Remote Learning

Self-care for you and your child(ren) is very important! It may be easy to start to feel frustrated or even sad while being at home for so long. We are so used to the excitement of being in a building with almost 300 other people five days a week, seeing so many different people and communicating with so many different personalities. While being at home with our loved ones can be very comforting, it can also take a toll on us. Be sure to take some time for yourself and let your child(ren) have some quiet time for a brain break as well. Some things you can do include:

• Taking breaks throughout the day to do something you enjoy

  • • Reading, drawing, coloring, video games, building, kinetic sand, etc.

• Practice some deep breathing or meditation

  • • Even 2-5 minutes of peace and quiet can re-charge you and get you back on track

    • Try Pizza Breaths with your kids

      • Inhale to smell the pizza, exhale to cool the pizza down

      • 5-2-5 (inhale for 5 seconds, hold for 2 seconds, exhale for 5 seconds)

• Think about "How did I feel today?" or, "How did this make me feel?"

If you feel that you or your child(ren) are struggling with the stress of the current events taking place, here are some helpful hints to positively cope:

• Separate what is in your control from what is not

• Do what makes you feel safe

• Get out in nature, take in some fresh air

• Remain in the present, think about the here and now

• Stay connected with other and reach out for support whenever you need it

Developing social skills in school is certainly a key component to childhood development; students get to practice social skills in the classroom, during lunch and recess, even while they walk down the hallway and pass a teacher or other student. There are also many ways students can practice social skills at home! Some ways include:

• Practicing conversational skills at the dinner table

  • • Take turns talking (practice speaker power)

    • Use I-Messages to express how you feel in a non-confrontational way

      • • I Feel......When [you]......Because......

    • Ask questions about someone's day

    • Practice using BEST (Body Posture, Eye Contact, Say Nice Words, Tone of Voice)

• "Interview" a friend/sibling/parent

  • • This can be a fun way to host your own lunch bunch at home and practice social skills

• While reading books, watching TV/Movies, playing video games

  • • Notice character's personalities and feelings

    • How are characters using problem solving skills?

I will be available via email everyday (rramesar@mountainsideschools.org), please do not hesitate to reach out to me at any time. I would love to hear all about how my students are doing! I will also be checking in via email with parents and teachers to see how students are doing academically, socially, and emotionally.