TL;DR: Psychological first aid addresses immediate needs and teaches coping skills, and is just as important as physical first aid. If you notice someone in distress, look, listen, and link are the three steps to follow. Tips for sleeping well and reducing anger are shared. Many of us have taken some kind of first aid class growing up, whether it … Read More
Kick Off the New School Year Happier!
TL;DR: It is important for teachers to remember that we have what it takes to help our students grow, no matter what their starting point is. A Teach Happier act of kindness challenge is shared. Remember back in March when we thought that getting to the end of the 19-20 school year would be like completing a marathon? We had … Read More
Key Tips for Beginning a Virtual School Year
TL;DR: Contacting your local mental health community partner is a strategy to start addressing mental heath in your school. Increase the effectiveness of online learning by using learning management systems, personalized learning, creating relationships online, and incorporating social-emotional learning. A technique for transforming your student relationship building activities to a virtual setting is shared. As districts begin to finalize their … Read More
You Can’t Be Prepared for This
TL;DR: Go into this school year knowing you can’t be prepared for every possible scenario. Plan to change your plan, and prepare to be unprepared. Now is the time to take risks and try new things—even if you fail. You learn and grow from every failure and put yourself in a position to succeed the next time. Hey, how’s your … Read More
Remembering YOU in Times of Uncertainty and Change
TL;DR: Embrace the disruption to your routines. Reconnect with yourself by starting a journal, creating fun videos and songs for your students, finding a way to laugh everyday, or using your talents to help someone else. You are important. I don’t know if anyone has told you that today. Or yesterday. Or even in the last week. But you are, … Read More