Decrease staff and student anxiety by providing consistent structure to all meetings and lessons (increasing predictability, decreases anxiety). For example:

1) Review norms / “Rules of Engagement”

2) Review intentions/objectives, agenda, and success criteria (if relevant)

3) In the chat box, ask each participant to type two words that describe how they are currently feeling. (Asking for two shows that when we are at our best, we have "space" to experience many emotions at once - including conflicting ones.)

4) Practice a quick regulation or community building routine (examples: mindful breathing exercise; share one gratitude, concern, or insight - to save time, this could also be done via the chat feature).

5) Housekeeping / information dissemination / logistics

6) Lesson / learning together activity

7) Closure (something inspirational that connects everyone to something big or meaningful - or funny). If there is enough time, this could be a circle activity during which everyone shares something lightly personal (based on a theme) - examples: What's the best thing you've eaten in the last 3 days? Name one intention you have after leaving the meeting. Name one accolade or one thing for which you are grateful.

For more information, see the "CASEL Playbook" below.