The Innovative School Counselor - Return to In-Person Learning

Preparing for In-Person Learning One Year After Our School Buildings Closed Due to Covid-19

On March 13, 2020, our school buildings were closed and our educational system transformed in the blink of an eye. We went from in-person learning to distant learning which created an immediate surge of restructuring of teaching and student engagement. Our students trading in their school desk for a computer and a space within their homes. These immediate changes brought forth various challenges for our students, families and teachers. Though, we overcame the majority of these challenges and persevered, it didn't not come without many growing pains for all. Throughout this process, we learned that together we could get through the distance between us and the challenges we faced. Our resiliency shined bright and helped guide us in a new way of teaching and learning.

Recently, we learned that our elementary students will be provided the opportunity to return to in-person learning in a hybrid model with the option to continue distant learning. The return of our students will occur in two phases. The first of which will take place on Monday, April 5, 2021 for TK through 2nd grade students. The second will take place on Monday, April 12, 2021 for 3rd through 5th grade students. Although, we have been in school for seven months, our students, families and teachers will experience the first day of in-person school in a manner which is incomparable to any other. Hence, the reason why we most take this time to prepare our students for the return to in-person learning like no other time before.

The return to in-person learning will require mask, temperature checks, health surveys, social distancing and safety protocols. All this in addition to the normal worries students have on the first day of school. Let us all promise to prepare our students for their first day of in-person learning which will create a positive experience for all.

Managing School Anxiety

You may be asking yourself, "What is school anxiety?"

School anxiety is consistent and extreme worry or fear when having to separate from a parent or a caregiver to attend school. They are several signs that you may notice in your child. These signs include:

Showing reluctance or refusal to attend school.
Frequently talking about fear of school.
Often complaining about stomachaches or headaches.
Excessive crying
Exhibiting clingy behavior to parent or caretaker.
Difficulty accepting change.

What can I do to help my child overcome school anxiety?

There are nine steps that you can take to help your child overcome school anxiety.

Goodbye Routine: Develop a quick goodbye routine and do it the same way every time that you say goodbye. Don't drag out the goodbye process...it will make leaving your child even more difficult.

Be Consistent: Keeping a consistent routine will help your child know what to expect. It's tempting to give up or give in when things are difficult. It's important to remember that what feels easier in the short run usually makes things more difficult in the long run.

Keep Things Light: Kids are good at picking up on emotions. It's important that you appear relaxed and upbeat even if you don't feel that way. It can tug at the heart strings when your child is anxious. Keep your conversations positive, but to the point and detached of emotion.

Talk to Your Child's Teachers: Your child's teacher is a great resource! Open communication help increase success. Your child's teacher may have tips or ideas to share in dealing with school anxiety.

Have Your Child Bring One Small Item From Home: Send a small reminder of home with your child. Items such as a handwritten note, a family picture, or a small keepsake that when looked at brings a happy thought.

Teach Problem Solving Skills: Learning to handle problems effectively is a valuable life skill. When problems arise, please don't rust to solve your child's problem. Encourage your child to come up with his/her own ideas of solutions to his/her problems.

Be Prepared for Setbacks: Your child may experience some regressions. Please don't get discouraged. Going back to school after a long period of time, a long weekend, holiday break or illness can cause anxiety to flare up again. Be prepared for this and remember consistency is the key.

Build Resiliency: The best gift that you can give your child is to not give up...even when you feel like it. There's no "quick fix" to overcoming school anxiety. The best lesson your child can learn is they are resilient, CAN do hard things and be successful.

Teach Calming Strategies: Teaching your child calming strategies is a great way for your child to take an active role in overcoming school anxiety.

Here are some examples of coping strategies:

Deep Breathing: Teach your child to inhale through his/her nose. Hold breathe for 5 seconds. Then, exhale through his/her mouth. Repeat deep breathing at least 5 times.

Focus on Positive Thoughts: Teach your child how to distract their worries by thinking about something that makes him/her feel happy.

Special Note: Write your child a special note that he/she may read during break time.

Counting: Teach your child to take a counting break. Encourage your child to count to 10 or 20 backwards.

5 Senses Grounding Technique: See below.

One Deep Breath at a Time...

Did you know that deep breathing is a great way to keep yourself calm?

Have you ever noticed how you breathe when you feel relaxed? The next time you are relaxed, take a moment to notice how your body feels. Or think about how you breathe when you first wake up in the morning or just before you fall asleep. Breathing exercises can help you relax, because they make your body feel like it does when you are already relaxed.

Deep breathing is one of the best ways to lower stress in the body. This is because when you breathe deeply, it sends a message to your brain to calm down and relax. The brain then sends this message to your body. Those things that happen when you are stressed, such as increased heart rate, fast breathing, and high blood pressure, all decrease as you breathe deeply to relax.

The way you breathe affects your whole body. Breathing exercises are a good way to relax, reduce tension, and relieve stress.

Breathing exercises are easy to learn. You can do them whenever you want, and you don't need any special tools or equipment to do them.

You can do different exercises to see which work best for you.

Below, you will find a simple breathing exercise that you could do with your child.

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