VARconnection

4 Ways to Celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2022

While the concept of an Indigenous Peoples’ Day was first proposed in 1977 at a United Nations conference to combat discrimination against Natives, it wasn’t until 2021 that Indigenous Peoples’ Day was officially recognized at the federal level. This day is an opportunity to showcase Native American history and culture and highlight the violence imposed … Continue reading →

Diversifying Teachers to Boost Equity

Recruiting minority teachers is a goal for school districts across the U.S. Generation Z is the most culturally diverse generation of Americans, and arguably students will benefit from teachers who reflect this plurality of race and culture. While today it’s hard to find new black educators, that was not always the case. History in brief: … Continue reading →

Conquering the Digital Divide: What’s the next hurdle?

Arguably phase one of advancing digital equity came down to providing a device for every student, and the pandemic fast-tracked these efforts. Then the pandemic revealed another digital equity hurdle: internet access. Phase two revolved around addressing connectivity issues and kids unable to do their homework, which became known as “The Homework Gap.” The Emergency … Continue reading →

DEI in K12 Esports: Promoting Positive Gamesmanship

Player demand for creating inclusive gaming spaces continues to increase with the growing participation of players from all walks of life. 59% of adult gamers want legislation requiring game companies to be more transparent about how they handle identity-based discrimination and harassment. Efforts are growing to expand inclusion at the professional level. In 2021, the … Continue reading →

Celebrate National Literacy Month

Get your students inspired to read this fall during National Literacy Month, happening all of September. This year we’re celebrating diverse literature that sparks children’s imagination, builds empathy, helps them understand and manage their emotions, and broadens their mindset. Part of National Literacy Month is Banned Books Week, happening September 18 – 24. This year’s … Continue reading →

Creating Healthy Online Habits

Digital citizenship is about how kids can be “good citizens” online and have healthy and safe online time. This is increasingly important when screen-time takes up a huge chunk of students’ free time. To build health-minded students, start by building their interests offline. Students are spending more time online Kids 8 and up are spending … Continue reading →

Keeping Students Safe on Social

To keep students safe on social media, they need to be aware of many issues, including addictiveness, cyberbullying, age-inappropriate content, and viral social media stunts. For Mental Health Awareness Month, here are a few ways to approach discussions about social media habits to protect students’ safety and mental health. Discuss what students like on social … Continue reading →

Future of K-12 SEL: curriculum integration

The pandemic healthcare crisis underscored the need for comprehensive K-12 SEL programs. Public schools experienced a jump in students seeking mental health services since the start of the pandemic, according to a May 2022 study by the National Center for Education Statistics. The majority surveyed are concerned about the lack of resources despite record-breaking federal … Continue reading →

Teach Coding Unplugged

It is possible to teach coding unplugged. For National Wellness Month, we’re showcasing Makey Makey, a popular STEAM education solution that is an ingenious way to get kids active and learning to code without all the screentime. Teaching code through invention literacy What is Makey Makey? It’s a perfect way to instill confidence in kids … Continue reading →

Keeping Students Safe Online

August is National Wellness Month, making it a great time to start working with your students to develop healthy online habits. Build your cybersecurity literacy to help your students navigate online safety in today’s hyper-connected world with these K-12 online safety tips and resources. Online Gaming Tips As e-gaming and Esports clubs increase in popularity, … Continue reading →