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This is a 5 -week MOOC on how to learn online. Intended for secondary and post-secondary students, as well as teachers who support them, from Ontario, across Canada, and around the world.

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In response to recent requirements for learners and teachers in several regions of the world to move to online learning, Athabasca University is launching a special offering of Learning to Learn Online to introduce concepts and practices important to successful online learning. This course is suitable for both students and teachers.

Registration is free and open now. The course runs until 26 April, and it is possible to begin now and complete the course.

Click the Enroll button or here to register. If you have never taken a course in the Canvas platform before, select "I am a new user" on the registration screen to open an additional field for your name and to confirm your agreement to the Use Policy. If you run into difficulties registering, contact us at info@ltlo.ca

Learn how online education differs from traditional classrooms while you develop your own personal plan and strategies for online learning success.

In this free five-week course, you will explore the fundamentals of the learning process and various models of online courses to determine your learning preferences and which forms of online learning are best for you. Activities will address common misconceptions, frustrations and fears about online learning, and introduce techniques to help overcome such obstacles and gain confidence as a learner.

Throughout the course you will be guided through an interactive and reflective process by a team of online learning specialists, with the opportunity to join in live sessions with leading researchers in online education.

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In response to recent requirements for learners and teachers in several regions of the world to move to online learning, Athabasca University is launching a special offering of Learning to Learn Online to introduce concepts and practices important to successful online learning. This course is suitable for both students and teachers.

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This YouTube video provides strategies to help educators better manage their Zoom classrooms during virtual teaching through the on-going pandemic.

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Child Mind Institute - Strategies for Teachers Supporting Students’ Mental Health online

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Child Mind Institute - Strategies for Teachers Supporting Students’ Mental Health online

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Emotional and social challenges during Covid-19 learning have made crucial for teachers to attend to students mental health needs. Here are some tips for doing that, both remotely and in person.

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We know that being there for students is important, but it's not always obvious how to support them - especially when we're seeing them through a screen some or all of the time.

At the same time, the emotional and social challenges of the pandemic have made it even more crucial for teachers to attend to students' mental health needs. Here are some tips for doing that, both remotely and in person.

By building social emotional learning into the daily routines of your classroom, you'll provide students with a reliable way to deal with whatever feelings they're experiencing. Even small exercises can go a long way toward helping kids feel safe and validated.

For example, at the start of each day (after the physical temperature check, if you're teaching in person!) you might have your students take their "feelings temperature" by labeling their emotions using a feelings word chart. Then, they can rate the intensity of the emotion on a scale from one to ten and notice where in their body they're experiencing the feeling. Is their heart beating faster than usual? Do they feel tension in any part of their body? Do they have a stomachache? Students can track these "feeling check-ins" in a journal and share with the class if they comfortable doing so, for example during morning meeting. Practicing identifying their feelings and body responses will help kids learn how to cope with their feelings.

You can also normalize and validate feelings by taking bits of time throughout the day for direct social emotional education. For example, you can lead read-alouds about feelings or mindfulness, or facilitate journaling, role-playing, media discussions, or even just quick group check-ins about feelings. The idea is to let students know it's okay to feel exactly what they're feeling in the moment and give them tools for days when they might be experiencing uncomfortable feelings. Specific tools students can practice using might include a mindfulness corner, a hanging visual about belly breathing or a list of self-calming strategies taped to their desk.

Isolation can cause feelings of depression and anxiety. This has become especially apparent in recent months. While social distancing makes building interpersonal bonds harder, helping students form strong relationships at school has never been more important.

The social learning that occurs between peers at school can be just as important as academics. When you can, prioritize opportunities for your students to get to know each other and bond. With online learning, this might look like playing class games through video chat or assigning group work that students complete together. Group discussions are also a great way for students to practice interacting and build relationships.

Having a close relationship with the teacher can also be a strong protective factor against the development of mental health issues. It's important for students to feel they can go to their teacher if they're having a hard time. Discussing emotions in class can help with this, and you can also emphasize to students that you're available to talk one-on-one if anything gets tough. If you notice a student seeming down or having trouble engaging, consider checking in on them - even a simple "How's class been going for you?" can go a long way.

Put simply, mindfulness means paying attention to the moment on purpose and without judgment. There are many creative ways to incorporate mindfulness into your classrooms, including these simple exercises:

Two-minute meditation: Try starting the day (or taking scheduled breaks) with two minutes where you encourage your students to focus only on their deep, slow breathing.

Noticing details: Kids can practice mindfulness during activities like coloring, dancing, listening to music or even eating. Help them notice small details about their surroundings and what they're doing. What do they hear, smell, see, feel, taste?

Relaxation skill of the week: Teaching relaxation strategies when kids are calm gives them tools to use when their feelings do get intense. Build their toolkits by introducing a new relaxation skill every week and practicing it daily as a class. Some simple skills to focus on include paced belly breathing, progressive muscle relaxation and guided imagery. Remember, you are your students' model, so take time to verbalize moments when you are beginning to feel stressed or overwhelmed and narrate as you use one of the relaxation strategies to calm yourself.

Kids can usually tell when adults are hiding things from them. That can make an already anxiety-provoking situation feel even worse to kids, since they often assume that things are worse than they actually are. That's why it's important to help your students understand what's happening - without overwhelming them with information.

When students do come to you with questions and concerns, it's important to validate their feelings: "I get that the uncertainty about our school schedule is making you anxious." Then, provide answers to their questions as much as you can: "You're right that there's a chance we might have to switch back to remote learning, but right now we're still coming in person. I promise to let you and your family know as soon as we have any indication that might change."

For younger kids, visuals and stories can help you provide information in a way that they'll understand. For example, you might create a document with pictures highlighting the rules in your classroom around masks, hand-washing and social distancing so that students have a clear sense of what's expected.

Even with school underway, many kids have a lot of free time right now and they're still limited in the kinds of activities they can do. This often leads to kids spending a lot of unstructured time in front of screens, which can have harmful repercussions for their mental health.

Teachers can help with this by structuring as many active, hands-on activities into the day as possible. Even if you're engaging with students online, you can work as a class to come up with a list of fun non-screen activities (taking a walk, playing board games, drawing) and have students complete one activity from the list as part of their daily school assignments. You can also encourage kids to schedule their favorite activities into their daily routines and share with the class about what they've been up to.

Amid so much stress and uncertainty, you may not be able to promise your students that everything will be okay. But by actively supporting their mental health in the classroom, you'll help them feel safe, valued and cared for during a truly challenging time.

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Supporting Students' Mental Health During COVID - Child Mind Institute

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We know that being there for students is important, but it's not always obvious how to support them - especially when we're seeing them through a screen some or all of the time. At the same time, the emotional and social challenges of the pandemic have made it even more crucial for teachers to attend to students' mental health needs.

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Government of Ontario - Kindergarten to Grade 3 Resources for Parents or Teachers

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Government of Ontario - Kindergarten to Grade 3 Resources for Parents or Teachers

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Resources designed to help young students in kindergarten and Grades 1, 2 and 3 learn at home, independently or with the help of a parent or guardian.

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Resources

Made in Ontario
For kindergarten to Grade 2
Using stories to explore simple math concepts, engage children in math and make learning at home fun, this resource is designed to spark conversations about math and its connections to the world of a child. You may be prompted to download the free Math Storytime app. No accounts or passwords are required.

Made in Ontario
For kindergarten to Grade 6
Award-winning, advertising-free videos, games and content that supports the Ontario curriculum.

TVO Kids offers educational programing throughout the day for school-aged children. Check out their broadcast schedule to see what is on and when.

TVO Kids also has YouTube Channels dedicated to STEM, math, literacy, social studies, and health and arts programs.

