Support for our Challenge Success Family
during COVID-19
The work we do at Challenge Success depends upon, and is created for, our educators, parents, students, donors, and community members — our Challenge Success family. In these unprecedented times, we have carefully considered how we can best help this extended family, and in that spirit, have created and curated the following resources for you. We intend for them to be helpful during these challenging times, and likewise, appreciate your active support of Challenge Success by engaging with these resources and our services.
Regardless of where learning is happening – at school, online, or at home – our mission does not change. We are continuing to partner with schools and families to share research-based strategies that promote student well-being and engagement with learning. We are here for you.
Stay safe, healthy, and balanced.
The Challenge Success team
During these uncertain times with school closures and significant shifts away from normal routines, many people have expressed concerns about the impact on students’ academic journeys. I want to encourage parents, educators, and students in the Challenge Success family to remember the big picture. This is a time to focus on — and be grateful for — your family’s safety, health, and well-being. Make building strong family relationships a priority. Reach out to neighbors, friends, and others in your community to check in, offer support, and connect virtually. We will get through this together.
For families concerned that their children are missing out on academic content, remember that at a time like this, less is more. I encourage you to broaden your definition of learning and focus on playtime, downtime, and family time. Think about how to help your kids continue to develop skills rather than trying to re-create school content by assigning extra worksheets and flashcards. Critical skills for kids of all grade levels include reading, problem solving, and communication, as well as social-emotional skills like resilience, collaboration, flexibility, and positive coping. Use this time at home to support these skills along with prioritizing students’ well-being and engagement with learning. As a family, discuss and agree to a routine that might include the following activities.
During this unprecedented time of nationwide school closures, we are curating and creating resources to support schools and families. Explore these tips, tools, and offerings for parents and educators to help students stay balanced and engaged such as:
>> Webinar: Navigating K-12 Remote Learning for Families Many families are concerned about the impact that remote learning will have on their child’s academic journey and what role they should play along the way. Schools or parent organizations can schedule a 30-minute webinar with Challenge Success for their parent community to explore practical tips and guidelines for what families can do to best support student well-being and engagement with learning right now. There will be time for Q&A at the end. Learn More.
>> Workshop:The Well-Balanced Student Workshop Our signature workshop for parents or faculty explores research and strategies for healthier school and home environments that support balanced and engaged students. This interactive presentation is available with a live presenter via Zoom or via a pre-recorded video for school communities or individual viewing. Learn More.
>> Workshop:A Well-Balanced Perspective on College Fit Our newest workshop for parents or faculty addresses many of the important questions we hear from families about the pressure of college admissions. This interactive presentation is available with a live presenter via Zoom. Learn More.
>> Middle and High School Student Survey: Pulse on Connections A new 10-minute online student survey to help educators get a pulse on how connected students feel to one another and to the adults in their school community during this unique time. Learn More.
Like many nonprofits in the education sector, Challenge Success is impacted by COVID-19. Please consider supporting our mission by engaging with our services or donating to our organization. Your contributions will allow us to continue to support well-being and engagement with learning for all students — wherever learning is happening.
Strategies to Support Student Well-Being and Engagement with Learning Challenge Successpartners with schools, families, and communities to embrace a broad definition of success and to implement research-based strategies that promote student well-being and engagement with learning. We believe that our society has become too focused on grades, test scores, and performance, leaving little time for kids to develop the skills necessary to become independent, resilient, and ethical individuals. Learn more about our impact and how to support our mission. Challenge Success is a non-profit organization affiliated with the Stanford University Graduate School of Education.
