Mississippi Education Connection

Mississippi Education Connection is your on-air source for instructional education during this COVID-19 crisis, providing timely and relevant information to parents, teachers and students.

As the Covid-19 Pandemic continues to spread throughout the country, teachers, parents and students are having to find creative resources for learning at home. Today we’ll discuss PBS KIDS Programming and how it’s tied to curriculum with guests Sara DeWitt, VP of PBS KIDS Digital and Sara Schapiro VP of Education at PBS. We’ll also welcome Dr. Nathan Oakley, Chief Academic Officer with the MS Department of Education to discuss how PBS Programming ties into our curriculum in Mississippi.For more information about Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann's "Healthy at Home Project" and PBS KIDS Programming visit education.mpbonline.org Tips of the Week:* Balance is Key- Create time/spaces where kids opt out of devices, offer alternative activities like drawing, reading, board games, dancing or playing.* Be Choosy- Be picky about what your child watches or plays online. Select high-quality, learning-focuses programs that promote learning such as PBS KIDS.* Do it Together- Co-view media with children to help them understand what they are seeing and how they can apply it to the world around them. Playing and watching together creates more meaning and learning.

Transitioning to teaching your kids at home during coronavirus school closures can be hard for many families, but parents of kids with special needs face unique challenges. Listen as we speak with Robin Lemonis, Director of Special Education and Dr. Nathan Oakley, Chief Academic Officer with the MS Department of Education about how to help your special needs child get the most out of distance learning.Tips of the Week:* Keep consistent check-in with your child’s school, teachers and therapists about:How educational and therapeutic service delivery may change in the coming weeksIf schools offer distance-learning opportunities to students without disabilities, the same support should be offered to students with disabilities. Don’t feel pressured to exactly replicate school and therapy at home. With flexibility, you may identify new ways to learn and grow together that would be more difficult in a typical time.* Seek helpWhether your child has a disability or they're feeling extremely stressed, there are disability or condition-specific organizations and support groups that can provide helpful information and social support. Reach out to local organizations to see if they offer virtual support groups or have active email listeners that send out information and resources.* Encourage children to talk about their feelings .Children with disabilities often experience feelings of social isolation from their peers, and social distancing policies related to COVID- 19 may amplify these feelings.Give your child opportunities to discuss these feelings and brainstorm ways for your child to interact with others through texting, phone calls, video chatting and other virtual platforms.

As the coronavirus crisis continues to place tremendous strain on the education system, state policymakers along with district leaders, school leaders, teachers and support staff are working to ensure the well-being of students and families. Listen as State Superintendent of Education, Dr. Carey Wright and Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Nathan Oakley give us updates in response to COVID-19 and answer your questions and concerns. Our "Tips of the Week" come from students who participated in Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann's "Healthy at Home Project"Brittany from Lindsey Middle School in Brookhaven says: Use the three H's to stay healthy during this pandemic Stay HappyStay HealthyStay at HomeDrake from Richland Elementary School says:Make sure you eat plenty of fruits and vegetablesTake your medicine when you are sickStay at homeFor district updates, guidance and resources for educators and families visit: https://www.mdek12.org/

Most governments around the world have closed educational institutions in an attempt to contain the spread of the Coronavirus and these closures have impacted over 90% of the world’s student population. Listen as we speak with Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann, to discuss how COVID-19 has impacted the legislature’s plans for education, ways in which he's connecting with educators and students and what the future may hold for all Mississippians. For more information about the Adopt a Senior Program visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/897555907376149/ 

Teachers change the lives of millions of children every day and with the abrupt end to the physical school year, our teachers have done even more to continue educating students with virtual classrooms and distance learning. So today we’re celebrating teachers and educators for “Teacher Appreciation Week” with our guests State Teacher of the year, Hannah Gadd- Ardrey and Administrator of the year, Dr. Lee Pambianchi and joining us from the Department of Education, Dr. Corey Murphy, Executive Director Office of Teaching and Leading.

For many people, home in the age of COVID-19 has become the office, the classroom and even the gym. With school closures, working remotely and, social distancing it’s a lot to navigate for anyone, but especially for parents. So today we’re discussing “Parenting through a Pandemic” with our guests, LeighAnne Cheeseman, Damien Davis and Dr. Pamela Scott. Listen as they share their personal experiences and strategies for managing home life in a time of social distancing and self-quarantine.Governor Tate Reeves will be hosting a statewide graduation ceremony Saturday May 16th at 10 a.m. live on his Facebook page. Graduating seniors who wish to have their names called during this virtual commencement are asked to submit a form online at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdS_CEW22JFOOrjIPQBnK7aJouwudzaF6vDUgBrGk6RCvFzHA/viewform  Tips of the Week for Parents: Watch for behavior changes in your childTry to start your day earlier than the rest of the familyCreate a "Flow Chart"Create a dedicated work space for the kidsPrioritize dailyLet things exist in harmony with each otherDon't be afraid of change

For the most people high school is something they remember for the rest of their lives, especially those last couple of months, but, for the graduating class of 2020, these times will be remembered much differently. Today we’re celebrating our Mississippi high school seniors and sitting down with three graduates to talk about the impact of COVID-19 on their senior year. Plus, listen as seniors from around the state share messages with their peers in our senior spotlight. Tips of the Week for High School SeniorsDiversify your skills. There are some skill sets that have become more marketable than before because of COVID-19. See which ones you have and fine tune them.Make the most of your summer before before college. It's been a stressful and uncertain past few months. So, relax and enjoy the summer, making the necessary preparations but don't get overwhelmed. As long as you are ready with your technology, the colleges and universities are awaiting you with huge welcomes. They are prepared.Get involved. Stay involved, with your home community and your new school community. You learn new skills when you volunteer and you build your network.