dose of these changes during the last half of the spring 2020 semester, which could either be a good thing or a bad thing depending on how that trial run went for you. Perhaps you or your child struggled to connect to the online platform or perhaps it was a great season for you. Either way, there are a few things you can do right now to work towards your academic best this fall, whether your school will be in-person, all online, or a blend of both: 1. Keep the brain turning – While no one is expected to remember everything from the last school year under normal circumstances, it is expected that retention will be even lower this year. Do your best to work with your children consistently through the summer to maintain exposure to their subjects and refresh the material from last year. 2. Be prepared for multiple modalities – No one knows what this school year will look like, even though school districts are solidifying plans now. Understand that your teaching format could change throughout the year. 3. Look for resources for areas of deficit – There are lots of free or low-cost tutoring resources available if you find that you or your child needs extra help to understand the material being covered. Do your best to be comfortable with learning differently than normal, and supplement wherever you need to. 4. Plan for the upcoming year – Do your research now on the support that is available from your school and any additional support you may need, and stay updated on the plans of your school regarding teaching format. This school year will not be easy, but we are all doing the best we can and you can prepare now for success in the fall. Topics Covered in this Episode: • COVID-19 • Back to school • Changes to the school year • Being prepared Connect with Kimi: http://www.kimiwalker.com/ https://web.facebook.com/kimiwalker https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimiwalker https://www.youtube.com/user/KimiFitWell