Supports the Junior kindergarten to Grade 3 core science curriculum. Kids can learn from fun science experiments - and even try some of them at home.

Supports the Junior kindergarten to Grade 3 core curriculum. Kids can learn math in a way that is intriguing and fun!

Join in an imaginative world where learning language is paramount. View any of the specially chosen videos on this YouTube channel and witness the growth of language skills and the love of reading.

Supports the Junior kindergarten to Grade 5 core social studies curriculum. Kids can learn more about different cultures and explore the world around them while watching their favourite programs.

Supports the Junior kindergarten to Grade 5 core arts and health and physical education curricula. Dive into the world of maker projects. Learn how to stay healthy and grow strong by watching the exciting lives of health and fitness experts of all ages.

Made in Ontario
For kindergarten to Grade 6
Free, award-winning online games that support the mastery of math concepts and bolster understanding of STEM and the social sciences. Boost foundational math skills and inspire a love of math. Sign up can easily be done by a parent. With a free account, students can track their progress in the games. Check out a sample preview of mPower.
For kindergarten to Grade 2
Explore a collection of open-access math, reading, writing, and mental health and well-being resources. This resource is designed for use on computers, mobile devices and all modern browsers, except Internet Explorer.
For kindergarten to Grade 3
Students have free access to more than 400 original picture books, with audio narrations in more than 40 languages. French-language narration is available for most books.
For kindergarten to Grade 4
Find videos, games and activities on a wide variety of topics through this online learning platform.
For kindergarten to Grade 6
Find daily eco-activities for families that engage children in learning about the environment. While registration is not required to access the activities, an app is available for optional download. There is also an option to sign up for e-mails with daily activities. This resource is designed for use on computers, mobile devices and all modern browsers, except Internet Explorer.
For kindergarten to Grade 6
Allows students to explore music, dance and live instruments while making connections to science, math, art and more. Students can make and share their own songs using this free play-based tool.

Chrome Music Lab is designed for use on computers, mobile devices and all modern browsers, except for Internet Explorer.
For kindergarten to Grade 6
Go Noodle encourages kids to get up and move with fun and engaging videos. Activities include dance parties, yoga sessions, mindfulness activities and game sessions. Download the app to access this resource on a phone or mobile device.
For kindergarten to Grade 6
Find educational hands-on science experiences for children. Mad Science is designed for use on computers, mobile devices and all modern browsers, except for Internet Explorer.
For kindergarten to Grade 7
Find resources for parents and educators to help students with learning disabilities continue learning from home. This resource is designed for use on computers, mobile devices and all modern browsers, except Internet Explorer.
For kindergarten to Grade 7
Explore a collection of art activities, ideas and videos tutorials for families. Printable instruction pages are included in activities. Browse over 190 artworks and online activities grouped by age range. McMichael Artventure Online is free. This resource is designed for use on computers, mobile devices and all modern browsers, except Internet Explorer.
For kindergarten to Grade 8
Watch step-by-step dance videos that include hip-hop, creative movement and ballet! Find at-home activity plans for children. Dance at Home Kids fosters artistic engagement, builds self-confidence and develops movement skills through Dance. This resource is designed for use on computers, mobile devices and all modern browsers, except for Internet Explorer.
For kindergarten to Grade 8
Learn how kids ages 5 to 13 can stay active. Find helpful tips and advice for students and parents in an interactive format. This resource is designed for use on computers, mobile devices and all modern browsers, except Internet Explorer.
For kindergarten to Grade 8
Learn about mental health and well-being with videos designed for parents. This is an English resource with some resources captioned in French and a variety of languages, including six Indigenous languages. This resource is designed for use on computers, mobile devices and all modern browsers, except Internet Explorer.
For kindergarten to Grade 9
Learn about biodiversity, conservation, botany, ecology and the environment with these collections of Ontario-made activities, videos and online live events. Live events are available in English and French and require registration. This resource is designed for use on computers, mobile devices and all modern browsers, except Internet Explorer.
For kindergarten to Grade 8
Find a collection of activities, videos and online live events that help students to explore the zoo and understand the animal kingdom! This resource is designed for use on computers, mobile devices and all modern browsers, except for Internet Explorer.
For Grades 2 to 6
Find fun resources for students to explore space, including science experiments, quizzes, podcasts and activities.
For Grades 1 to 8
Students can explore a virtual museum with at-home activities in the form of puzzles, games, videos and storytelling. Aga Khan Museum is designed for use on computers, mobile devices and all modern browsers, except for Internet Explorer.
For Grades 1 to 9
Learn about airplanes, flying and aviation through activities, videos and resources. This resource is designed for use on computers, mobile devices and all modern browsers, except Internet Explorer.
For Grades 1 to 10
Develop number sense and algebraic reasoning through interactive puzzles and games.
For Grades 1 to 12
Explore fun and creative activities based on the ROM's collections, which cover topics such as visual arts, science, history and social science. ROM activities and resources are designed for use on computers and all modern browsers, except Internet Explorer. Some activities are not suited for mobile devices.
For Grades 3 to 10
Access math practice questions that are aligned with Ontario curriculum expectations. This is an English resource with some activities available in French. This resource is designed for use on computers, mobile devices and all modern browsers, except Internet Explorer.
For Grades 3 to 12
Discover history, art, science, nature and more, through virtual exhibits from Canada's museums and heritage organizations. Explore unique stories and experiences online through Canadian historic and cultural heritage sites. Virtual Museum Canada is designed for use on computers, mobile devices and all modern browsers, except for Internet Explorer.
For Grades 3 to 12
Watch video tutorials created by First Nations, Métis and Inuit artists and media makers who share their skills with students. Topics include digital skills and traditional knowledge. This resource is designed for use on computers, mobile devices and all modern browsers, except Internet Explorer.
For kindergarten to Grade 12
Find activities, tips and an interactive game that educate kids on making smart decisions while surfing the internet. Kids can learn the fundamentals of digital citizenship and safety so they can explore the online world with confidence. This resource is designed for use on computers, mobile devices and all modern browsers, except Internet Explorer.
For kindergarten to Grade 12
Find resources for parents to support children with developmental disabilities and autism. All content can be accessed on computers and all modern browsers, except Internet Explorer. Most content can be accessed on mobile devices.
For kindergarten to Grade 12
Find PDF resources and tips to support learning during the summer. PDFs can be completed online or printed. This resource is designed for use on computers, mobile devices and all modern browsers, except Internet Explorer.
For kindergarten to Grade 12
Find instructional videos and practice exercises on a wide variety of subjects that empower students to study at their own pace. Topics include math, science, art history, computer programming, history, economics and more.

All content can be accessed without a registered account. Khan Academy is designed for use on computers, mobile devices and all modern browsers, except for Internet Explorer.
For kindergarten to Grade 12
Parents can discover meaningful learning tasks for their children who have special needs. Activities are designed for children and youth on the autism spectrum or those with a developmental disability. Learning 4 Success is designed for use on computers, mobile devices and all modern browsers, except for Internet Explorer.
For kindergarten to Grade 12
Find a collection of activities with a special emphasis on outdoor activities that help students develop their love of nature. Activities are posted for different grade ranges each week. This resource is designed for use on computers, mobile devices and all modern browsers, except for Internet Explorer.
For kindergarten to Grade 12
Program interactive stories, games, and animations and share your creations with others in the online community. Scratch helps young people code, learn to think creatively, reason systematically and work collaboratively - essential skills for life in the 21 st century.

