April 1, 2020
Issue 2
VBCPS Community,
We hope you, your families, students, and staff have been able to find balance and rely on the strength of our community during this time. Below are a few additional resources for families, students, and staff as you continue to provide support in the coming weeks. Please also use the google form link below to share any questions you may have or any resources you have been using that might be helpful to share with others. Above all, stay safe and we will continue to grow our community and commitment to each other through this period of social distancing.
Take care,
Your PBIS Team
Follow us on Twitter @PBIS4VB
Family Resources
Coach Coates has created this excellent Powtoon video explaining how families can set expectations at home.
Supporting Students with Social Stories
Sharing social stories with families can help them support children’s understanding of why they have to stay home. Here’s a great example for families with young children.
Online Parenting Classes
Available
Dr. Suzanne Farley, School Psychologist, will be offering a free 8 week online class for parents of children with ADHD, ODD, or other challenging behaviors starting Tuesday, April 6, from 6:00 to 7:00 pm. If you think your parents or staff members might benefit, please let them know. If they’re interested in attending, all they need to do is email suzanne.farley@vbschools.com so that she can include them when she sends out the invite!
Student Support resources
Coping with Feelings
How can we give students the opportunity to share how they are feeling during this time? Both older and younger children need the space to share how they are feeling during this period of extended closure. As educators, many of us have been a support for our students and they continue to rely on our presence to share their thoughts and emotions. Check out this example here of how a teacher used Mentimeter on “Tough Thursday”, giving her students the opportunity to share tough feelings.
Creating Digital Citizenship Expectations
As we transition into a more long-term pattern of online learning, consider digital citizenship expectations as they connect to your existing classroom routines and school-wide expectations. Edutopia shares the following in a recent article Extending Classroom Management Online:
"Establish norms for office hours and video conferencing. I teach my middle schoolers how to ask questions without interrupting the current speaker. For instance, when on camera with a group of talking heads, I ask students to hold up the index finger to indicate a response to what’s being discussed and two fingers to indicate they want to bring up something new."
Staff Support resources
Above is a book study opportunity which may be helpful for your staff during this time. It is offered through PGI in Frontline! See the Virtual Reference Library for access to the book. Sign up here in Frontline!
Shout-outs!
Tori Smith at Princess Anne Middle School is building her virtual classroom community by implementing "Virtual Game Day".
Demetria Cofield, Lynnhaven ES Counselor, shared a great resource that can be used to promote connection with staff or integrated into a choice board for students!
