The Rise of Alternative Learning However, not all students returned to school. Some districts brought students back in phases, or chose to bring back elementary school students, but not middle and high school students. And if families were not sending their students back to school, they were seeking out learning alternatives. Learning pods — aka […]
Education Outlook Part One – School Daze, Looking Back at the Chaos of 2020
With a new year comes hope for a better tomorrow. This has never been more true. Here, we reflect on 2020 and anticipate the year ahead in education. In mid-March, Orange County students were sent home for what many parents and teachers assumed would be a two-week period, just until this COVID thing got sorted […]
A New Normal for Mompreneurs
Find out how these OC mompreneurs have adjusted and adapted throughout 2020. Jasmine Roth Age: 36 Family: Husband, Brett; daughter, Hazel, 5.5 months City: Huntington Beach Star of: HGTV’s “Help! I Wrecked My House”; previously on “Hidden Potential” How did your passion for home construction and design begin? “By accident! I started building a house […]
Montessori: A Method for Our Time
How Maria Montessori’s system transitions well for current educational needs brought about by the pandemic. The Montessori method isn’t a new educational philosophy. It was developed by Italian physician Maria Montessori in the early 1900s. But that doesn’t make it any less relevant. “So far, Montessori has proven to be timeless,” said Ana Rivas, head […]
Dia de los Muertos — Commemorating the Lives of Deceased Loved Ones
Dia de los Muertos is a Mexican holiday honoring those loved ones who have passed on. Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a Mexican holiday celebrated Oct. 31 through Nov. 2. It honors the souls of deceased relatives through offerings of food and other items, celebration, costumes and face paint. According to Ruben […]
Halloween — Your Way
How to make Halloween a scream in a socially distanced world. Halloween may seem a little sad this year. But for Halloween lovers, COVID-19 safety restrictions doesn’t mean the spooky holiday season is cancelled. “We have received calls and inquiries from many parents on what to do this year,” said Lisa K. Cohen, director at […]
Early Learners Overcoming the Pandemic
How preschoolers and kindergartners are dealing with the unique challenges of COVID-19. Theo Stasch is 4 years old and, like a lot of kids his age, a little shy. He attended preschool last year and his mother, Lauren Stasch, said the experience was helping to bring him out of his shell. “Because he is quiet […]
Kids in a Pod: Parents Seeking Educational Alternatives
In a COVID-19 world parents are now forming ‘pandemic pods’ for their kids. When her 7-year-old twins’ Los Alamitos school shut down in March — along with the rest of the state — Eunice Shin started thinking about alternatives. “I’ve been talking to two other families that are from my kids’ classes about possibly doing […]
Experts Point Towards Success in an Online Learning Environment
Gone Virtual: Orange County distance learning experts share advice for helping students thrive. Gov. Gavin Newsom had not yet finished his July 17 briefing when Corinne Mosqueda, a teacher in the Fullerton School District, got the first text message. Newsom’s announcement that counties on California’s COVID-19 watch list — including Orange County — would not […]
Modified After-School Sports and Activities Maintain Beneficial for Kids
After-school sports and activities are changing, but kids can still reap their many benefits. In a typical week, an Orange County family can spend a significant amount of time participating in after-school sports — going to soccer practice, attending a basketball game, Little League tryouts or some other athletic endeavor. Experts say after-school sports and […]