All content can be accessed without a registered account by selecting Start Creating or one of the featured projects or studios. Scratch is designed for use on computers, tablets and all modern browsers, except for Internet Explorer.
For kindergarten to Grade 12
Access one-hour tutorials featuring interactive games and resources for building skills in computer science and coding, while nurturing problem-solving skills, logic and creativity along the way. This resource includes a range of activities that can be completed online or offline.
For kindergarten to Grade 12
Watch a wide range of educational films that tie in with Canadian curricula. These films address important issues, including diversity and inclusion, Indigenous voices and reconciliation, and environment and sustainability. All videos include closed captioning. This resource is designed for use on computers, mobile devices and all modern browsers, except for Internet Explorer.

Note that some mature subject matter is addressed.
For kindergarten to Grade 12
Stream an incredible collection of audiobook stories that will help students to continue dreaming, learning and just being kids. Find titles in six different languages. Audible Stories is designed for use on computers, mobile devices and all modern browsers, except for Internet Explorer.
For kindergarten to Grade 12
Explore a collection of online learning resources from the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, the Aviation and Space Museum and the Science and Technology Museum. Online resources can be filtered by grade level, subject area, museum and type of resource. Ingenium Canada is designed for use on computers, mobile devices and all modern browsers, except for Internet Explorer.
For kindergarten to Grade 12
Explore a collection of streamed Toronto Symphony Orchestra ( TSO) performances, listening guides, study guides and other interactive educational resources. This resource is designed for use on computers, mobile devices and all modern browsers, except Internet Explorer.

French

Additional resources are available in French through TFO.

About the learning resources

These resources are designed to help students learn at home, independently or with the help of a parent or guardian.

Several of these resources were developed by the Government of Ontario or one of its agencies. These resources are either marked "Made in Ontario" or identified with bolded text located at the top of the page. There are additional resources that are not created, owned or operated by the Government of Ontario. The Government of Ontario is not responsible for the information and content from external sources. Most, but not all, are available in both English and French.

By clicking on these links, users take full responsibility for understanding and agreeing to any terms or conditions of use required by these non-government platforms. The Government of Ontario is not responsible for the content, user experience or privacy policies on external platforms.

If you have any concerns, please let us know by submitting feedback using the contact us button at the bottom of this page.

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Made in Ontario For kindergarten to Grade 2 Using stories to explore simple math concepts, engage children in math and make learning at home fun, this resource is designed to spark conversations about math and its connections to the world of a child. You may be prompted to download the free Math Storytime app.

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Mental health first aid course with specialized courses for youth.  The impacts on mental health from the pandemic has yet to be determined.

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Mental Health First Aid - Mental Health Commission of Canada

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Mental Health First Aid​ Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is the help provided to a person developing a mental health problem, experiencing a mental health crisis, or a worsening of...

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15 Virtual Teaching Supplies to Make Your Life Easier. 

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15 Virtual Teaching Supplies to Make Your Life Easier. 

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This is a list of must-have supplies to teach through the pandemic.

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It's no surprise that authors are incredibly good at bringing their own books to life. Whether through live or pre-recorded visits, read-aloud videos, or other virtual author activities, kids will connect with books like never before! Here are some of our favorite options to try.

Pre-Recorded Virtual Author Visits

Check out these videos of presentations authors have given at schools and libraries. There are authors here that will interest students at any age.

Arree Chung

Hear Chung talk about the process of creating his book Mixed: A Colorful Story. The allegory of one color who thinks it's better than the others is meaningful at any age.

Bao Phi

Bao Phi's lovely book A Different Pond showcases the relationship between a father and his son. As they fish for the food their family needs, the father tells his son about a pond from his own childhood in faraway Vietnam.

Jasmine Warga

Author of the Newbery Honor book Other Words for Home, Jasmine Warga gives an engaging talk about how she writes.

Jennifer L. Holm

From her Babymouse graphic novels to the Sunny series and beyond, Holm writes books that middle grade readers absolutely love.

J.H. Reynolds

Do your students love the thrills and chills of the MonsterStreet series? Then they'll love seeing its author answer kids' questions about reading and writing!

J.K. Rowling

Every kid will recognize the author of the beloved Harry Potter books! See her interview with the Harry Potter Reading Club in this video.

Kate Messner

Kate Messner writes fiction, nonfiction, novels, chapter books, and picture books, so there's a good chance most kids have read at least one of her books.

Katherine Applegate

Lots of kids read The One and Only Ivan in class, and Applegate has plenty of other popular and award-winning books as well. Hear her talk about her books (and even show off her adorable dog!).

Lois Lowry

Here's another name kids will recognize. Whether they love The Giver, the Gooney Bird series, or any of her other numerous works, they'll enjoy listening to her speak and answer audience questions.

Max Brallier

The Last Kids on Earth book series is now a Netflix series too! Listen to author Max Brallier talk about his writing process and give kids a writing challenge of their own.

Live Virtual Author Visits

Want to set up a virtual author visit live for your class or school? If you have a particular author in mind, visit their website (or their publisher's) to contact them and find out if they do virtual visits. Scholastic offers virtual author visits through their catalog, so that's a great place to start.

The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators has a terrific roundup of virtual author visits and writing workshops too. Here are some to consider.

Gutman has written all sorts of books for kids, and he's happy to do virtual school visits. Find his offerings and prices at his website.

Nonfiction children's author Kurtz loves to present his books to kids of all ages. His virtual offerings include readings, interviews, and concept-based workshops.

Long does both in-person and virtual author visits based on her popular books, like How I Became a Pirate. Visit her website to see her offerings and book a visit.

Biebow's colorful book about the inventor of Crayola crayons is a delight. She offers free virtual visits, plus interactive in-person workshops.

Known for Dahlia in Bloom, Koehler offers both virtual author visits and writing workshops. She does professional development workshops for teachers too.

Virtual Author Read-Alouds

When you hear authors read their own books, it gives you a whole new perspective on their works. That makes read-alouds some of our favorite virtual author activities.

Hale's YouTube channel includes a playlist called Storytime With Uncle Bruce. Hear him read about Clark the Shark and other hilarious characters.

Gutman has a whole collection of read-alouds on his Facebook page, like Miss Blake Is a Flake. Kids will love his wacky style!

Visit her YouTube channel to see the author read her book Where Are My Books? She's got a few other read-alouds too, along with drawing tips.

Fabien Cousteau is the grandson of famed sea explorer Jacques Cousteau. His book series explores his own experiences under the water, and you can watch his read-aloud on Facebook.

You'll feel inspired when you hear Byers read her heartfelt book I Am Enough.

Lin reads aloud from her picture books as well as chapters from her longer books on her YouTube channel.

Watch Knowles read the first chapter of her middle-grade novel Where the Heart Is, while giving students a fun writing exercise.

Hear Cook read a variety of books from her collection, like Wilma Jean the Worry Machine. Her YouTube channel also includes interviews, advice, and other fun virtual author activities.

Watch Messner read Fergus and Zeke and the 100th Day of School in this YouTube video.

This read-aloud of Fry Bread includes some of the author's thoughts on writing the book and the recipe he included at the end.

Listen to Henderson read the first chapter of her book The Magic in Changing Your Stars on YouTube.

The author regularly shares read-alouds of his books, like I Love You Like a Pig, on his Instagram page.

The author has added a collection of videos of herself reading from her picture books on Instagram. Titles include When We Are Kind and You Hold Me Up.

Hear readings from Shusterman's books on his YouTube channel, including excerpts and complete short stories.

The author created a Stay at Home: Story Time section on his website. Initially made during the 2020 COVID lockdown, these videos are still lots of fun to watch.

Visit Reynolds' Facebook page to see him read from some of his most popular books, like The Dot.

The award-winning author and illustrator reads from her book The Story of Ruth Bader Ginsburg in this YouTube video.

The author reads his picture books on his YouTube channel, where he also has lots of drawing videos for inspiration.

Other Virtual Author Activities

So many wonderful authors and publishers have YouTube or Instagram channels! Join them as they teach you how to draw, offer writing tips, and lots more.

