CAN: Remote Living and Learning
Shared by: Jamie Bonnett, KidsQuest Children’s Museum
When the Remote Living and Learning group began meeting to share and discuss ways to help families at the beginning of the COVID pandemic, it was clear that language was again going to be a barrier for LatinX families and students receiving information in a culturally responsive way.
Often, when information is translated, it lacks cultural context and is not understood or is hard to navigate. This leads to families not being able to support or advocate for their student, leaving LatinX students missing things and falling behind.
The Remote Living and Learning group conducted a focus group in Fall 2020 to hear from parents where they needed support, what they had been struggling with, and what had been helpful. The responses led to our small test of change to create 15-minute bi-weekly video newsletters. It would deliver information by native Spanish speakers from Bellevue School District and Lake Washington School District in Spanish and be available on Facebook and YouTube.
The newsletters covered up to date information and programs from both school districts, how to access them, and ways to continue to navigate the school system. The videos, with an average reach of 2,500, are shared by multiple organizations and continue to grow in reach.
In Spring 2021 we held another focus group to hear from families who have watched the videos and how it has impacted them. We heard that families found the videos incredibly helpful in understanding what was happening in their child’s school district. They liked receiving information in their own language on a platform that allows for comments. Families also like that it can be shared with other families to help them navigate our public school system.
The video newsletters will continue to be created. The group continues to meet monthly and share information that can be shared with the community. We are looking for more ways to support families and get them to engage in all parts of school programs that they desire.
Note: The newsletter will start distribution on August 8