Students, parents, and teachers are facing extraordinary circumstances as we turn to distance learning during the COVID-19 crisis. It’s tempting to just throw in the towel and admit defeat for the rest of this school year, but I’d like to challenge you to do more. Let’s try some new ways of learning together! Learning does not only belong within the four walls of a classroom — we can #LearnEverywhere if we work together.

I’ve been exploring the #LearnEverywhere site this week, and I’ve been so encouraged by what I’ve found so far! #LearnEverywhere was designed to help students, parents, and educators during the COVID-19 crisis by creating a one-stop shop for ALL the free learning resources you could possibly imagine. In addition to their website, they have also created a Facebook group where over 12,000 parents and teachers are asking questions or posting tips/resources for other parents and teachers.

The #LearnEverywhere site lists free activities in all subjects for grade levels Pre-K through High School! This includes links to access programs that usually charge a fee, but have provided no-cost access during the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only does the site compile activities in the usual subject areas like Reading, Math, Science, Social Studies, Health, Art, Music, Technology, Physical Education, and Language — it also includes a “Fun” category for things like crafts, games, recipes, and virtual field trips! And you know from some other conversations we’ve had on here that there are just as many opportunities for learning while doing something “fun” as there are in more “academic” subjects — sometimes more!

Since we can’t go on my daughter’s school field trip this year, we’ve decided to visit a different location from around the world each week! This week, we visited an eagle’s nest and watched some baby eagles exploring. Next week we might go to an art museum, or the Great Wall of China, or Yellowstone National Park! It’s amazing how much the world opens up when you have resources that really go outside the box right at your fingertips.

So my challenge to you during this strange new era of schooling is to explore a way to #LearnEverywhere right at the moment when it all feels so impossible. Visit #LearnEverywhere and find a new way of learning about phonics or geography. Practice math skills with a program you never knew existed before but now have instant access to. Take a field trip across the world.