Kids will do more than just watch these videos. They'll write, draw, and create on their own, inspired by famous authors and illustrators.

Watch story time, Cressida Cowell's summer camp, author interviews, how-to-draw videos, and a whole lot more.

The prolific author has a robust website full of videos, activities, podcasts, and more virtual author activities to engage kids of a variety of ages.

The Lunch Lady author and illustrator has a series of videos showing kids how to draw some of their favorite characters. His YouTube channel also has cartooning tips, writing tips, pep talks, and shorts.

This YouTube channel is rich with content, including interviews, tour journals, how-to-draw tips, and so much more.

The Kennedy Center sponsored this series of videos with the beloved author of classics like Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!

Author and illustrator of hits like Smile and Drama shares drawings, time-lapse videos, and more on her Instagram page.

Aspiring illustrators will enjoy this series, where any kid can learn to draw creatures of every kind.

These half-hour chats with well-known middle grade authors are the perfect length to share with your classes.

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The Big List of Virtual Author Activities

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Check out live and pre-recorded author visits, read-alouds, and other virtual author activities like drawing sessions to share with students.

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This is an online course for educators. The pandemic has meant that everyone is living through a traumatic experience, but may not otherwise have access to other programs or supports throughout the pandemic. More educators having access to this materials would allow educators to break down barriers that exist in education.

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Trauma can come in many forms, and whether caused by a single event or by a repeated exposure, that experience and perspective shape the way a person feels, thinks, and behaves. Trauma can happen to anyone-as educators, you may encounter both students and colleagues that have been impacted.

Our educator-specific trauma-informed care guide provides:

A deeper awareness of key trauma-related concepts.

A greater understanding of trauma's effects on behavior.

Tips for understanding and preventing vicarious trauma.

A De-Escalation Preferences Form to use with students and colleagues.

Resources to explore trauma-informed care further.

Complete this form to download our Trauma-Informed Care for Educators Resources Guide today.

Our Nonviolent Crisis Intervention®, 2nd Edition: Trauma Training program will help educators:

Understand how trauma affects behavior in students and colleagues.

Learn how to respond appropriately to trauma-induced behaviors.

Create a cultural shift in both teacher-student and teacher-teacher interactions.

Strengthen student outcomes through a healthier learning environment.

Click below to learn more about Nonviolent Crisis Intervention®, 2 nd Edition: Trauma Training.

We handle your contact details in line with our privacy policy. If you prefer not to receive marketing emails from CPI, you can opt-out of all marketing emails on that page.

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Trauma can come in many forms, and whether caused by a single event or by a repeated exposure, that experience and perspective shape the way a person feels, thinks, and behaves. Trauma can happen to anyone-as educators, you may encounter both students and colleagues that have been impacted.

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Teachers Pay Teachers - Resources & Lesson Plans

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Teachers Pay Teachers - Resources & Lesson Plans

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TpT is the go-to platform created by teachers, for teachers to access the community, content, and tools or grade PreK-12 they need to teach at their best.  TpT provides a marketplace to exchange instructional materials and access easy-to-use digital tools.

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World's most popular online marketplace for original educational resources with more than four million resources available for use today.

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Best Digital Tools for Virtual and Distance Learning. 

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Best Digital Tools for Virtual and Distance Learning. 

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This is a list of the best digital tools to teach online.

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1-800-273-TALK (8255)

1-877-565-8860

Mike Rabe: https://lakealmanorfamilycounseling.com

1. Talking with friends

2. Spending time with pets

3. Listening or playing music

4. Exercising

5. Writing in a journal

6. Coloring or crafting

7. Getting adequate sleep

8. Having family game night

9. Noticing when you need a break...and taking it!

10. Focus on your breathing

Stress relief activities your family can try together:

Here are some stress-relief activities that families can try together:

Get moving

Have a laugh

There is a lot of truth to the adage that "laughter is the best medicine." Laughter releases endorphins, stimulates your organs, and releases tension in the body. As a family, watch funny movies or a silly cartoon, tell jokes, share hilarious stories, and make each other laugh and release tension.

Take a time out

Break bread together

Practice counting techniques

See a little green

Researchers have found a direct correlation between people's stress levels and the amount of green space in their surrounding areas. It turns out when there is less green space, a person is more likely to experience stress. We can use this knowledge to fit in a little extra family time and head to the backyard, local park, or recreation area for a picnic, hike, or just an afternoon of exploring and appreciating the natural world around us.

Find social support

Stress-relief can come in many forms, but when we are expressing moments of great stress venting or leaning on someone can be a great help. Encourage family members to call a friend or reach out by sending a text or email. Sharing concerns and feelings with another person can help relieve stress. Just make sure the person you share your concerns with is someone you can trust and will understand your concerns. This might be a family member, close friend, or healthcare professional.

Craft up some fun!

Tap into your inner artist and paint, color, or sculpt away stress. Not sure where to start? Purchase an adult coloring book, buy finger paints, or register for a canvas painting class. Is someone in your family an artist? Have them teach the family their craft. Take a few minutes to relax your mind and create something in the process. ( http://familyaware.org/stress-relief-activities/ )

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COVID 19 Resources by Student Services Coordinator Ms. Angie

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1-800-273-TALK (8255) 1-877-565-8860 Mike Rabe: https://lakealmanorfamilycounseling.com Talking with friends Spending time with pets Listening or playing music Exercising Writing in a journal Coloring or crafting Getting adequate sleep Having family game night Noticing when you need a break...and taking it!

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These tools have excellent Forms and Scheduling tools, which can be especially helpful when trying to coordinate one-on-one appointments or assessments during the pandemic. They are also useful for the collection of information from a large group, such as a class or training cohort.

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5 Research-Backed Tips to Improve Your Online Teaching Presence

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5 Research-Backed Tips to Improve Your Online Teaching Presence

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As the physical distance increases between you and your students, so can the psychological and emotional space. Here are some tips that can help.

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Collection of podcasts that cover ed tech tips from virtual field trips to design thinking in education.

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‎Easy EdTech Podcast with Monica Burns on Apple Podcasts

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Canadian Mental Health Association Mental Health Resources in Schools

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Canadian Mental Health Association Mental Health Resources in Schools

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Mental health intervention can prevent further negative effects on students' mental well-being. Teachers can provide opportunities to students to recognize their mental state, develop coping skills, and seek help in a stressful situation.

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8 Highly Effective Activities to Improve Concentration for Kids4

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8 Highly Effective Activities to Improve Concentration for Kids4

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This YouTube video provides some activities to help improve children’s concentration.

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8 Highly Effective Activities to Improve 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 for Kids | How to Improve Focus and Attention

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Online Learning: Resources and Activities for Teachers

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Online Learning: Resources and Activities for Teachers

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This video provides educators with resources and activities to assist with a smooth online teaching experience during unforeseen circumstances like Covid-19 outbreaks or extreme weather conditions.

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Online Learning: Resources and Activities for Teachers

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Various educational hashtags like #bcedchat and #onted are very useful for networking with other teachers. Twitter can also be used to network with other professionals, potentially to have them become either external resources or to reduce isolation in general as a result of the pandemic.

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Virtual field trips can be shared in online classrooms. Trips include an aquarium, art museum and CN Tower.

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Did you know many Ontario Attractions have created Virtual Tours and Online Collections for you to enjoy in the comfort of your own home? And they're free! Have a look at the links below and find a great way to enjoy doing something together from the house.

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Virtual Tours And Online Collections for you to enjoy in the comfort of your own home!

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Did you know many Ontario Attractions have created Virtual Tours and Online Collections for you to enjoy in the comfort of your own home? And they're free! Have a look at the links below and find a great way to enjoy doing something together from the house.

