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https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/18R0eeXoFIoK8I6gVUg1o9kZ3H1WWWTvI5rTlr8Ygk6Y/edit?usp=sharing

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NeMTSS Welcoming Activity Slide Deck 2020-2021

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https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Tbh4MJ2L_JOGobJIV486BeCg5V41OpM7SYSpnacveuw/edit?usp=sharing

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3-5 year old Social Emotional Resource!! 

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3-5 year old Social Emotional Resource!! 

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https://net.pbslearningmedia.org/collection/donkey-hodie-collection/

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Relaxing Strategy to use with kids and adults that only takes seconds

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Math Worksheets | Dynamically Created Math Worksheets

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Dynamically Created Math Worksheets for Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division, Time, Fractions, Kindergarten and more Math Topics.

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NeMTSS Welcoming Activity Slide Deck! Great way to start your kiddos day! 

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NeMTSS Welcoming Activity Slide Deck! Great way to start your kiddos day! 

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Make sure to make a copy!!!

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NeMTSS Welcoming Activity Slide Deck 2020-2021

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As educators, we are always learning and growing in order to improve reading instruction. It can be challenging to sift through the many resources available, so we have created a list for you. The following includes a list of 30 resources for educators who wish to further their knowledge about the Science of Reading.

5 "Must See" Resources to Get Started
1. EAB Report: Narrowing the 3rd Grade Reading Gap (10 minute read)
A research brief for educators embracing the science of reading from the EAB District Leadership Forum. This is an accessible read for educators who want to learn more and implement classroom instruction that is aligned to the science of reading.

2. Of 'Hard Words' and Straw Men: Let's Understand What Reading Science is Really About by Louisa Moats (5 minute read)

An article about what the Science of Reading really entails and how important it is to really have an understanding of the components of foundational literacy instruction in order to implement them effectively into the classroom.

3. Hard Words: Why Aren't Kids Being Taught to Read? (45 minute listen)
Emily Hanford, educational journalist has researched reading instruction across the US. Her findings sparked conversations about The Science of Reading and how we can improve reading proficiency in the US. 4. Videos: Is My Kid Learning to Read? (Part 1 and Part 2; 26 minutes) How many students are being taught to read in the classroom can be eye-opening for parents. Watch this two-part video series to learn more about how students may be learning to read and how to best support them as they continue to learn to read. 5. Reading Rockets website
Okay, we kind of cheated with #5, but if you read nothing else on Reading Rockets, be sure to check out their articles on Phonological and Phonemic Awareness and Why Phonological Awareness is Important for Reading and Spelling .

Infographics

6. The Ladder of Reading by Nancy Young

7. Scarborough's Reading Rope

"The genesis of the Reading Rope dates back to Scarborough's lectures for parents on the complexities involved in learning to read. Originally, she spoke of skilled reading as resembling the 'strands' of a rope, using pipe cleaners to illustrate the interconnectedness and interdependence of all the components."

8. How Our Brains Learn to Read

Our brains are naturally set up to learn to speak, but learning to read does not happen on its own. Scientists have found that we must develop certain parts of our brains and build connections between brain areas that were not connected before. The picture (below) shows four different areas of our brains that we use when we read.

Podcasts

9. Educate by APM Reports

Stories about education, opportunity, and how people learn. Emily Hanford podcasts are recommended and two favorites are listed below:

At a Loss for Words (52 minutes; published Aug. 22, 2019)

National Assessment Shows More K-12 Students Struggling to Read (25 minutes; published Nov. 1, 2019)

10. Glean Education: Research to Practice

Dive into current research, hot topics, and success stories with our two podcast series for educators.

Why Phonological Awareness is Important to Reading? (23 minutes; published Jan. 3, 2019)

How to Make Sight Word Instruction and Reading Intervention More Effective ( 50 minutes published Oct. 1, 2020)

11. Science of Reading: The Podcast by Amplify Education

The latest insights from researchers and practitioners in early reading. Each episode takes a conversational approach and explores a timely topic related to the science of reading.

12. Teaching, Reading & Learning: The Podcast by The Reading League

Listen to speakers who have made important contributions to the educational community as they discuss reading and writing, but connect to other "literacies" that impact children's learning .

Websites, Blogs & Webinars

13. The Reading League

The Reading League is a non-profit organization focused on the mission to advance awareness, understanding, and use of evidence-based reading instruction.

14. Right to Read Project

A group of teachers, researchers, and activists committed to the pursuit of equity through literacy.

15. Louisa Moats

A website from Literacy Expert, Louisa Moats, includes webinars, blogs, and articles for educators committed to best practices in literacy instruction.

16. The Literacy Nest

Emily Gibbons, certified dyslexia practitioner and creator of The Literacy Nest shares resources for instruction for struggling readers.

17. CORE Learn

The Consortium on Reaching Excellence is Education (CORE) provides many excellent resources and free professional learning opportunities.

18. The Learning Spark

A kindergarten teacher who shares her experience along with many resources in the areas of literacy.

19. Education Week

A website sharing in-depth information and research serving K-12 education.

