Tristar Reads

Tristar Reads Spring Edition: April 3

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.


Resources for Students at Home

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:

ReadyRosie 

Ready Rosie is an early education tool that helps families, schools, and communities using short videos, fun activities, and online resources for free for Tennessee families from April 1 – September 1. The Tennessee Department of Education and the Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation (GELF) announced this partnership this week. These instructional materials will assist families at home and promote learning and bonding.  Sign up here

Before You Get in Too Deep

Resources for Learning at Home When Schools Close by TNTP

Before you get in too deep on every homeschooling link that’s out there, take a look at these guiding principles so you don’t feel completely underwater. 

Khan Academy

Khan Academy is a great resource for personalized learning so that students can master subject areas and learn at their own pace. Their resources range from preschool to Advanced Placement course content and beyond. Gain access here

STEM: Amazon Future Engineers

Check out Amazon’s growing list of free computer science resources from coding to robotics classes. These courses range from 2nd to 12th grade and everything in between. Learn more here

GoNoodle

GoNoodle is an excellent resource for kids to get out their energy by dancing and moving in a fun and interactive way indoors. They offer a variety of abilities, interests, ages, and subjects. Get moving here


COVID-19 Update

As our schools, economy, jobless claims numbers, and life in general moves at a rapidly different pace than one month ago, TSS is keeping our finger on the pulse of education-related COVID-19 changes and want to keep you as up-to-date as possible. 

Effective yesterday, April 2, Governor Bill Lee issued Executive Order 23 which requires Tennesseans to stay at home unless they are carrying out essential activities. This order is in effect until April 14, 2020. 

Currently, Tennessee public schools are closed until April 24th. 

To receive further guidance from the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE), click here. Additionally, the Tennessee State Government has just released a public survey for the CARES Act, which provides one-time relief funds for education. This survey seeks input from Tennesseans on the most effective ways to prioritize these funds. Please take advantage of this opportunity to use your voice and fill out the survey here.


Need Internet Access? Here’s how internet providers are helping.

  • Altice USA is providing free internet access for families with K-12 and/or college students who have been displaced because of school closures and do not have internet access. This trial is currently free for 60 days.
  • Comcast is offering 60 days of free internet access for anyone who needs access and confirms their commitment to assisting low-income families.
  • Spectrum will offer free broadband and Wi-Fi access for 60 days to households with K-12 and/or college students who do not already have a Spectrum broadband subscription and at any service level up to 100 Mbps.

School Meal Finder

The Tennessee Department of Education partnered with Hoonuit to help Tennessee families find the closest meal pick up program available to them. By utilizing an interactive, online map, families are able to access 2 meals per day, 5 days a week while schools remain closed. Learn about a meal pick-up site near you by going to www.schoolmealfinder.hoonuit.com.

Get more information on nutrition-related program updates from the Department of Education and any other COVID-19 related questions you may have 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 log the most amount of minutes in elementary, middle, and high school with a $1,000 scholarship! 

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