FAMILY: The even-more-important bond now between kids and teachers

Plus, a boom in outdoor classes, indoor gardening, Groundhog Day, and tagging birds [GET MORE RESOURCES AT NAT GEO FAMILY]( [VIEW ONLINE]( [NAT GEO FAMILY]( [National Geographic]( [THE BIG QUESTION:]( [HOW CAN MY KIDS AND THEIR TEACHERS BOND DURING THE PANDEMIC?]( Sunday, January 31, 2021 PHOTOGRAPH BY FATCAMERA, GETTY IMAGES By [Rachel Buchholz]( KIDS AND FAMILY Editor in Chief We all have those teachers who’ve remained in our memories over the years. For me, it’s my third-grade teacher, who read to the class every day after recess and helped inspire my love of books (and [Superfudge]( and my high-school government teacher, who to this day inspires opinionated yet respectful conversations on social media among current and former students. Don’t get me wrong—I had lots of amazing teachers as a student. But these two truly wanted to get to know me as a person and cared about what was going on in my life. It felt like it meant a lot to them that I succeeded. Of course, it was easy back then for me to experience a positive bond with my teachers. No one was trying to lecture while wearing a mask. No one was trying to engage a bunch of distracted kids over a virtual Zoom classroom. Multiple studies have shown [the benefits of a positive student-teacher relationship]( Students who feel motivated and encouraged perform better in school, which can lead to success beyond the classroom. And that motivation starts with a strong connection between kids and their teachers. “When kids are connected in a real and deep way … they learn more,” says educator and author [Jessica Lahey](. But what happens when that connection is about as stable as your work-from-home WiFi—because of your work-from-home WiFi? When getting-to-know-you conversations are too mask-muffled to matter? When virtual high-fives or thumbs-up from six feet away just don’t seem as meaningful anymore? Lahey describes the bond between student and teacher as the “secret sauce of education.” So even though the pandemic has changed the way children connect with their educators, any connection is still important—and doable. [(Read this article about strengthening your child’s relationship with their teacher.)]( For instance, encourage your kids to write notes to their teacher, even if it’s just about their likes and dislikes. “It gives me something to respond to and helps us to continue to build our connection.” says [Gahmya Drummond-Bey]( a teacher and global curriculum designer. If they’re Zoom-shy, see if they will post questions directly to the teacher instead of to the whole class. In the end, it’s really all about the partnership between parent and teacher and student. [(Check out this article about parents and educators having each others’ backs.)]( My hope is that as long as that partnership includes some grade-school Judy Blume, we’ll all be fine. If you want to get this newsletter every week, [sign up here](. If you want your kids to get Nat Geo Kids magazine, [subscribe here](. For Nat Geo Little Kids, [subscribe here](. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW PHOTOGRAPH BY ALEXANDER EGIZAROV, EYEEM, GETTY IMAGES Down and dirty. One trend that continues to explode since the pandemic: indoor gardening. In the early days, “There was a shortage [of houseplants], just like with toilet paper,” says Dave Whitinger, executive director of the National Gardening Association. And now as the winter lockdown drags on, parents are getting their kids involved, especially since studies have found that gardening can have positive effects on kids’ [stress relief]( and [motor skills](. [These tips show how easy it is to get children started]( how to make it super eco-friendly, like by using food scraps as nutrients and reusing household items as planters. We asked, you answered. I learned two things last week when I asked [what you hoped First Lady Jill Biden could bring to your child’s education]( a lot of you are teachers, and a lot of you are very excited about Biden’s potential influence on your kids. Madame First Lady, if you’re reading, here’s what folks want: A federal push to get children back into the physical classroom. More equity between wealthy and underprivileged schools. More counselors to help with the mental health implications of the pandemic. Smaller classes. Higher pay. And above all, more respect for teachers. KEEPING YOU HEALTHY PHOTOGRAPH BY FATCAMERA, GETTY IMAGES Fresh learning. I’m pretty sure there were some woods with a pond behind my middle school, where our science teacher would take us out to look for monarch caterpillars. (Or maybe slugs?) Turns out [teaching kids outside could help them learn better]( and—especially during a pandemic—it might be better for their health. That’s why a lot of schools are now experimenting with holding classes outdoors. (Yep, even during winter.) “We’ve learned you can create any space outdoors and turn it into a ‘classroom,’” says Olivia Santos, principal of the [Solar Preparatory School for Girls]( a public school in Dallas that’s been holding more classes outdoors since COVID hit. Even if your child is fully remote or attending all-indoor classes, you can still bring a learning environment to the outdoors.[(Tell us about your favorite outdoor learning activity.)](mailto:Rachel.Buchholz@natgeo.com) See who can find more squirrel nests versus bird nests. Play “I Spy” on a trail, focusing on colors or letters. [Get more outdoor learning ideas in this article]( or [take on these Get Outside crafts and challenges]( from Nat Geo Kids. Spring Braayyykkkk 2021! OK, maybe it’s not going to be that exciting, with many travel and large-gathering restrictions still in place. But if your family is considering a spring vacation, [take heed of these tips]( like traveling by RV or staying in a motel instead of a large chain. Family discussion: Who needs a groundhog to tell you when winter will end? Tuesday is Groundhog Day, when a rodent in Pennsylvania supposedly divines whether we will or won't face six more weeks of winter. But what do family members think? Quick spring or not? If you must inform your crew about Groundhog Day, [here’s a useful introduction]( to both the day and the animal. TRY THIS: BOREDOM BUSTERS FOR KIDS [Brain games for kids]( Black history is American history. Tomorrow kicks off [Black History Month.]( To help kids celebrate, introduce them to a few of the courageous people who made important contributions to the nation. From [Harriet Tubman,]( risked her life to help Black people in the American South escape slavery (and who [may soon be on the $20 bill]( to [Benjamin O. Davis, Jr.,]( who commanded a company of all-Black pilots during WWII, [these African-American heroes]( will inspire your children. Then [check out these activities]( a quiz on heroes or some yummy recipes—that celebrate diversity, and learn more by checking out some of our [Nat Geo Reader biographies](. Meet a reptile expert! Join the National Geographic Society’s [Explorer Classroom]( live YouTube show that connects young people with Explorers around the world—to hear behind-the-scenes stories and interact in real time. This week’s event features scientist and Nat Geo Explorer Shivan Parusnath, who studies rare reptiles in South Africa. He has spent the last decade helping create safe habitats for reptile populations. Learn how he uses photography and videography to shed light on the illegal animal trade in South Africa. [Get dates, times, and registration details here.]( Does your family like birds? Do they know how we know where birds migrate? And how can we protect them? One way is by extracting DNA from individual feathers. [This Nat Geo video]( shows how migratory birds—and the people who care about them—are connected across the Americas. Nat Geo Explorer Neil Losin produced the video on the work of another Explorer, Kristen Ruegg. Their work has been funded by the National Geographic Society. This newsletter was edited and curated by David Beard and Rachel Buchholz. Kimberly Pecoraro and Gretchen Ortega helped produce this. Have a healthy and a sane (as possible) week ahead! [NGM]( [NGM]( SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS We'd like to hear from you! Tell us what you think of our emails by sharing your feedback in this short survey. 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