Articles & Research

20. Developing Early Literacy: Report of the National Early Literacy Panel (2008)

21. Report of the National Reading Panel: Teaching Children to Read (2000)

22. Learning to Read: Center for Early Reading (

23. Teaching Reading Is Rocket Science: What Expert Teachers of Reading Should Know and Be Able to Do, 2020 by Louisa Moats, published by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT)

Teacher Resources

24. Florida Center for Reading Research: FCRR

25. University of Florida Literacy Institute: UFLI

26. The Simple View of Reading

Professional Books

27. Speech to Print by Louisa Moats (2014)

28. Essentials of Assessing, Preventing, and Overcoming Reading Difficulties by David Kilpatrick (2015)

29. Phonics from A to Z by Wiley Blevins (2017)

30. Beginning to Read: Thinking and Learning about Print by Marilyn Adams (1994)

Did we miss a resource? Please leave a comment and let us know!

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30 Science of Reading Resources | Heggerty

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As educators, we are always learning and growing in order to improve reading instruction. It can be challenging to sift through the many resources available, so we have created a list for you. The following includes a list of 30 resources for educators who wish to further their knowledge about the Science of Reading.

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Psycom.net - Mental Health Treatment Resource Since 1996

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Everywhere you look you see the words self-care, self-help, self-love, and wellness. We get it, the self-improvement movement is having more than just a moment. The market is estimated to grow to a $13.2 billion by 2022. In other words, we're downloading a lot of self-help books on Amazon, buying tons of meditation apps, and hiring a crazy amount of life coaches. And, let's not even get started on Instagram: #selflove with its 37.8 million posts beats out #selfcare which is still at a staggering 23.9 million posts.

Here's the thing about all this #selfcare revolution, most people fall into one of two camps. The first: those who scarcely think about self-care at all, and when they do, it falls way to the bottom of the to-do list. The second group is hugely aware (they're the ones buying most of that stuff). In fact, they're so conscious of the importance of self-care, they've completely stressed themselves out about it. (More on that later.)

Benefits Of Self-Care

Here's why everyone should care about self-care: it's good for you, especially when it comes to managing stress. And, chronic stress is one of the biggest threats to overall health. It's linked to inflammation which can lead to everything from heart disease to gastrointestinal disorders and a weakened immune system.

Taking care of your self has other benefits that may be even more obvious. It feels good. Getting a good night sleep, for example, makes your day noticeably better. Of course, it also helps with focus and cognition, regulates emotions, and boosts immunity. Similarly, doing things like going to the gym, heading out for a walk, or taking a yoga class alter your mood and energy level.

Why You Shouldn't Neglect Self-Care

For some people self-care is a form of self-indulgence they either don't make the time for or don't think is necessary. But that may be because they don't actually understand what it means. Self-care isn't about weekly massages or buying yourself whatever you want #ideservethis-style. It's a lot more basic. Some research on self-care describes brushing your teeth as a form of self-care. Let's not call that an indulgence-even if you're using the Burst rose gold edition.

Self-care, and its close cousin, self-help, are about being in tune with what your body and mind require to function optimally. In the same way you wouldn't ignore the oil light on your car, you shouldn't ignore the cues your body is sending you. Study after study has shown the positive effects of looking after yourself.

Top 10 Ways To Practice Self-Care

There are lots of ways to take care of yourself. If humans came with manual, here are a few tips that might be in the care guide:

1. Get the sleep you need. This isn't the same for everyone, but The National Sleep Foundation recommends between seven and nine hours.

2. Eat healthy. There is a strong food-mood connection. In fact, there is even a whole branch of psychiatry devoted to nutrition. Some of the best mood boosting foods are ginger, turmeric, fish, chia, flax, berries (colors, every color is an antioxidant), green tea, Asian mushrooms, avocados, and broccoli.

3. Meditate. Meditation helps build mental resiliency and can help to manage anxiety.

4. Take in nature. Research shows that visits to forests, rural areas, and other green spaces can improve thinking skills and reduce stress. Read more about how,

5. Check out a good book. Reading fiction improves social-cognitive performance and boosts empathy.

6. Say yes...and no. People who are open to new experiences literally see the world differently according to research. But, setting boundaries on your time is also essential to well-being. In their book, The Power of No, James Altucher and Claudia Azula Altucher, show how saying no gives you space to say yes to new opportunities and experiences.

7. Make time for friends. Close relationships have a wide range of benefits: they motivate us, inform us, help us grow. And, they also have substantial mental health benefits. In fact, not having close friends is a risk factor for both anxiety and depression.

8. Get to know yourself better. Part of caring for yourself is doing things that are important to you. It's easy to get so caught up in what other people are doing (hello, FOMO) or what we think we should be doing, that we lose sight of what's actually important to us. To explore your personality, check this story.

9. Take a social media break. Scrolling through Instagram feels like a fun indulgence, but it's the nutrition equivalent of eating a big bag of chips: satisfying in the moment, addicting, and leaves you feeling remorseful and maybe a little sick. It also can make you lonely, which has legitimate health consequences.

10. Daydream, often. Letting your mind wander is linked to intelligence and mental health. And, it doesn't matter what you're daydreaming about. So, don't feel guilty, embrace it!

The Difference Between Self-Help And Self-Care

According to a recent analysis in The New York Times, "If self-help is about fixing something, self-care thinks you're already great." But the distinction may not be so clear; it's possible the the term self-care is really the same philosophy, just a different hyphenated word.