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Teens Push for Better Mental Health Services in Schools

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Teens Push for Better Mental Health Services in Schools

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Teens proactively promote mental health services in school. They recognized their peers were going through a lot of mental stress, and they decided to take action to push the school to provide services.

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Teens push for better mental health services in schools

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Online Learning Resources and Activities for Teachers

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Online Learning Resources and Activities for Teachers

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This video provides educators with resources and activities to assist with a smooth online teaching experience during unforeseen circumstances like Covid-19 outbreaks or extreme weather conditions.

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Online Learning: Resources and Activities for Teachers

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COVID-19 Social Stigma and Mental Health Impacts

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COVID-19 Social Stigma and Mental Health Impacts

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This tip sheet offers support on how to talk about COVID-19.

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Wellness resources to support those in need of mental health support from the Mental Health Commission of Canada.

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Resources - Mental Health Commission of Canada

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Resources SEARCH Show Filter Filter By Categories Blog posts Case Studies Documents Fact sheets Guidelines Infographics Policy Brief Posters Reports Research Tip Sheets Toolkits Videos Webinars More Apply filters Program...

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The YouTube channel created by an educator is all about education, motivation, and transformation. Videos are aimed to motivate, teach and live life happily and perceive things positively.

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LEARNING IS INCESSANT, IT’S ETERNAL... YEARN2LEARN. This channel is all about education, motivation and transformation. My videos are aimed to motivate you to live life happily and perceive things positively. if you have any queries or any specific need for English lessons/ topics you may mention in…

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Building Resilience as an Online Teacher

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Building Resilience as an Online Teacher

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Blog about building resilience as an online teacher.  Tips include establishing boundaries and finding a community of practice.

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Building resilience as an online teacher is just as important as building resilience as a brick and mortar one. Persevering and bouncing back from stressful situations can make our experiences great instead of miserable. There are so many things we cannot control, but we can control how we react to stressful situations. We can even be proactive and work on avoiding difficult situations.

Get Plenty of Sleep:

This is important for any job. One can never underestimate the importance of sleep. There is no downtime in online teaching: you cannot assign ten minute long silent individual work as one could assign in a brick and mortar classroom. If you have about thirty minutes to teach a class, you must get the students speaking as much as possible. You need to be "on" at all times. It is possible that your schedule will be at odd hours: assuming you live in the west and tutor students in the east, your classes can start very, very early in the morning. Getting enough sleep is essential to performing well.

Establish Boundaries:

Choose a schedule you know you can commit to. The temptation to open as many time slots to teach as possible is great, especially in the beginning. However, it is a good idea to start off slowly and add time slots as you acclimate to your schedule. Even though you may feel energized while tutoring, you can also feel drained afterward. Overcommitting to more than you can handle can cause premature burnout.

Pamper Yourself Between Classes:

If you only have five minutes between each class, then that is five minutes to sip coffee, walk around a little, or close your eyes and meditate for a moment. Those small actions can relieve tension and give your mind time to reset before the next class.

Foster Academic Stamina:

ALO7 tutor, Lauren Tracey, reminds us to remember the duration of academic stamina among the youngest of students. A five year old would struggle to be able to hold concentration for the same amount of time as a teenager or adult would. To reduce frustration, on the part of both tutor and student, try not to spend too much time on any given activity. Adding new activities and keeping students moving mentally and physically builds resilience.

Change Things Up:

Try to make the courseware engaging for both the tutor and the students. If you come up with warm-up and closing activities that incite interest and engage the students, you will most likely be more engaged yourself. Something as simple as putting a new picture in your virtual background can spark a discussion and encourage "oohs" and "aahs" from even the youngest learner. Kids pay attention to details, and visual input is more meaningful to a language learner. Use photos, sing songs and think of thought-provoking questions for your students. What if you have to teach the same lesson three times in a row? Offer a variety of activities and change them for each class. The more you tailor the lesson to match your student's interests, the more excited your students will be to learn.

Keep Your Cool with Challenging Students:

We have all had the occasional student that would rather play with his toys or dance in circles instead of paying attention to the lesson and follow instructions. Some students turn their screen on and off, mute their mics and generally disrupt the class. The only thing we can control is how we react to the situation. We can choose to get frustrated and give up, or we can see it as a challenge and try to reach the student and connect with him.

If the student is playing with his favorite stuffed animal, rather than discipline him, ask him about it. Form the questions in a way that makes the student reply using the sentence structure that is being presented in the lesson. For example, ALO7 tutor Dalissa McEwen had one student who initially presented as disruptive because he liked to play with his Ironman doll during class. She was able to turn the class around by asking his Ironman doll questions directly. Lo and behold, Ironman started attending class each week, and the student was happy to follow the lesson as long as Dalissa included Ironman in some way. More than anything else, being flexible and cultivating the skill of adapting lessons on the fly goes a long way in building resiliency and improving as an online tutor.

But, wait, what about issues like a student refusing to speak or turning off their video feed? Before interpreting this behavior as a discipline issue, tease out if the student is doing those things for another reason. Is he less fluent? Is he shy? Is the material too easy for him? If you find the answers to these questions reveal that the student is genuinely acting disobedient, follow this step-by-step guide to get class back on track:

1. Try to get the student's attention by calmly saying his name, stating your expectations, and then modeling the rules with the other students if necessary.
2. If step one fails to work, contact support and explain the situation as quickly as possible. Of course, you want to keep your comments confidential, so make sure you aren't sharing your screen or speaking to them so they can hear.
3. Carry on with the class as best you can. Maintaining professionalism and your composure will be the best way to handle difficult situations. Model the proper behavior at all times and treat the students as you want to be treated...no matter how they try your patience.

Anticipate Unforeseen Issues:

The most stressful situations that afflict us are often ones that are unforeseen and out of our control. It can be discouraging and so frustrating when we are up and ready to give a class, looking forward to seeing our students, and then POOF!...the electricity goes out! It is a horrible feeling when you have done everything to prepare for an exciting class, and are unable to follow through. Don't despair. Electrical and internet outages, computer technical problems, sudden illnesses, and personal crises are a part of life. When these troubles arise, simply go through the protocol established by the company for which you tutor. Notify support as soon as possible, and have your cell phone handy in case you need to use your data to communicate with them. The more information you can give support, the better. Screenshots that are time stamped are good to have on hand should support require it.

Accept Change:

Change is inevitable and the more you can roll with the punches, the more resiliency you will develop. When the company changes a policy or procedure, it may feel inconvenient at first. However, try to trust that these changes are in the best interest for everyone. Online work IS change...constant change. If you accept that it comes with the territory, you can embrace it.

Find Your Tribe:

It can get lonely working online from home, so consider joining one of the many online ESL tutor groups that can be found across the internet. Reaching out to fellow tutors can be one of the best ways to feel supported and to pass that support on. For example, ALO7 tutors benefit from two different private online groups used to build community and foster friendship; Pili's Playhouse and Nani's Newbies.

Building resilience is what ultimately builds success. It takes patience and practice. You CAN get up early, teach challenging students, roll with changes, handle technical problems and still love your job.

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Building Resilience as an Online Teacher

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Building resilience as an online teacher is just as important as building resilience as a brick and mortar one. Persevering and bouncing back from stressful situations can make our experiences great instead of miserable. There are so many things we cannot control, but we can control how we react to stressful situations.

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This online resource provides educators with tips on how to speak to children about Covid-19. Strategies for educators to cope with their own stress and anxiety, suggestions on dealing with challenging worries and anxious thoughts, and steps to take when feeling overwhelmed.

