April 24, 2020
Tristar Reads, our annual summer reading program, doesn’t begin until May, but as most students are at home in this season, we want to offer various resources and activities for parents and kids to stay engaged in reading and learning. Dive into the many different ways your child can learn in this season and join us for a few fun challenges along the way.
Sign up for Tristar Reads 2020 here.
During these uncertain times, we want to be a resource for parents and students as we navigate together what learning from home looks like and the various resources that are available for families. Each week, we’ll feature our top 5 learning links to help guide learning and fun in your home.
Top 5 learning links of the week:
eSpark creates individualized reading and math activities and content to help K-5 students by providing assessment, direct instruction, and practice to help your student learn and master new skills. eSpark differentiates based on your student’s needs and allows them to move at their own pace as they learn and have fun. Get free access here.
The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) has partnered with the Tennessee STEM Innovative Network (TSIN) for students to have access to STEM-related content while learning at home. Through the STE(A)M Resource Hub, students can engage in three weekly challenges that center around design activities, critical thinking, and career exploration. These activities are ideal for students grades 3-12, but younger students are invited to participate as well with parental guidance. Explore the STE(A)M Resource Hub here.
Mystery Science provides free and easy science lessons and activities for students in grades K-5. According to their site, their lessons “are expertly designed to engage students, achieve learning outcomes, and be easy for teachers to use.” Get access to these interesting lessons here.
Quill helps students improve their writing and grammar skills by using evidence-based strategies and activities. Creating strong writing skills is critical for students as they walk towards college and career. Quill is offering free Quill Premium through the end of the 2019-2020 school year. Check it out here.
Does your child have excess energy that needs to be let out? Have some fun by engaging in online, interactive yoga adventures to build strength, balance, and confidence. Search for videos based on length, type of energy, and category of activity. Learn more about what Cosmic Kids has to offer kids here
This week, Governor Bill Lee announced that his stay-at-home order will expire on April 30, 2020. 89 of Tennessee’s 95 counties will be allowed to reopen in phases on May 1.
The governor announced that restaurants will be allowed to open at 50% capacity beginning Monday and retail to do the same beginning on Wednesday. This will go into effect for 89 counties with 6 counties’ health departments making their own plans. Those counties are Davidson, Knox, Shelby, Madison, Hamilton, and Sullivan.
The state is tracking data such as hospitalizations, symptoms, number of cases, and growth to help make decisions regarding reopening the economy. In particular, they are monitoring the average day over day increase in growth rate and how the virus travels across the state. Tennessee is currently ranked 12th for total tests administered and 15th for tests per 100,000 people.
The COVID-19 Unified-Command Group released new data on COVID-19 outbreaks in the state’s long-term care facilities and outlined an action plan on how to prevent future cases and mitigate existing clusters within these facilities. Read the group’s full report here. Additionally, if you feel sick and want to get tested, find the closest testing site to you here.
Tristar Reads is an annual summer reading contest designed to encourage children across the Volunteer State to read for at least 20 minutes a day during the summer break. At the end of the summer, we will be awarding three students (elementary, middle, and high school) with a $1,000 scholarship.
Additionally, Tristar Reads offers weekly correspondence, resources, fun activities, and challenges, and you must be on our list in order to receive those newsletters. If you’re not signed up, get register today!
With Tristar Reads about a
week away from kick-off, we are happy to welcome our friends from the Tennessee
General Assembly to read books aloud from their Facebook page. We’re excited to
begin our summer reading scholarship program by inviting others to read with
us! Follow us on Facebook
to catch all our guest readers including Chairman Mark White, Senator Bill
Powers, Secretary of State Tre Hargett, and more. Get the schedule for next
week below:
Monday, April 27: Rep.
Vincent Dixie is reading at 10 AM.
Rep. Chris Hurt is reading at 1 PM.
Tuesday, April 28: Rep. Kirk Haston is reading at 10 AM.
Sen. Dawn White is reading at 1 PM.
Wednesday, April 29: Rep. Rick Tillis is reading at 10 AM.
Thursday, April 30: Rep. Scott Cepicky is reading at 10 AM.
Friday, May 1: Rep. London Lamar is reading at 10 AM.
*Note: All times are in Central Standard Time.
Our annual summer reading scholarship program, Tristar Reads, begins May 1st so now is the time to get registered. Anyone who signs up during the month of April will be in the running to win FREE BOOKS sent to their home. Feel free to forward this email around and get registered today here!
Tristar Reads is designed to encourage students K-12 to read at least 20 minutes a day during the summer months. The program runs from May 1 – September 1, 2020, and will award the reader who logs the most amount of minutes in elementary, middle, and high school with a $1,000 scholarship!