One of the first works to shape the self-help sections and launch the whole advice genre was Samuel Smiles' Self Help in 1859. Since that time every generation seems to have had the book for self-help: Dale Carnegie's How to Make Friends and Influence People in 1936, Thomas Anthony's I'm Okay; You're Okay in the 1960's, Scott Peck's The Road Less Traveled in 1978, and Stephen Convey's Seven Habits of highly Effective People in the 80's. In the past twenty years or more, the self-help market exploded. From 2013 and 2019, the number of self-help books sold doubled and came in at 18.6 million according to The NPD Group.

The Language of Self-Care

Amid the lexicon of the wellness world, the word " self-care " gets thrown around a lot. And it can mean different things to different people-a bubble bath and glass of wine for some, a mental health break for others. And wrapped up in that cozy blanket term of self-care are a lot of other concepts. At the heart of it all is, well, the self, and doing everything we can to nourish our sense of it. To help you understand more about what really goes into self-care, we've created a glossary of related buzzwords for your reading pleasure. Go forth and educate.

Self-care

At its core, self-care is the practice of protecting your own well-being and happiness, particularly during times of stress. It's about taking action to balance physical and emotional health by knowing your limits and not going over them. It's also about identifying the things that bring you joy and help you to decompress. And the benefits of self-care range from improving well-being and decreasing morbidity and mortality to reducing healthcare costs. Acts of self-care include basic necessities such as eating well, exercising, getting enough sleep, and relaxation. But really, self-care can be anything that feeds your soul and takes the weight of the world off your shoulders-even for a little while.

Self-compassion

Self-compassion is about treating yourself with kindness, care, support, and empathy in the same way you would treat a good friend who needs you. It's more of an emotional attitude toward yourself and not a judgement of worth. So even when you aren't feeling so great about yourself, you're accepting and kind rather than critical. There's a connectedness in self-compassion, as well as an understanding that life can be difficult. The long-term effects of self-compassion on daily life include a decrease in depression, increased happiness, increased life satisfaction, and better physical health.

Self-soothing

Just like a baby sucks his thumb for comfort, self-soothing is a type of behavior that is used as a coping mechanism to help you deal with stress. It's like a simple act of self-comfort that you can do to help calm your mind and body. Self-soothing strategies will differ from person to person, and they are often based on the senses. Maybe it's a song that makes you happy, a soft blanket that provides comfort to touch, or even a cup of soothing tea.

Self-indulgence

Self-indulgence is defined as excessive self-gratification. It's about being overly indulgent or permissive with ourselves, and seeking immediate gratification at whatever cost. The danger is, it can combine a false sense of entitlement and a whole lot of hedonism. While every now and then it's okay to self-indulge (eat that extra dessert, buy the expensive purse, etc.) if self-indulgence is left unchecked, it can lead to negative consequences (over-eating, debt, and even addiction.).

Self-love

Self-love means valuing yourself as a human being, accepting yourself without conditions, and having a high regard for your own well-being by nurturing it physically, psychologically, and spiritually. Self-love isn't about instant gratification or narcissism. It's about respecting yourself and knowing you're worthy of love. Unlike self-compassion, which is something you practice in a given moment, self-love is a life-long state of being. It's an authentic and honest appreciation for yourself.

Self-awareness

Self-awareness is comprised of two components, an internal self-awareness and an external self-awareness. Internal self-awareness is a monitoring of our internal world-how we see our emotions, strengths, weaknesses, and behaviors. External self-awareness is knowing how other people see us according to those same factors. It's essentially a measure by which we evaluate and judge ourselves and our actions and act in accordance with our values and standards. Self-awareness can have many benefits such as better decision-making, higher success, and enhanced self-confidence.

Self-preservation

At its core, self-preservation is a protective instinct to act in our own best interest to ensure survival-it's why fight or flight mode kicks in when the threat of pain or fear strikes. But more often, it manifests as a kind of internal coping mechanism that protects us from unpleasant emotional distress that can occur (in varying degrees) in relationships and in everyday life. It's about putting yourself first and setting healthy boundaries that create emotional space for the sake of your mental, physical, and spiritual health needs.

While the word "self-care" may seem like some new concept, it's been around for decades and used to refer to how patients could help treat or manage their illness (especially mental illness or age-related health declines) through diet, exercise, and healthy lifestyle habits. These days the idea is more broad and includes a lot of other self-oriented acts and thoughts.

Pitfalls Of Self-Care

There is a downside to all of this self-improvement. Our books are telling us how we can improve, our social media feeds are showing us how others are doing it better, and our technology is tracking it all and reminding us exactly how we stack up at any given minute. All of this together is sending an entire generation of millennials into burn out mode. The quest for perfection and optimization has invaded our eating habits, sleeping habits, and even sex drive. We are constantly looking at the distance between or current state and our goal state. And instead of feeling calm and content, it's driving us to be unsatisfied, even worried.

An article in The Harvard Business Review makes a good point about why. "Our focus is shifting away from the actual self - our bodies, minds, and spirits - and toward data about the self." Just ask someone how they slept last night and watch them look at their FitBit before they tell you.

