Teacher Virtual Calming Site

Teacher Virtual Calming Site

WELCOME TO THE TEACHER VIRTUAL CALMING SITE

We understand during this time that life can be overwhelming and stressful and it can be hard to navigate through these uncertain times. This Virtual Calming Room was designed to assist in providing healthy strategies, tools, and relaxation techniques to help manage feelings and emotions.

Your feelings are normal; the situation is not.

Please note that the links may contain advertisements and recommended videos that are not approved by the school district.

Disclaimer: The following links are purely for educational purposes and are not intended as psychological interventions or as a substitute for psychological treatment. If you are in need of psychological help you should seek the consultation of a licensed mental health professional.

HEADSPACE

LA County is stronger together - HeadspaceLA, we’re all going through the current crisis together. Headspace has partnered with the LA County Department of Mental Health to provide support and resources during this challenging time.

How it works

At Headspace, we like to think of meditation as exercise for the brain. Through meditation, we can build up areas of our brain and actually rewire it to enhance positive traits like focus and decision making and diminish the less positive ones like fear and stress. Most importantly, this means there is a possibility to change your brain for the better in a way that is long-lasting.

Residents of Los Angeles County can sign up to access Headspace Plus at no cost until December 31st, 2020.

If you are in Los Angeles County and do not currently have a paid Headspace membership, please follow these steps to redeem:

Visit https://work.headspace.com/lacdmhresidents/member-enroll

TIPS FOR SELF-CARE DURING COVID -19

Covid-19 - Self Care Card English.E-version.pdf

3 FACT SHEET Teachers - Protecting MH.pdf

GUIDED BODY SCAN MEDITATION

GUIDED BREATHING EXERCISES

FAMILY FITNESS / YOGA

VIRTUAL PUZZLES

Digital Jigsaw Puzzle: Pipestone National MonumentSince the 1600s, generations of Plains Indians have traveled to Pipestone to quarry and chisel its soft, red stone into ceremonial pipes. Pipestone National Monument was established to protect the site and provide American Indians of all tribes access to the pipestone quarries. Pipestone Creek flows through the monument site and dramatically flows over a quartzite cliff at beautiful Winnewisa Falls.

Digital Jigsaw Puzzle: Como Park Zoo & ConservatoryComposed of 13 different rooms and areas that range from an orchid house to a dome filled with palm trees, the Como Park Conservatory is a popular year-round destination for visitors seeking botanical brilliance in Minnesota. The stunning conservatory gardens include seasonal flower shows, tropical gardens, orchids, ferns, bonsai and a world renowned Japanese Garden. The conservatory is located alongside St.

GUIDED PROGRESSIVE MUSCLE RELAXATION

RELAXING MUSIC

GUIDED MEDITATION

VISUAL RELAXATION

ACTION CALENDARS

Monthly Action CalendarsOur monthly calendars are packed with actions you can take to help create a happier and kinder world. Click a calendar below to download - you can find other language versions there too!

july_2020.pdf

september_2020.pdf

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

AV Resources (2).pdf

Advice for Teachers on How to Stay Calm During Chaos | Resilient EducatorThese days, I feel like the air is silently buzzing – full of angst, worry, and fear. These are trying times for all, ages 0-100+. And as adults, we are tasked with being role models, which can be tough when we ourselves are overwhelmed with so much unknown. In the spirit of #stayingsane, we wanted to share a couple of suggestions around how you, yourself, can try to stay calm while promoting calmness to those around you. Remember, safety first The first thing to remember is that safety is most people's number one concern. Ask yourself, "What makes me feel safe?" For some people, it is information; for others, family. Take stock in what gives you a sense of security and comfort, and make a concerted effort to incorporate those strategies into your everyday life. Then, consider how you can help reassure those around you that they are safe, especially children. My mother used to say "safety in numbers," and the support of our communities – whether loved ones or neighbors – is

