Introduction
Introduction
Embedded Files
With extended school closures, our students' routines have been turned upside down. Many students rely on our school employees for stability and emotional support. With anxieties higher than ever surrounding the global health crisis, there are still many ways we can connect with and support our kiddos and colleagues at home.
Best Practices
Best Practices
Continue "Face to Face" Counseling
Counselors, teachers, and other support staff can use a number of technology resources to connect with students who need them. Consider synchronous conversations or even hosting "office hours" with video conferencing tools, so students have the flexibility to hop in at different times.
Celebrate the Small Moments
Students, like adults, are struggling with being isolated and away from their routine and friends. There are many ways that we can try our best to create a sense of community, and celebrate the small moments, such as birthdays, adoptions, and other achievements that we would normally celebrate with family and friends.
Maintain Day-to-Day Connections
Students - some more than others - really need some support to stay connected with their peers and to the school. Maintaining some sort of day-to-day connection can really help students feel connected to the "old normal".
Share Your Story
You can share your story in several ways and the practice children get from creating these story compilations will reinforce and improve their communication skills.
Resources
Resources
Feel free to use any of these resources to help your school/district in promoting the social-emotional needs of your students during a period of distance learning. Each template, document, or presentation you find below can be copied and used for your own purposes with original credit attributed:
Teacher Training
Teacher Training
Check out the free training we offer to prepare your staff for distance learning:
Google Meet How-To
Google Meet How-To
This video is from our Edge•U Badge program. Please ignore any mention of submitting evidence.
Zoom How-To
Zoom How-To
This video is from our Edge•U Badge program. Please ignore any mention of submitting evidence.
Using Google Forms to Connect with Students
Using Google Forms to Connect with Students
Low Tech Tips
Low Tech Tips
If students don't have access to devices, try setting up a phone number through Google Voice.
Set up a Remind group to communicate via text message with students and families - never exchange phone numbers.
Good old-fashioned snail mail can work sometimes.
Things to Consider
Things to Consider
Limit Non-Academic Video Calls
Limit Non-Academic Video Calls
Be careful not to have too many video calls that don't have an academic purpose. This puts a strain on parents of elementary students and high school students are generally well-equipped to use these tools to connect with their friends at any time (remember when we asked them to stop texting in class?!). This doesn't mean never have a social call, just be cognizant of how frequently you are doing this.
Don't Overdo It
Don't Overdo It
Be careful not to overdo COVID-19 prompts. Some students have a lot of anxiety around the health pandemic, and repeatedly drawing attention to it may really overwhelm some students.
Let Students Hide Their Face
Let Students Hide Their Face
Some students, like many adults, hate seeing their face and hearing their voice on video. If you are meeting with students on a video conference, give them the option to turn their camera off. If students are doing a Flipgrid, give them the option to hold something in front of the camera screen.
Bright Spots
Bright Spots
Teays Valley administrators regularly post fun videos to social media to connect with students.
Three Rivers Elementary Principal posts regular Read-Alouds on Social Media after Live Streaming to YouTube.
North Dakota Teacher of the Year uses Zoom to sing Happy Birthday to a student.
Mrs. Kestner, a 6th Grade Intervention Specialist at Taylor Middle School, uses Google Docs to have conversations with her students.
The New Richmond Exempted Village School District has been working with Student Council to create a video montage of seniors moving their tassels and throwing their caps since they can't physically be together for a major life milestone - graduation.
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