And here's where the rub really comes in: We have trained ourselves to be so self-aware, we know all of this is making us anxious. So, we add that to the list of things we need to work on. But balance is possible. And, experts agree, one of the most direct ways to capturing what that #selfcare is really about is mindful meditation. So, even if you only have three minutes, download Headspace and tap "Unwind." Or, try any of the other nine things on the list above, and maybe take a FitBit break.

Inspiring Quotes on Self-Care and Self-Love

"Caring for myself is not self-indulgence. It is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare." - Audre Lorde

"To meditate means to go home to yourself. Then you know how to take care of the things that are happening inside you, and you know how to take care of the things that happen around you." - Thich Nhat Han

"When we give ourselves compassion, we are opening our hearts in a way that can transform our lives." - Kristin Neff

"You wanna fly, you got to give up that shit that weighs you down." - Toni Morrison

"In dealing with those who are undergoing great suffering, if you feel 'burnout' setting in, if you feel demoralized and exhausted, it is best, for the sake of everyone, to withdraw and restore yourself. The point is to have a long-term perspective." - Dalai Lama

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Everywhere you look you see the words self-care, self-help, self-love, and wellness. We get it, the self-improvement movement is having more than just a moment. The market is estimated to grow to a $13.2 billion by 2022. In other words, we're downloading a lot of self-help books on Amazon, buying tons of meditation apps, and hiring a crazy amount of life coaches.

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•Insight Timer

•Headspace

•Simply Being

•Breathe

•Breathe2Relax

•Chakra Chime

•Calm

•Mind Yeti

•Smiling Mind

•(Alexa has several good apps)

•FitOn

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https://www.healthline.com/health/4-7-8-breathing#How-does-the-4-7-8-breathing-technique-work?

https://www.webmd.com/balance/stress-management/stress-relief-breathing-techniques#1

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This intention of this website is to help support and promote self-care for school psychologists. Quite often, we extend so much of ourselves to students, educators, and families, as well as to others, that we sometimes forget to "take care of the caretaker."

Of course, this can be extrapolated for any mental health care providers or for anyone (which is pretty much everyone) who cares for others.

Please consider this an evolving resource that is specific to aiding in intervention efforts during this current COVID-19 crisis, as well as a preventative mechanism to support school psychologists this school year and beyond. In addition, our professional self-care includes orienting ourselves to our ethical responsibility, including social justice and enhancing our capacity to grow personally and professionally.

Also, if interested, there is a Facebook group of school psychologists to share self-care thoughts, strategies, and photos:

SELF-CARE: Focus for 2020 Vision

During times of uncertainty and injustice,

we need to take good care of ourselves.

At times, taking good care of ourselves

also means feeling uncomfortable. When we feel "powerless" we need to work to feel "empowered" to take action in order to take good care of each other, and to take good care of ourselves.

Check out our ever-evolving and growing professional self-care resources page for various ways to support you in this personal and professional journey.

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This intention of this website is to help support and promote self-care for school psychologists. Quite often, we extend so much of ourselves to students, educators, and families, as well as to others, that we sometimes forget to "take care of the caretaker."

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Great apps in areas of: Cognition, Communication, Creativity, Self-Regulation, & Emergent Numeracy!

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Free Resources!

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Browse our collection of free resources for parents and educators to support a social-emotional learning curriculum.

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Great to be used with Zones of Regulation and Interoception Curriculum!

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Learning to self-regulate our Zones is hard, serious work that takes time and lots of practice. Tools to Try Cards for Kids includes 51 4"x 6" tool cards and is an easy, user-friendly way to introduce over 50 self-regulation strategies to kids ages 5-10 and empower them to make choices toward figuring out what works best for them. For best teaching practice, the strategy card deck should be used in tandem with lessons introducing tools for use with Zones from Chapter 4 in the curriculum book, The Zones of Regulation, as well as paired with other related products, such as Navigating The Zones.
What's in the Tools to Try for Kids strategy deck
Housed in a sturdy two-piece cardboard box, the card deck includes 51 4"x 6" tool cards and 7 information and instruction cards for the interventionist. The two-sided strategy cards are divided into five color-coded categories to show how the tools work in different ways to help social emotional learners self-regulate feelings and emotions:

FEEL IT These tools use our senses to support self-regulation and modulation.
MOVE IT These tools integrate physical activity to impact self-regulation and reduce anxiety.
THINK IT Cognitive-based tools are aimed at changing our mindset.
DO IT Task and goal-oriented tools involve taking action.
CONNECT Co-regulation tools use empathy, thinking of others, and accessing relationships for support.

Each strategy card displays an illustration of the self-regulation tool performed by inclusive characters on one side and a how-to-do-it description on the reverse. Each card includes a metacognitive self-reflection where kids consider how they feel after using the tool, how it can be used to help them regulate their Zones, and decide whether it's the right tool for them.
How to use the Tools to Try Cards
This learning tool can be used in multiple ways: explored tool by tool with a whole classroom of students, used as a therapy aid in a smaller setting, for parents and caregivers to explore with their children, or for kids to pick up and practice on their own. This teaching tool also provides visual supports for the tools and encourages children to find specific tools helpful for learning to self-regulate in real-time within a specific Zone. In addition, the cards can be photocopied and sent home with kids to practice with caregivers; card decks can be used specifically within the home environment, as well. When exploring each tool, allow time for kids to first practice, then reflect on which Zone or Zones the tool might help to regulate. Reproducible R (page 112) from The Zones of Regulation curriculum helps kids track and monitor how the different tools affect them.