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Top 5 Incredible Tips for Teachers Working from Home

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Top 5 Incredible Tips for Teachers Working from Home

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It suggests five tips for the teachers to create a home office, such as making the proper workstation, getting comfortable, choosing the best teaching tools, setting clear expectations, creating time to address questions and concerns. It gives teachers ideas and tips for working at home effectively.

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The Coronavirus pandemic has interfered with the normal operations in the education sector. Teachers and learners are no longer able to meet physically in traditional classrooms. For that reason, many schools and colleges are turning to the Internet to continue covering their syllabuses. The main problem in this case is that many of the teachers lack the experience of teaching online courses. Some of them are also not tech-savvy. We have compiled the top tips for teachers working from home to help since learning has to continue despite the shortcomings.

We want to help teachers to focus on what matters most in the short term and remain flexible. This is a practical way to make the inevitable adjustments. Since students prefer informal and personal classes, teachers working from home can conduct the classes almost anywhere. Here are the top tips that teachers need to succeed.

1. Create the right work station

Working from home for teachers should not be complicated since they can make almost any place their workstation. However, for the most results, they need to choose the most suitable workstation. It may not be the best decision for you, as a teacher, to work from a place like your bedroom.

Suppose you do not have the right place for learning, set up a temporary work station. You can use a desk that is designed with your teaching needs in mind.

You may have discovered that teachers working at home stand for long periods. This is, however, not ideal for their health. They need to alternate between sitting and standing. To achieve this, you can make an adjustable standing desk a permanent feature in your workstation. What's more, find the right office chair.

2. Get comfortable

Customize the space where you are going to teach your students. Take your time to find a standard office chair. Since you already have a standing desk, you will have no problem when you stand. However, you need to be able to customize it to give you the comfort that you deserve when you sit on your office chair.

Some teachers work from home online and opt for kitchen tables. You can try to use this, but remember, these tables are often approximately 3 cm higher than professional office desks. At the same time, typical kitchen chairs are 3 cm lower than the standard office chair.

If you ignore these disparities, your posture will begin to suffer after a while.

To be able to get the ideal sitting height, you should sit and then relax your shoulders. After that, use your elbow to form a right angle. If your elbow and forearm are comfortably in line with the table, you are safe.

Consider the top of your screen too and make it at the height of your eye. You also need to use a laptop stand to raise the screen to the required height.

3. Choose the best teaching tools

Teachers work from home online with ease when choosing the right technology that best serves their students. You need a high-quality microphone and webcam. Before you buy one, check if they are in-built in your laptop. But you may also need a computer headset if you are interested in using a tool that can cancel out any background noise.

Moreover, you need a stable Internet connection. This service will help you to conduct quality video-conferencing. You can use tools like Zoom, Skype, and Google Hangouts to reach out to the learners.

4. Set clear expectations

Once teachers working from home have fully set their virtual classrooms, they need to set clear expectations. Ensure your students and colleagues understand the purpose of the classes. This way, they can make your work easy during learning hours.

Remote learning may make end weeks and workdays to begin to blend. Students need to know the difference. Develop a routine and let the learners appreciate that they need to fit in it.

5. Create time to address questions and concerns

Working from home for teachers is also tricky since the abrupt transition requires the ability to answer tough questions. Many students and their families have a lot of concerns. They want to learn about their chances of sitting for exams online and passing, when the pandemic will end, and many others.

While teachers working at home should set reasonable boundaries in terms of availability, the success of remote leaning depends on how we make everyone feel included in the learning process. To overcome the potential challenges, set some reasonable time to address these issues.

Perks for teachers working from home

While many teachers working from home may consider this new transition a struggle, it can have benefits for both pupils and learners. There are no bosses, colleagues, pupils, and other people in your physical location to distract you. So, teachers and students who have no distractions can concentrate on their work and achieve significant milestones within a short time.

The bottom line is that teachers working from home can make the most out of this new challenge if they are prepared for the transition and use the top tips.
Read more... How Remote Workers can Achieve Work-Life Balance 10 Valuable Tips for Parents Balancing Parenting and Working from Home Ergonomic Guide for Sitting while Working from Home Top 10 Ergonomic Accessories for Home Office with the Standing Desk 10 Best Ergonomic Chair Designs for Work and Home

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Top 5 Incredible Tips for Teachers Working from Home

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The Coronavirus pandemic has interfered with the normal operations in the education sector. Teachers and learners are no longer able to meet physically in traditional classrooms. For that reason, many schools and colleges are turning to the Internet to continue covering their syllabuses.

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How Teachers Can Navigate Difficult Emotions During School Closures

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How Teachers Can Navigate Difficult Emotions During School Closures

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This is an article on how teachers can navigate difficult emotions during school closures. It provides teachers with some tools to help manage difficult emotions and stay calm amid the coronavirus crises.

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The COVID-19 crisis is forcing educational professionals across the globe to take a collective breath. What's next? Whether we're actively planning online lessons from our homes or bingeing more Netflix movies than we had ever anticipated, we're faced with so many unknowns-and more time to sit with our emotions.

We may feel overwhelmed, fearful, and emotionally fragile. Perhaps also restless, bored, and helpless. With so much uncertainty, how can we navigate this range of emotions? After all, researchers remind us that our stress-management skills ultimately help our students (and those around us) stay calmer.

Here are a few simple and easy-to-implement practices that you can draw on to manage difficult emotions.

Soothe yourself

Begin by acknowledging the emotions you are experiencing right now and genuinely offer yourself some understanding. Researchers Kristin Neff and Chris Germer invite us to take a moment for what they call a " self-compassion break "-a gentle, reassuring practice that you can try any time in your day when you feel particularly overwhelmed, discouraged, or frustrated. For what it's worth, I practice it all the time-and my teenage daughter finds it reassuring and calming, as well.

First, tell yourself, "This thing I'm dealing with is tough." (Or "This is a moment of suffering," or whatever words feel natural to you.) The idea is to "hold with" the moment of emotional pain, be with it, and accept that it is happening.

Second, acknowledge that you are not alone in your suffering. "So many teachers (and other human beings on this globe) face this same sense of overwhelm I'm experiencing right now." The idea here is to recognize your "common humanity," so that you feel less isolated in your pain-and ultimately more connected to others.

Third, offer yourself some kind or compassionate words-and even a soothing gesture or touch (like placing a hand on your heart). As humans, we are wired to respond positively to calming voices and gentle touch. Again, use your own style here. You might say, "May I be kind to myself today" or "May I be especially gentle with myself today."

If you're interested in deepening your practice of self-compassion, you might also try writing a self-compassionate letter, listening to this mindful self-compassion practice, or even taking a self-compassion course specifically designed for educators.

Affirm your values and strengths

What if restlessness and cynicism seem to prevail, and you don't feel effective in your work-or lack thereof? It's crucial to keep coming back to "what matters" most to you, again and again. And, more importantly, to seek opportunities to enact your values in small ways each day.

One way to give yourself a little boost is to reaffirm your values. Where do you want to place your attention and energy-right now? On beauty, humor, spontaneity, curiosity, creativity, connection? What feeds you? You can draw on this Affirming Your Important Values exercise to reorient in the moment. According to one study, affirming your values when you're feeling helpless can help protect your mood.

Having a guiding light is helpful, but so is making a concrete plan. Try this Use Your Strengths exercise where you choose a personal strength-such as courage, teamwork, or humor-consider one simple way you might use it each day for a week, and then act on your idea whenever the opportunity arises.

For example, you might see "perseverance" as a personal strength and value. How might you model that strength through your contact with students, colleagues, and family members? Perhaps you could share quotes and notes of encouragement that highlight this value, host a daily ritual that children and families can rely on-like an online read-aloud-or feature stories of perseverance in your online history course. Research suggests that identifying and using your strengths daily for only one week may actually increase your happiness and help stave off symptoms of depression.

