Resources to keep kids learning during coronavirus school closures

Published on March 17, 2020 in

With all Michigan schools closed due to the new coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, United Way for Southeastern Michigan is working with our partners to connect parents and caregivers with resources to keep children engaged and learning. 

“When children aren’t in school for extended periods of time, they’re at risk of losing academic gains. This is even more so true for low-income families,” said Tonya Adair, United Way’s chief impact officer. “We are doing everything we can to help families keep their kids academically on track while our community gets through this crisis.” 

Here are some of the educational resources available to families in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties: 

Ready4K

If you’re struggling to find meaningful activities for your children at home, you’re not alone. Thankfully, any ordinary moment of the day can be a time for learning with Ready4K. 

Ready4K is a text messaging program that makes it easy to find ways to engage with your kids. Geared toward parents of children ages 8 and younger, Ready4K provides texts to boost your child’s learning by building on existing family routines. It sends age-appropriate facts and easy tips, as well as opportunities for growth. 

Discover Your Spark

As Michigan has begun to reopen, some in-person youth programs have restarted and others have transitioned to online programs.

Whichever option families feel most comfortable with, Discover Your Spark serves as a one-stop tool to find programs that fit families’ needs and budgets, as well as their children’s interests.

Discover Your Spark is powered by the Youth Resource Development Center with support from United Way and the Ralph C. Wilson Foundation.

Search for programs at DiscoverYourSpark.org.

Scholastic

When school is in session, United Way and Scholastic partner to provide free reading resources to children in our region. 

Now, Scholastic is offering 20 days of learning experiences free for students in preschool through ninth grade. Other digital learning programs are also available, including resources to teach kids about coronavirus, as well as access to digital libraries for kids. 

Click here to access links to all free Scholastic programs.

Character Playbook

The fate of in-person learning is still undecided as we head toward the fall. But even as routines change, the NFL and United Way partnership remains consistent in our efforts to help students, teachers and families across our region.

Character Playbook and other online resources from Everfi are available free of cost to students and teachers at any school district. Students can gain direct access to a variety of digital resources. In addition to educational courses, Character Playbook and Everfi offer a comprehensive learning experience with mental wellness, career exploration and financial readiness lessons. Sign up for free access to Character Playbook.

Wayne RESA Remote Learning Toolkit

School districts and regional agencies are working hard to provide virtual learning resources to families during this crisis. 

Wayne RESA has created a remote learning toolkit for families. In addition to education resources, it also includes special education and social and emotional supports. Explore Wayne RESA’s toolkit, or contact your local district if you’re outside of Wayne County. 

United Way will continue to update our resources for individuals and families. For more information, visit our COVID-19 information and resources webpage.