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Jill Biden Joins MCEC for Military Student Survey Release
With support from Dr. Jill Biden, the Military Child Education Coalition released its Military Kids Now 2020 Survey Summary Report at the MCEC 2020 Education Summit. Other leaders from the military, government, and education communities discussed the military student survey and other issues affecting military-connected children at the two-day virtual…
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Back to School: Supporting Teachers Strengthens the Team
By Terri Barnes Building a strong student-advocacy team is essential for military-connected students. As the school year begins in a pandemic environment, now more than ever, the team-building strategy should include supporting teachers, as well as students. Military-connected students at new schools won’t be the only ones navigating a new…
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Superintendent Emphasizes Support for Teachers, Students, Parents
By Terri Barnes Jesse Najera is the superintendent of Silver Valley Unified School District in California. He is also a member of the California State Council of the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission. Military-connected students make up seventy-five percent of Silver Valley’s 2,200 students. The district’s seven schools, Pre-K to…
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Start Early for a Strong Student-Advocacy Team
The Season of Arriving is a crucial time for military-connected students. As school transitions are happening alongside pandemic conditions, students and parents are facing the possibility of an academic year that is either partially or completely online–at a new and unfamiliar school. No matter what kind of classes are planned…
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Bringing School Home: Focus on the Possibilities
By Terri Barnes As schools around the world respond to the spread of coronavirus by shifting to online classes for essential instruction, military-connected students and their parents are bringing school home. While schools create virtual learning environments and provide curriculum, parents find themselves involved in their children’s education in new…
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Online Resources for Learning at Home
For parents creating learning environments at home, there are many educational and cultural resources available online. As a starting point, here’s a selection of at-home resources for various ages and stages of learning, with some especially for military-connected students. Not all of these resources are appropriate for every age group. With…
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Seasons Book Clubs Engage Networks of Support
By Amanda Trimillos A good book club is an opportunity to gather with friends, enjoy favorite beverages, snacks, and good conversation. The best book clubs are those where everyone in the room is engaged in the book, eager to know more, and ready to dig into the content. This describes…
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Teacher Tips: Warm Welcome for Students Arriving Midyear
Being the new kid is difficult anytime. For military-connected students arriving midyear, when the academic year is in progress, the challenge is even greater. By the time they arrive at their new school, class routines are set, seats are assigned, and friends are made. No matter when they occur in…
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Holidays During Deployment: Tips for Teachers and Parents
Special occasions and holidays during deployment can be difficult for military-connected students and their families. For any celebration, adding a deployment subtracts a parent and raises the stakes. Teachers and parents can still make special days joyful and inclusive with awareness and thoughtful planning. In any season, says teacher and…
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Making a Difference for Military Kids, Families
Books Make a Difference magazine — When Michelle Anders’s military family moved from Hawaii to Georgia, her six-year-old daughter had to change schools in the middle of the school year. Michelle was concerned about the impact the transition might have on her little girl but found helpful information in Seasons…
