redqueeninla ~ a musings locality

Honestly, we do have education news in the pipeline, but it is hard to settle the nerves long enough to report.

So first:  Supporting Kids’ Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic

And here’s a treat for your own, or even a geeky middle schooler on up’s, academically-oriented entertainment pleasure.

Talking To Kids/Learning Some Science Around Covid:

• • Introductory videos:  Elementary School ~ Middle School ~ High School and up
  • Life, interrupted: Steph Curry & Anthony Fauci interview  
  • Actual science:  Virology podcasts by renowned researchers here (more biological) and here (more public policy/epidemiology oriented); virology MOOC (biochemistry); Scientific articles about Covid (and other viruses) origins and evolution, Covid-19/SARS-CoV-2 preprints from medRxiv and bioRxiv (preprints are not-yet-peer-reviewed scientific studies).
  • Simulations, projections and retroactive assessment: Visualizing flattening of the curve, How it might work; How it might have worked

Data Banks, Epidemiology

• • Continually updating series of data-centric factoids and issues surrounding Covid-19
  • Johns Hopkins mapping project of CV outbreak include state-by-state counts, population denominators
  • Schiffmann CV tables tracker (a HS student)
  • Los Angeles County epidemiological case count, age and regional case distribution, as well as communities regions and population count (denominator)

Extracurricular Resources:  Fun / Aid & Assistance: What To Do/What Can I Do?

• • Sewing masks; better than nothing?  
  • Face mask patterns for sewing at home
  • Exercise videos from the corporate, to the amateur and everything in between. Check out this inspiring family.
  • Giant list of ideas for being home with kids by Princess Awesome & Boy Wonder
  • 150+ Enrichment Activities for Children While Parents are Working Remotely
  • Virtual Field Trips and birdcams
  • The Los Angeles Public Library is open online!

Resources For Families

• • Protecting yourself and your family:  Coronavirus on surfaces ­ true, non-hysterical fun facts about transmission
  • Learning The Rules (A physician on the front lines talks to fellow parents – informative, knowledgeable, affirmative)
  • Very comprehensive crowd-sourced list of Covid19 Los Angeles Community Resources
  • Covid-19 resources for immigrants
  • 145 crowd-sourced Covid-19 Resources from Parents and Teachers – including academic, social, family and food-assistance resources
  • Facebook Groups: Parents Supporting Teachers – join here to enable links to:  Learning Resources – for Elementary, Middle and High Schools; Business Resources, including information about free wifi and hotspots for K12 students
  • Another Facebook group with great ideas: – Momtivist
  • CA Labor & Workforce Development Agency resources for employers and workers, including information on filing a Paid Family Leave claim and other FAQs
  • Practical preparedness So You Think You’re About To Be In A Pandemic in English and Spanish from two working Aussie virologists including the science of soap, handwashing, contagion containment, face-touching

Testing Updates

• • CAASP/SBAC statewide testing is cancelled per executive order of California’s governor.
  • ETS ~ administers TOEFL, GREs, CAASP, etc.; IB exams are cancelled for this school year; SAT and ACT testing is cancelled through April awaiting further developments for future decisions. Do not rely on any, including this, second-hand information – confirm rapidly-changing testing dates (hyperlinks above should be OK) with test administrators directly.
  • AP is providing free remote learning access and is “developing a new at-home testing option.”

Academic School Resources

• • A full and weighty page of LAUSD Resources, including mapped list of all 60 “Grab And Go” Food Centers; free educational resources from PBS SoCal, KCET and KLCS-TV; student and parent resources for instructional continuity, including for students with disabilities; online learning resources and IT support
  • LAUSD ITD, Tech support including: approved online learning tools (with access codes), secure online meeting spaces for employees.  Technical support:  213-241-5200 or helpdesk.lausd.net
  • Education Companies Offering Free Subscriptions Due to School Closings
  • Schedule of At-home learning via PBS-SoCal/KCET/KLCS-TV
  • 145 crowd-sourced Covid-19 Resources from Parents and Teachers – includes academic, social, family and food-oriented
  • Museum resources: LA County Natural History Museums, Smithsonian’s digital resources for families and classroom resources
  • Pre/Elementary:  Quarantine with a Toddler by Jayna Zweiman
  • Middle school up:  QuaranTime, livestreamed every 8am (PST) with “Science Mom” and Math Dad. Science Mom’s archive of excellent videos here.
  • High school up:  Free online learning (MOOCs) from Ivy League colleges
  • Teachers/lesson plans:  American Psychological Association (HS), ASA teaching K12 statistics including lesson plans, live weekly graphs discussion, etc

Policy/General LAUSD Information:

• • LAUSD Family Resource Guide, Guía de Recursos Para Los Familias
  • LAUSD latest Communications
  • LAUSD Hotline for questions from families (213-443-1300) and staff (213-241-2700)
  • Email for sending the superintendent ideas:  suggestions@lausd.net
  • Board member’s websites ~ LAUSD1 (George McKenna);  LAUSD2 (Mónica Garcia);  LAUSD3 (Scott Schmerelson) – Schmerelson en espanol including sped FAQs; LAUSD4 (Nick Melvoin);  LAUSD5 (Jackie Goldberg) – Covid resource page;  LAUSD6 (Kelly Gonez) Covid Resources for Families;  LAUSD7 (Richard Vladovic)
  • George McKenna (LAUSD1) Virtual Townhall on Covid – Monday, 3/30/20, 6pm

Governmental Response Including Health Information, Announcements, Public Health Measures

• • International World Health Organization (WHO) coronavirus outbreak website
  • US Federal Center for Disease Control (CDC), coronavirus.gov is definitive source for comprehensive authoritative health information including a testing tracker and open source public health images.
  • CDC list of approved disinfectants, and information about cleaning and disinfecting households
  • Governor’s clearing house for CV information
  • Governor’s videos addressing Covid-19 response and policy and latest news including Press Releases, Executive Orders, Media Advisories, Proclamations, and “On the Record” Column
  • State of CA Department of Public Health CV information
  • Los Angeles County background and symptoms information including guidance for families, daily count updates, videos and FAQs in 14 languages [City of Los Angeles health is subsumed under LA County].
  • Contact LAC 24/7 for information or instructions on testing:  2-1-1
  • City of Los Angeles Mayor’s press releases and video updates. COLA coronavirus website
  • Reach the Mayor’s Office at 213-978-1028 or email mayor.helpdesk@lacity.org

Please leave favorite resources in the comments below. They will be incorporated into future updates. Thank you.