Send good wishes to others

Of course, there may be times during this crisis when it becomes more challenging to tap your strengths and values. At one point in my teaching career, I woke up every day with a visceral sense of dread. Despite my commitment to my students, preparing to face them required intense mental effort each morning.

Here's one simple way I found a sense of comfort and hope. I pulled into the parking lot, looked over at the building, and mentally sent good wishes to myself, my students, and my colleagues: "May I/you be safe; may I/you be happy; may I/you be healthy; may I/you live with ease." Simply infusing this way of thinking into my daily interactions bolstered me as I confronted the more difficult aspects of my job and life circumstances. Your "parking lot" may now be your living room, and your laptop screen may be your "building," but the sentiment remains the same.

This brief practice (called "loving-kindness") is one of the most effective ways for increasing our empathy and compassion for others. Studies indicate that people who practice loving-kindness for just a few weeks can experience more self-compassion and positive emotions, and relief from depression, anxiety, and chronic pain.

If you would like to try more formal versions of this practice, here is a loving-kindness practice and a practice called Imagining Flourishing and Kindness.

Consider mindfulness as a way of being

Mindfulness, broadly speaking, is another form of kindness. It's taking time-right now-to simply be with your thoughts and feelings. No judgment necessary. I can be aware of my mental chatter and intense emotions, and I can also practice openness and curiosity as I observe my ever-changing internal world.

When I started teaching over 25 years ago (pre-mindfulness practice!), I would sometimes steal away from the stress at lunchtime, close my door for five minutes, turn off the lights, and lie on my back-calming my overstimulated mind and body. I was caught up in the needs, lives, and stories of my 163 ninth and tenth graders, and I knew the best thing I could do for myself was to stop and just "be" for a moment, before re-engaging with those kids I loved. Over time, mindfulness is becoming more of a way of being as I learn to infuse lots of mini-practices into my days-not just when I wake or before I sleep.

For example, this Three-Minute De-Stressor for Teachers can be incorporated throughout the day-whether you are with your students, pausing between classes, or chatting with a colleague. Simply stand, find the center of gravity in your abdomen (two inches below your navel and about an inch into your body), and focus on this point while feeling your feet solidly on the ground.

There are also a number of different breath practices you can try- box or square breathing or counting breaths, for example. It's particularly important to simply practice extending the outbreath (activating your parasympathetic or "rest and digest" nervous system) more than the inbreath (your sympathetic "fight or flight" nervous system) to rebalance.

And if you're gearing up for a difficult conversation with a parent or facing a challenging staff meeting, you can draw on this brief practice for relaxing tense and anxious bodies: The CALM Reminder. Mindfulness researchers Chris Willard and Randye Semple prompt us to check in with our chest (C), arms (A), legs (L), and mouth (M)-first noticing sensations in those areas, and then tensing and relaxing each set of muscles, in sequence.

Although we face a time of great uncertainty and a challenging mélange of emotions, we can draw on multiple tools to help us pause, be with those emotions, and redirect them. If we practice taking healthy "timeouts" on our own, we are more likely to model and share these rituals with our students, colleagues, and family members. Let's commit to practicing self-care each day so that we can move forward together with a greater sense of ease, purpose, and kindness.

Greater Good wants to know: Do you think this article will influence your opinions or behavior?

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How Teachers Can Navigate Difficult Emotions During School Closures

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The COVID-19 crisis is forcing educational professionals across the globe to take a collective breath. What's next? Whether we're actively planning online lessons from our homes or bingeing more Netflix movies than we had ever anticipated, we're faced with so many unknowns-and more time to sit with our emotions.

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Educators: You Have the Right to Take Care of Yourself, Right Now

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Educators: You Have the Right to Take Care of Yourself, Right Now

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This online resource shares some strategies for self-care and compassion for educators to avoid burnout.

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Educating our youth is a calling that draws some of the most hard-working and dedicated people. Teachers are also prone to burnout-in fact, last year, public school teachers

their jobs at the highest rate on record. Educators, it's time to start showing yourself care and compassion, right now.
We enter this field with our eyes wide open that the pay is low and the work hours are long. Most of us also understand that educating our students will take all the love, attention, and energy we can spare. Education is a calling because, despite all these things, we do it anyway.

While educators are incredibly giving towards their students, we don't treat ourselves with the same level of care. Overwork is a badge of honor that many of us wear proudly. We tend to equate the number of hours we put in as a measure of our (and our peer's) dedication to our students.

The thing is, this kind of logic just doesn't make sense. In a job where the physical, mental, and emotional demands are so high, how can we possibly continue to give our all every day if we have not spent time taking care of ourselves? If we imagine our reserves of energy like a bucket, we cannot continue to give from that bucket without refilling it. Many of us, however, empty our buckets and continue pushing forward without taking the time to rest and rejuvenate. We shouldn't be surprised, then, that we are prone to burnout and often leave the profession just a few years after entering it.

It's time that educators start filling their buckets by embracing self-care and self-compassion. Self-care means caring for oneself. Examples of self-care include getting enough rest, exercise, and healthy foods. Self-compassion means treating oneself with patience, kindness, and understanding. When we practice self-compassion, we use our mistakes as opportunities to soften and be vulnerable. Instead of beating ourselves up, we show ourselves heaps of love.

Additionally, research conducted by Juliana Breines and Serena Chen (2012) has shown that when we show ourselves compassion after a setback, we are more likely to take action towards improving in the future. In short, self-compassion helps us to feel better, rebound from our challenges, and fuels us to keep going down the path of self-improvement.
You might try these guided mindfulness practices:

Megan Sweet, EdD is the Director of Training at Mindful Schools. She brings more than two decades of experience as a school teacher, school and district administrator, and a leader in school transformation. She's an experienced Network Lead with a demonstrated history of working in the education management industry. Her doctoral degree focused on Educational Leadership and Administration and she is skilled in Educational Consulting, Lesson Planning, Educational Technology, Instructional Design, and Curriculum Development. Megan is also a published author of An Educator's Guide to Using Your 3 Eyes: How to Apply Intellect, Insight and Intuition to Promote Personal and School-Wide Transformation. Guided 12-minute Practice for Self-Kindness
Guided 12-minute Practice for Stress
How can you start showing yourself care and compassion, right now?

1. Pay attention to your inner voice. Notice your self-talk and ask: Would I say this to my best friend? If the answer is no (and it probably is) then start giving yourself a bit more love and curb the negative self-talk. It's not helping!

2. Make a list of ten things that bring you joy. Examples include exercise, reading a book, or watching a favorite TV show. Try to fit at least one of these activities into your life consistently.

3. Prioritize how you spend your time. Make a list of all of the things you are doing each week. Break them into Must-Do and May-Do categories. See if you can replace some of those May-Do's with things from your joy list.

4. Take a break. Educators are notorious for working all-the-time. The problem is, the work never ends unless you choose to step away. If you are not refreshed, you are not working at your best anyway, so start reclaiming some of those nights and weekends.

5. Start a mindfulness practice. Mindfulness means being present in the moment, and meditation is a great mindfulness tool. Just meditating 10 minutes a day will make a significant difference in how you feel. Don't have 10 minutes in a row? That's okay, break it into two 5-minute blocks, do some conscious breathing on your walk to and from your car, breathe slowly and deeply at red lights. Notice how good it feels to take even one conscious breath.

In the end, learning to take better care of ourselves will enable us to continue to do what we love-educating kids! If we don't, then we will continue to burn ourselves out, and the churn of teacher and leader turnover will maintain the revolving door of people in and out of our students' lives. Our kids suffer when they experience persistent changes in teachers and teacher quality. Schools cannot maintain strong academic programs if the leadership changes year after year. If we really want to stay in our calling and educate our youth, we must learn to take care of ourselves first. Our students will thank us for it.

