Student Support Resources
Call Me Coach Podcast
with guest Dr. Karen Drosinos
Be sure to listen to the latest “Call Me Coach” Podcast episode led by Chad Gangwer with special guest Dr. Karen Drosinos. In this episode, she talks about how she became a Kindergarten teacher and shares ideas for how to engage young learners during a time of distance learning!
Stakeholder Feedback to Inform Decision Making
For PBIS teams, data-informed decision making is critical when responding to the needs of students. Feedback from stakeholder groups is one vital form of data to consider. When thinking about reaching out for feedback from families consider the resource shared by the Collaborative for Academic and Social-Emotional Learning (CASEL) titled “An Initial Guide To Leveraging The Power Of Social And Emotional Learning As You Prepare To Reopen And Renew Your School Community”. Within this resource they share sample questions that can be used as a starting point for phone/video conferences or surveys that engage stakeholders in sharing their perspectives:
– What has your experience been like since school has been closed?
– What is on your mind as you think about the next school year? What are your biggest hopes or worries?
– What has our school done well during the past months, and what could we have done better?
– How might you like to contribute as we prepare to transition to a new school year?
– What will help you learn this upcoming year?
– What can we do to make school feel even more like a community that cares for you?
Family Support Resources
Helping Your Child Talk Through Their Feelings
“Parents and caregivers are being tasked with a near-impossible combination of roles during this time:
working from home, home-schooling, counseling, managing your and your family’s stress, economic challenges, and much more.”
Sean Wade, Director of Family and Volunteer Engagement at Action for Healthy Kids, shares a few ways you can help your kids talk through and process what they’re feeling.
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Start by keeping it simple.
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Practice empathy and acknowledge the diversity of emotions.
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Use mindfulness exercises to teach emotional awareness.
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Get up and move!
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Let their questions guide you.
Read the article to find out more!
VB Parks and Recreation: Boogie with Barks & Rex
Check out a recent opportunity shared by Parks and Recreation for neighborhoods to give back and have fun at the same time! Register online to participate.
Independent Problem Solving
In an effort to support independence and self-guided learning, classroom teachers have often provided students with a problem-solving process to support the completion of projects and assignments when students get stuck. Below is one example of a routine established by a teacher that guides students to ask 3 peers or consider other strategies before asking the teacher for help.
Consider how this tool can be adapted for the home learning environment. See the example below for a routine established by a parent of a secondary student!
Conversation Starters
The FamilyDinnerProject.org shares some tips to help you stick with family mealtimes while you’re staying home. Check out their creative conversation starters that families (or classes!) can use when spending time together!
Our school staff are continuing to find ways to nurture community and connection along with creating opportunities for unique Senior celebrations!
Below are a few highlights!