Tools to Try Cards for Kids is a hands-on metacognitive tool used best when with The Zones of Regulation curriculum.
What are The Zones of Regulation?
Feelings come in different sizes, intensity, and levels of energy. To make this easy to talk and think about, we can categorize them into four simple, colored categories that we call Zones of Regulation.

The Blue Zone is used to describe low levels of energy and down feelings, such as when a person feels sad, tired, sick, or bored.

The Green Zone is used to describe when we feel calm and in control. A person may be described as happy, focused, content, or ready to learn when in the Green Zone. This is the Zone where optimal learning occurs.

The Yellow Zone is used to describe when our energy is higher and emotions get a little bigger; however, a person has more control when in the Yellow Zone. A person may be experiencing stress, frustration, anxiety, excitement, silliness, the wiggles, or nervousness when in the Yellow Zone.

The Red Zone is used to describe extremely high energy and intense feelings. A person may be feeling elated, anger, rage, devastation, out of control, or terrified when in the Red Zone.
Using tools to regulate Zones
Once we can identify how we are feeling and what Zone we are in, we decide if we need a tool to help us self-regulate. As you and the kids explore the different tools in the deck, encourage each student to consider the tools which help them when experiencing a specific Zone. Different children may find the same tool helpful in different ways. Therefore, we encourage interventionists to not tell students which tool to use, but instead allow students to explore and choose themselves which tool(s) will help them regulate within a specific Zone:

Blue Zone tools help us wake up, get energized, focus, or provide comfort.

Green Zone tools help us with everyday needs to feel good, be healthy, and stay organized. These tools may help keep us in the Green Zone and can be used proactively.

Yellow Zone tools help us feel calmer and in control.

Red Zone tools help us stop to gain control, feel safe and calmer.
Guidance for interventionists
1. Use this card deck in conjunction with the lessons in The Zones of Regulation curriculum, the storybook set The Road to Regulation and The Regulation Station (coming January 2021), and Navigating The Zones cooperative game.

2. Teach a variety of tools over time, providing time for kids to practice each tool and notice how the tool impacts them and can be used to regulate their Zones. Tools need to be practiced many times in order to become a more automatic response to self-regulate our Zones in real-time.

3. Always provide the option to use a tool without forcing a choice. Empower kids to explore and determine which self-regulation tools work for them so they are motivated and involved in tool selection. Review and practice using previously taught tools periodically to keep them fresh in mind.

4. Model using tools yourself, highlighting how the different tools help you regulate your four Zones. It is important to create a climate where it is safe to recognize and discuss feelings and learn how to regulate them. Point out how even adults continue to work on these self-regulation skills throughout their lifetimes.

5. Acknowledge when kids make an attempt to "try" a tool, even if it doesn't work in that moment. It is likely a step in the right direction. Praise for effort and allow time later for reflection on how the tool is working.
How do the cards tie into the other Zones products?
Tools to Try Cards can be used in conjunction with The Road to Regulation and The Regulation Station storybook series (coming in January 2021) which presents a kid-friendly introduction to The Zones of Regulation and how we use tools to regulate our Zones. The Tools to Try Cards can be used to follow up instruction, for example, introducing a "tool of the week" to students from the card deck as modeled in the storybook series.

Tools to Try Cards can also be used in conjunction with Navigating The Zones cooperative game to support play. Tools to Try Cards can be used as visual aids during play to assist players in developing and expanding tool options to navigate the Zones.

This card deck is a supplement to, not a replacement for, the in-depth curriculum and lessons in The Zones of Regulation book.

All Zones products are available at www.socialthinking.com

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The Zones of Regulation: Tools to Try for Kids

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The Zones of Regulation Tools to Try for Kids is choice rich, portable, strategy card deck to help kids ages 5-10 metacognitively explore and practice over 50 self-regulation tools at home, in school, or in therapeutic and community settings.

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Your Life Your Voice!

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It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Please turn on JavaScript and try again.

​​​​​​​ Find this list useful? We've created a ​document ​with all 99 of these skills for your reference. Save or print it out and take it with you so you'll always remember ​​them!

Don't want all 99? Now you can make a list of your favorites. Check the skills that you enjoy and click the "Make My List" button below to create a custom printable list with your favorites.

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We created a list of 99 Coping Skills. Save it or print it to take it with you so you'll always remember them!

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https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/18R0eeXoFIoK8I6gVUg1o9kZ3H1WWWTvI5rTlr8Ygk6Y/edit#slide=id.g98f6eb756e_3_55

Welcoming Activity Slide Deck that teachers can use ASAP (already created) as a morning activity that has a morning greeting, encouraging video snippet, reflection/ share out on the video, quote, poll of the day, and caption it activity.  Please share ASAP with your staff as a way to set the tone and mindset for the day.  This can be used currently in the classroom and also in a remote setting.  It is a great SEBL resource provided thanks to NeMTSS!