Building Resilience Starts with Self-Care | Resilient Educator"Should the cabin lose pressure, oxygen masks will drop from the overhead area. Please place the mask over your own mouth and nose before assisting others." If you have ever flown on a plane, you probably have heard these very instructions. So why is it so important to take care of yourself before helping someone else? The basis of these instructions and why they carry so much weight comes from the idea that if you try and help others first, and you fail, both people will suffer. But if you take the time to help yourself, then you will be in a better position to help those around you who need assistance. When we only focus on taking care of others, quite often we leave little room for ourselves. When we leave ourselves out of the equation, we can end up feeling exhausted, frustrated, and even angry. And we might not understand why. Those feelings can then lead to feeling ineffective, helpless or hopeless or what is known as "burnout." At that point, we aren't able to help

How to Maintain Balance Through Uncertainty | Resilient EducatorIn the iconic 1980's film Karate Kid, Mr. Miyagi took young Daniel under his wing to train him in karate. Daniel eventually learned that karate lessons were life lessons. As Mr. Miyagi told Daniel: "Lesson not just karate only. Lesson for whole life. Whole life have a balance. Everything be better."- Mr. Miyagi We can take this quote to heart, as we all seem to aim for "balance" in our lives. As an educator before the coronavirus pandemic, before schools were closed, before your life turned upside down, you had a schedule. You spent your days planning, teaching, and grading (among everything else!). Your students also had a schedule, went to class, did after school activities, and completed homework. Having a routine, structure, and schedule helped provide balance to everyone's lives (even if it wasn't perfect)! But when things change or when they're challenging, we feel out of balance. How can we maintain balance in a time of uncertainty? Try these ideas: Identify

Building Resilience Through Strong Mind-Body Connections | Resilient EducatorIf there has ever been a time to evaluate your health, now would be it! Staying healthy and building a strong immune system is the first line of defense that we have against the COVID-19 virus and other health-related issues. Basic hygiene – washing our hands for 20 seconds, not touching our face, and keeping our physical distance from others who might be sick – are all things that we can practice each and every day to protect ourselves. And choosing healthy foods, drinking plenty of water, and getting daily exercise are all healthy habits to build regardless of a pandemic. Resilience in mental health We are being inundated with messages on how to stay healthy, stay safe, and protect ourselves and others – all great measures to physically protect and socially distance ourselves at this time. We believe, however, staying healthy goes beyond physical measures; and it is critical we also address our mental health. Mind-body connection There is a significant amount of research that

How to Embrace Change with Resilience | Resilient EducatorThere are a few things in life that are certain: paying taxes and change. You can't escape change (or taxes) no matter how hard you try. Change is inevitable, it happens with or without our consent. Change isn't always a bad thing! As educators, we see change every day with our students and with many things in our lives – and we encourage it. Learning itself requires change: change of how one perceives something, how one addresses a problem, and ultimately how one views his or her ability to do something. However, it is when change happens unexpectedly or feels as though it is out of our control that we resist or fear it. How should we think about change? Learning how to cope with change will only build one's resilience and can help lower your risk for anxiety and depression. By doing so, you open yourself up to having stronger relationships, a healthier self both mentally and physically, and also help yourself adapt quicker to changes down the road. How you approach change

How Teachers Can Stay Motivated During Tough Times | Resilient EducatorI often lament the conundrum that when I have nothing to do, it is super hard to get anything done… Raise your hand if you've reorganized your sock drawer, seen every COVID-19-related meme, or learned the latest and greatest TikTok dance recently? You, like most of us, probably are suffering from a lack of motivation over the past few weeks. Motivation is often impacted by the powerful emotion of fear, and there is quite a bit of fear these days. But as the saying goes, if there's a will, there's a way! Intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation As educators, we know the topic of motivation well. We balance our classroom management techniques on a fulcrum of intrinsic vs extrinsic motivators. Intrinsic motivation is found within. It is that sense of purpose and drive that helps us accomplish a goal for our own satisfaction. Intrinsic motivation can lead to more interest, more enjoyment, more persistence, and more success. Extrinsic motivation is powered by the offer of a reward or

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