Weekly Check Ins

I have been working with teachers to develop regular check ins with students. As you can imagine, doing this from a far has been challenging. One idea is a check-in Google Form (see below). Starting today and continuing each week, the form will be posted on each classroom's Seesaw page. We are asking that families support children in answering the eight, mostly multiple-choice questions. After, we will reach out to families, if warranted.

At this point we are limiting the roll out to specific classrooms with the hope of utilizing it further at a later date.

Parent Support Group

We are continually exploring ways to support families from afar during these challenging times. One idea we have is to develop a way for parents to come together, talk about your experiences with distance learning and parenting and brainstorm possible solutions. At this point we are considering two options, either a weekly Google Meet or Zoom and/or an always-open discussion board. Please take a moment to complete the Parent Support Form. This will help us access interest and decide what whether to pursue the Meet, discussion board or both.

COVID-19: Resources for Young Children

I want to share some resources from Defending the Early Years, a non-profit organization promoting early childhood education. The first is a video, Dr. Susan Linn & Audrey Duck Talking About the Cornavirus. Through parent-child conversation, the video explains the virus using kid-friendly language. It talk about why children cannot have playdates, why social distancing is important and how it is okay to be physically close to the people they live with by not with others outside the home. Other topics include the need for children to be independent and play alone at times while parents are working from home, coping with feelings such as fear and loneliness, and connecting with others through video.

The second is a comprehensive guide for parents, Guidance for Supporting Young Children Through COVID-19. It covers how to establish routines, ways to encouraging meaningful play at home, using this opportunity to teach important life skills, managing screen time and talking about the virus.

Check out these resources and let me know what you think. And please do not hesitate to reach out if I can help - jstevenson@huusd.org.

Inside Out

In a prior post I referenced the Pixar film Inside Out. The story is told primarily from the perspective of feelings - joy, sadness, fear, anger and disgust - inside the mind of an 11-year old girl named Riley. Uprooted from her midwest life, Riley is faced with the challenges and emotions of adjusting to a new town, San Francisco, and a new school. For more information, check out the review on Common Sense Media, a great resource!

I have used Inside Out as a teaching tool across the grades in my wellness classes. In the 5th and 6th grades, students created "islands" to represent their interests and values. In the primary grades, I used the film to explore emotions and what makes us feel happy, sad, angry, etc. As you are cooped up inside, this could be a great way to do something fun as a family while using it as an opportunity to do some social-emotional learning! For some ideas, check out 5 Teaching Ideas Connected to Inside Out. Lessons cover identifying, talking about our feelings and "self talk."

Paper Cities

Are your kids starting to get restless, cooped up inside during the rainy spring? (Side note: rain won't hurt them! Have them throw on a raincoat and send them out!) If so, the British architecture studio Foster + Partners have released a series of paper templates that kids can print out, color and fold to build their own paper cities! Options include skyscrapers, houses and a tutorial on how to draw trees.

The complete resource can be found here: #architecturefromhome. The studio encourages families to share their creations on social media using the #architecturefromhome hashtag. I look forward to seeing their work! Cheerio!

Thriving at Home

The Thriving at Home workbook was shared with me by another HUUSD school counselor. I think it is a great resource. Families can pick and choose from the provided activities, such as setting up a play space, using a rock and Play-Doh analogy to talk about what we can and cannot control, identifying comforts to help us manage stress, and checking our emotions using the Zones of Regulation and the characters from Inside Out. From the author, a parent and play therapist:

Although this time is challenging, it can also be a time for fulfillment. This workbook is intended to provide you with activities to address and explain hard feelings while working together to connect, regulate and play. May this book serve as a positive memory for you and your family as you look back on this time

Inspirational, right?!? Please let me know if you would like a paper copy and I will mail one to you. And do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns - jstevenson@huusd.org. I am here to help! 

Sesame Street: Managing Strong Emotions

Sesame Street has been on the forefront on providing content around social emotional learning, covering topics such as exploring emotions, getting along with others and solving problems. They have also created content for children dealing with issues related to the coronavirus. In the video, Belly Breathing with Rosita, Rosita shares her frustration with not being able to play with her friend Elmo. She teaches kids how to calm down by focusing on their breathing.

Also check out the following resources from Sesame Street. If you know of other resources, please let me know!

• Caring for Each Other: videos, online games, printable activities, ebooks and tips on how to talk to your child about COVID-19 and other related topics.
• Sesame Street in Communities: topics include missing friends, managing uncertainty and the and proper hand-washing techniques.
• Sesame Street videos: via Facebook Watch.