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Evidence-Based Reading Interventions/Materials

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In a major initiative to empower educators, school leaders, families, and communities in their efforts to support reading, the Florida Center for Reading Research (FCRR) has introduced "The Academy" - a comprehensive platform offering support to use evidence-based tools and resources.

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Great resources in the areas of academics, social-emotional, and behavioral

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NeMTSS Framework | Nebraska Department of Education

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The Nebraska Department of Education's 2023 Nebraska MTSS Summit will feature engaging presentations and interactive breakout sessions around the theme of "Transformations Through Coherence."

Learn More

The 2023 NeMTSS Framework is now available. The revised framework is designed to ensure every student across Nebraska has access to learning experiences that enhance their educational outcomes.

NeMTSS is a framework designed to guide continuous improvement and ensure whole child support is provided to every student, allowing them the opportunity to enhance their educational outcomes.

LEARN MORE

As a continuous improvement process, NeMTSS focuses efforts and support for the whole child approach to address the needs of students, including academic, social, emotional, behavioral, physical and environmental. NeMTSS is purposely coherent with AQuESTT, Nebraska's Accountability for Quality Education System Today and Tomorrow. This coherence aims to improve educational efforts that support improved outcomes for both students and adults.

Explore the benefits

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Home | NeMTSS Framework | Nebraska Department of Education

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The Nebraska Department of Education's 2023 Nebraska MTSS Summit will feature engaging presentations and interactive breakout sessions around the theme of "Transformations Through Coherence." Learn More The 2023 NeMTSS Framework is now available. The revised framework is designed to ensure every student across Nebraska has access to learning experiences that enhance their educational outcomes.

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The Positive Pivot - Sample of Move This World Student Video

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This is a resource app for you to share with your child to help teach skills such as problem solving, self-control, planning, and task persistence.

Laugh and learn as you help a Sesame Street monster friend calm down and solve everyday challenges. This bilingual (English and Spanish), research-based app helps your child learn Sesame's "Breathe, Think, Do" strategy for problem-solving. Tap and touch to help the monster friend take deep breaths, think of plans, and try them out! Your child will enjoy silly animations and playful interactions as she is exposed to important emotional vocabulary, a calm breathing technique, personalized encouragements, and more!

Features:
* Explore five interactive activities with a unique, everyday challenge
* Tap, pop bubbles, and more to help the monster breathe, think, and do to solve problems and feel better
* Personalize encouraging phrases that your child will hear as they help the monster think of a plan
* "Breathe with the Monster" activity to help children practice taking deep breaths to calm down
* Robust Parent Section with great resources for navigating everyday challenges with your young child

Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame is intended for parents and caregivers to use with their young children (ages 2-5).

This app is part of Sesame Street's Little Children, Big Challenges initiative, which aims to provide tools to help children build skills for resilience, and overcome everyday challenges and more stressful situations and transitions. You can access other Sesame Street resilience materials online at sesamestreet.org/challenges

About Us:
Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit educational organization that revolutionized children's media with the landmark Sesame Street. Learn more at www.sesameworkshop.org

More levels

I love this app for my son but I wish there were more "levels" so he would want to keep playing to unlock more scenarios 🤷‍♀️ once he unlocked the few there he was done with it 🤦‍♀️ but he was calm while playing.

Great for school psychologists and educators

As a practicing school psychologist I use this with all of my elementary school students. During our sessions we focus on de-escalation techniques, mindful practices, cognitive distortions and realities, solution-oriented approaches, and conflict resolution. This app teaches ALL of that in a child-friendly and engaging format. I have recommended this app to many of my colleagues and recommend it to any educator or parent wishing to enhance the aforementioned skills.

Nice when it works and isn't crashing

Having a problem with crashing on my iOS device. When it works it's a nice tool for teaching my newly 3yr old, deep breathing, self awareness, problem solving, problems, and managing himself. I wish 1. It didn't crash so dang much and 2. There were more examples of the monster getting upset and finding a solution, and 3. Less ask a gown up for help...example: monster building a bock tower that falls. His options are, wider base, two separate towers, ask an adult. The monster could as a friend .

The developer, Sesame Street, indicated that the app's privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer's privacy policy.

Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

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‎This is a resource app for you to share with your child to help teach skills such as problem solving, self-control, planning, and task persistence. Laugh and learn as you help a Sesame Street monster friend calm down and solve everyday challenges. This bilingual (English and Spanish), research-base...

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Stop, Breath, & Think: https://www.stopbreathethink.com/meditations/
Insight Timer: https://insighttimer.com/
Omvana: https://www.omvana.com/

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Educators and classroom leaders look to academic interventions to help promote response to intervention and rti programs for classroom management

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Free Evidence Based Pk-12 SEL Curriculum!!

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Choose Love programs include Growth Mindset, Neuroscience, Mindfulness, Positive Psychology, Post-Traumatic Growth, Emotional Intelligence, and more for a solution that is both preventative and proactive. Choose Love is aligned with the new Character and Social Emotional Development Standards (CSED) which include BOTH Character.org and CASEL.

We can make our world better by Choosing Love.

Learn More

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Choose Love Movement - Promoting Hope, Healing & Connection

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We create safer and more loving communities through groundbreaking social and emotional learning (SEL) and character development programs.