Breines, J. & Chen, S. (2012). "Self-compassion increases self-improvement motivation." Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. 38(9) 1133-1143.

Neff, K. (2013). "Resilience and self-compassion" [ lecture]. Empathy and Compassion in Society. Retrieved June 25, 2018.

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Educators: You Have Permission to Take Care of Yourself, Right Now - Mindful Schools

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Educating our youth is a calling that draws some of the most hard-working and dedicated people. Teachers are also prone to burnout-in fact, last year, public school teachers quit their jobs at the highest rate on record. Educators, it's time to start showing yourself care and compassion, right now.

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10 Mental Health Tips for Teachers Balancing Life and Remote Teaching

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10 Mental Health Tips for Teachers Balancing Life and Remote Teaching

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This online resource provides some mental health tips that can help educators during COVID-19.

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Erin McClintock

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers, school counselors, and school employees have remained acutely focused on supporting their students and continuing to do their jobs at this time. In some cases, this may mean teaching, care-taking (whether for children or other loved ones), and continuing to work through the same challenges that everyone else faces. While resources related to mental health have been (rightfully) front and center for supporting students, parents, and others, less focus has been paid on maintaining mental wellness for teachers and educators who are also trying to find balance in our new normal. That's why we put together some mental health tips for teachers during COVID-19 and beyond.

10 Mental Health Tips for Teachers Balancing Life and Remote Teaching

Here are ten teacher mental health tips you can start practicing today.

1. Control the Controllable During COVID-19 & Beyond

There are certain things that you simply cannot control right now: who will be impacted by COVID-19, whether it will be you, how things will continue to evolve. But there are some things that you can control: how you spend some of your time, what you choose to prioritize, what types of media you consume (and how frequently) and your mindset, to name a few. By focusing on the things that you can control and prioritizing the ones that are healthy, you can help to put your mental wellness front and center.

Webinar | Mental Health Strategies for Teachers and Students

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week and Mental Health Awareness Month, experts from the EVERFI team are partnering with the Jed Foundation to ensure you have the resources necessary to support your mental wellness and that of your students. In this webinar, we explore activities and strategies around mental well-being that can be used in the classroom or virtually, as well as providing tips and tricks for educator self-care.

2. Carve Out Time for Self-Care to Maintain Your Mental Health

Now, more than ever, we are acutely focused on remote teaching , physical health, and preventing illness- washing hands and engaging in other healthy practices. But it is just as important, for maintaining mental health, to try to carve out some time to prioritize the other things that help us feel balanced: for some, it is exercise, for others, it is reading, journaling, meditation, or spending time doing a hobby. And, if you are someone who isn't sure what you can do for your self-care, simply the act of doing can help maintain your mental health .

3. Get Your Body Moving to Help Your Mental Wellness

One of the biggest challenges for many educators during this time is how hard it is to be sedentary- you may be used to moving around, physical transitions from one room to another, or even your usual lunchtime walk with a colleague. As you work around your schedule, set a timer or create breaks for you specifically to move around- this might mean moving around your house, or taking a walk around your building or neighborhood- obeying physical distancing recommendations, of course. Anything to get your body moving will help manage your mental wellness .

4. Model Self-compassion

Now, more than ever, we need to be incredibly kind to ourselves to help maintain mental wellness. We teach students this all of the time- the basics of self-compassion, kind self-talk, and growth mindset . Now is the time to also turn it inwards. In doing so, you'll benefit your own mental wellness and also be able to model it for others in your life.

5. Set Reasonable Expectations (for yourself and others)

Collectively, we need to acknowledge that we are still in the midst of a pandemic and distance learning- and that it is not business as usual. Things are going to be different, and that is okay. We can't expect to be as productive, or on top of it, or together as we once could. If you are one of those, like many, who is trying to balance educating with care-taking or educating your students on top of your own kids, there is no possible way that you can be all things to all people all of the time. By setting small, realistic goals and expectations around what you actually could be capable of, you will be setting yourself up to feel much more fulfilled and help maintain your mental health.

Webinar | Empowering from Afar with Social Emotional Learning

Although most of our social interactions these days occur at a distance, helping students work on social emotional skills can still have a big impact. Developing courage and grit, strong communication, and empathy can all help students make the most of their time in quarantine.

6. Communication is Vital for Maintaining Mental Health for Teachers

Let people know what is going on- especially colleagues and supervisors. By being transparent about what you are experiencing, and with what things may be helpful, you can bring them in and potentially expand your own network of resources and support. You may also be modeling healthy communication for other colleagues to follow suit.

We live in an "I'm sorry" culture. Consider how often you apologize, and the ways in which you can stop. Be unapologetic about taking time for yourself, setting realistic goals, setting boundaries, and being clear and transparent about what you are capable of (and what you need). This is one of the hardest things to do for many, but oh so important for maintaining mental health and wellness.

8. A Dedicated Work Space Can Improve Mental Wellness

This is a psychological trick that helps you to both be more productive, and to disconnect from work more easily. When working from home , we can quickly fall into an unhealthy balance between work and life, especially if you are working in the areas of your home in which you're also living. By creating a dedicated workspace: even if it is just one corner of your home that you designate as "work only," you can do two things: you can send an outward message to those in your life that when you are in that space you are working, and also an internal message to your own brain that signals when it is work mode and when it is time to disconnect.

9. Set Office Hours While Remote Teaching

By controlling and identifying specific times in which students or colleagues can reach, you will be able to both set boundaries while remote teaching, and will also provide a designated time in which students know that they can reach you during distance learning. Tools like Class for Zoom can make it easier for 1:1 conversations during class while other LMS platforms allow you to set office hours in the platform. Some districts have done this work for us, but for others remote teaching, it may need to be something that we do ourselves to help maintain our mental health while working from home.

Remote Learning Resources for K-12 Educators

By providing a catalog of digital learning resources focused on the skills needed for life - skills in social-emotional learning, health and wellness, financial capability, and career readiness - you have the tools to bring meaningful remote learning to students.

If you feel like you are having a tough time, and are struggling in any way with enjoying things, balancing your mood, or finding time to take care of yourself- or if you have any thoughts of hurting yourself- please reach out to a counselor. All of the resources that we shared for students can also be utilized by educators. Psychology Today has a fantastic therapist directory, and your health insurance can also help you locate a counselor, most of whom have switched to offering telehealth services. What we are experiencing right now is hard- and trained professionals across the globe continue to mobilize to serve as front-line responders for our minds in the same ways doctors have for our bodies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Resources:

Crisis Text Line: Text SHARE to 741741

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK

SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP

NAMI HelpLine (M-F 10am - 6pm EST): 1-800-950-6264

Disaster Distress Hotline: 1-800-985-5990 or Text TALKWITHUS to 66746

Erin McClintock lead's EVERFI's impact work in mental health, wellness, and social and emotional learning. She holds a graduate degree in Counseling Psychology, completed her post-masters studies in Trauma and Addiction Counseling, and has extensive experience as a practitioner in community, school, and collegiate mental health.

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10 Teacher Mental Health Tips During COVID-19 & Beyond

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Erin McClintock Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers, school counselors, and school employees have remained acutely focused on supporting their students and continuing to do their jobs at this time. In some cases, this may mean teaching, care-taking (whether for children or other loved ones), and continuing to work through the same challenges that everyone else faces.

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This board is for educators going above and beyond teaching remotely online. We put together some helpful resources and categorized them into 4 shelves:
1) Tips for Effective Online Teaching
2) Essential Supplies & Digital Tools
3) Teaching Resources
4) Mental Health Support for Educators and Students
Please scroll down to see all the resources on each shelf.