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Free Mindfulness App

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An evidence-based approach to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of children in the classroom, school and home environments. Choose the implementation option to suit your school.

For a limited time, Australian primary schools can apply for a funded place and receive the Primary School Program at no direct cost to the school.

Smiling Mind is Australia's leading digital-led, prevention focussed mental health not-for-profit. Smiling Mind has been helping minds thrive for over 10 years and are the innovators behind Australia's most trusted mental wellbeing app. Our evidence-based tools support people to learn the skills to maintain their mental health in fun and interactive ways.

If you'd like to support our work, you can make a donation. Every contribution, however large or small makes a difference and we're so grateful for your support.

The Australian Mental Wellbeing Index provides a snapshot insight into the everyday mental wellbeing of Australia. It explores the factors that contribute to mental wellbeing and aims to generate a national conversation about how Australians can take a proactive approach to support mental wellbeing.

We've recently released the second annual report exploring the data collected across 2022-2023. The latest report shows young Australians aged 18-24, are experiencing poorer mental wellbeing than older age groups and poorer levels of focus and concentration may be a key driver of this.

A daily mindfulness and meditation guide at your fingertips

#1 Apple Health & Wellbeing App 2018 - Australia

Trusted by over 7.8M people

100% evidence based

FREE Programs for children and adults

We suggest 10 minutes a day

What are you waiting for?

DOWNLOAD THE APP NOW AND SEE FOR YOURSELF!

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Smiling Mind is a non-for-profit web and app-based meditation program developed by psychologists and educators to help bring mindfulness into your life.

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Great Reading Resources

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Really Great Reading | Specialists in Reading Education

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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ A bully at school. That rough break up. Thinking about suicide. Life can give you challenges. We have some tips and tools to help you deal. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled.

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Free Resources including many of their books are now recording to be listened to free!

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Books & Games

Online Training

Free Webinars

Article Library

Digital Products

Products

Professionals and parents around the world are using our expansive collection of curricula, books, games, and posters to teach social competencies to ages 4 and up.

While our deeper work is for individuals with social learning challenges (autism spectrum levels 1 and 2, ADHD, twice exceptional, social communication disorders, etc. or no diagnosis) a subset of our work is being adopted into mainstream classrooms and workplaces around the world to improve social-emotional learning for all.

Online Training

Social Thinking has helped more than 1 million educators, clinicians, and families teach social learners essential life skills including social-emotional learning and self-regulation. Wherever you are in your professional career or level of understanding as a caregiver, we can help.

Browse our entire collection of Online Training options, taught by our experienced practitioners and clinicians.

Browse All Training

Free Webinars

Explore how to teach a variety of core Social Thinking concepts-for free. Browse our entire webinar collection and discover strategies to help people of all ages develop social competencies, self-regulation, social skills, social-emotional understanding, flexible thinking, and more!

Our webinars are not pre-approved for credit by continuing education organizations. However, all participants can download and print a Certificate of Completion.

Browse Webinars

Article Library

Social Thinking is proud to provide an extensive collection of free articles devoted to helping individuals build stronger social awareness and social functioning using the Social Thinking Methodology.

Browse our library of 100+ free articles and learn strategies you can start using right away. We're constantly adding material based on the latest research and our evolving client work-so visit our library often and stay informed!

Browse Articles

Digital Products

Our newest and most popular digital products make it easy for children to explore social emotional learning.

Build social awareness and vocabulary with our award-winning You Are A Social Detective, Social Thinking and Me & Superflex curriculum.

Teach strategies to help students better problem solve & self-regulate with our all new Social Thinking Frameworks collection.

Our Most Widely Attended Courses Ever!

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Free Read Aloud Books & Thinksheets to Use at Home & School

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You have the power right now to create a community of support for yourself and those you help through your digital device. During these emotionally fragile times, when we reach out to others we feel more positive, grounded, and supported-and we share these benefits with others, as well.

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Free Social Emotional Learning Activities

Welcome to our free Social Emotional Learning Activities page. Below you will find free resources - lessons, activities, and printables - in the following skill areas: Communication, Cooperation, Emotion Regulation, Empathy, Impulse Control, and Social Initiation.

These resources are age-appropriate for elementary and middle school students and are typically used in a classroom or a small group setting. And in most cases, if materials are required for the activity, they are items that you already have in your classroom or office.

As you will see below, many of the activities and lesson plans include characters from our online social skills games. And if you are using or plan to use the online games, these activities will reinforce the learning that occurs during gameplay.

Note: You may reproduce or reuse these lessons with students via other platforms like Google Classroom as needed. And if appropriate, we would appreciate you sharing this page on your school website so other educators may also benefit.

If you are new to Social Emotional Learning, please make sure and look at our Introduction to Social Emotional Learning, and if you need information to share with parents, we have a Guide to Social Emotional Skills at Home.

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Welcome to our Social Emotional Learning Activities page. Below you will find free resources - lessons, activities, and printables - in the following skill areas: Communication, Cooperation, Emotion Regulation, Empathy, Impulse Control, and Social Initiation. These resources are age-appropriate for elementary and middle school students and are typically used in a classroom or a small group setting.

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Free Virtual Reading Lessons & Intervention 

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Free Virtual Reading Lessons & Intervention 

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Welcome to the University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI, pronounced "you fly"). UFLI is an ongoing effort by UF faculty, students, and staff to improve literacy outcomes for children learning to read.

The work of UFLI focuses on two main areas: teacher development and reader development. The place where those two overlap ... that is where the work of UFLI lives. Our programs and resources are designed to help teachers become more confident and more successful in their capacity to help kids learn to read. We do this through:

Academic programs for both pre-service and practicing educators to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to be effective reading teachers

Professional learning opportunities to help classroom reading teachers, instructional coaches, and school leaders expand their knowledge, enhance their teaching practices, and build capacity in their schools

Resources for teachers, parents, and teacher educators to use in their reading instruction

Much, much more!

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UF Literacy Institute | Where teacher development and reader development overlap

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Welcome to the University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI, pronounced "you fly"). UFLI is an ongoing effort by UF faculty, students, and staff to improve literacy outcomes for children learning to read. The work of UFLI focuses on two main areas: teacher development and reader development. The place where those two overlap ...

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UFLI Virtual Teaching Resource HubLesson Structure

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UFLI Virtual Teaching Resource HubLesson Structure

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Welcome to the University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI, pronounced "you fly"). UFLI is an ongoing effort by UF faculty, students, and staff to improve literacy outcomes for children learning to read.

The work of UFLI focuses on two main areas: teacher development and reader development. The place where those two overlap ... that is where the work of UFLI lives. Our programs and resources are designed to help teachers become more confident and more successful in their capacity to help kids learn to read. We do this through:

Academic programs for both pre-service and practicing educators to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to be effective reading teachers

Professional learning opportunities to help classroom reading teachers, instructional coaches, and school leaders expand their knowledge, enhance their teaching practices, and build capacity in their schools

Resources for teachers, parents, and teacher educators to use in their reading instruction

Much, much more!

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UF Literacy Institute | Where teacher development and reader development overlap

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Welcome to the University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI, pronounced "you fly"). UFLI is an ongoing effort by UF faculty, students, and staff to improve literacy outcomes for children learning to read. The work of UFLI focuses on two main areas: teacher development and reader development. The place where those two overlap ...

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This is a great social story that talks about the need of when we should wear masks and when it isn't necessary along with social distancing.

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Provide relevant texts that consider complexity, academic success, cultural competence, and critical consciousness.

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Provide relevant texts that consider complexity, academic success, cultural competence, and critical consciousness.

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Catherine Ruhlman

School Psychologist: Ed.S; NCSP
Work phone: 308-284-8481 (ext. 2203)

Email: cruhlman@esusixteen.org
I received my Bachelors of Art in Psychology with an Emphasis of Mental Health and minor in Sociology from Doane College in Crete, Nebraska. I then received my Educational Specialist Degree (Ed.S) in School Psychology from The University of Nebraska at Kearney. I have my NCSP (Nationally Certified School Psychologist). This is my ninth year as a School Psychologist and have been with ESU 16 that entire time. For nine years I have been a Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (CPI) Instructor. I am part of our Nebraska Crisis/Safety Team and ESU 16 Crisis Response Team Coordinator. Being a School Psychologist has been a lifelong dream of mine. I have always wanted to be an advocate for students. I am able to help in the area of academia, behavioral, social-emotional, and mental health. My hobbies include playing golf and tennis, reading, gardening, and baking.

Carmen McMahon

School Psychologist
Email: cmcmahon@esusixteen.org
I received my Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Elementary Education and Special Education (K-6) from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. I then went on and earned my Education Specialist Degree (Ed.S) in School Psychology from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. I worked for two years in the West Point-Beemer School district, followed by two years with Lincoln Public Schools, and then one year working through telehealth with Fairbury Public Schools. This is my second year with ESU 16. I'm currently working in Brady, Wallace, Stapleton, and McPherson County. I love my job as a School Psychologist because you never know what each day with bring. I have a wonderful little boy and a husband who both keep me on my toes and constantly moving!

Diane McLeod

School Psychologist
Email: dmcleod@esusixteen.org

I graduated from Thedford High School then attended UNL-Lincoln where I received a B.A. with a major in psychology and minors in English and Sociology. After a car wreck thwarted my plans to "backpack" Europe, I attended Kearney State College (KSC) and received a M.A. in K-12 Guidance and Counseling. During that time I enjoyed a graduate assistantship co-teaching in the Department of Counseling and was able to do my student teaching at the Youth Development Center in Kearney. During my student teaching I was hired by KSC as the Director of Academic Advising. While employed by KSC I got my Specialist degree in School Psychology. (Each course I took cost $1.00 !!) I also was able to go to Europe with a college "spring break" tour, which was less risky than the original "back-packing tour". ( God is always in control.) After four years as Director of Academic Advising I packed my bag of skills and headed back to the Sandhills as a ranch wife and educator. I single-handedly taught the one-room Brownlee school which was a K -6, drove 30 miles to Thedford after school every day and took on their guidance and counseling program and was their School Psychologist, sometimes testing on Saturdays. Life has slowed a bunch since then. Raising five children and working as a School Psychologist for ESU #16 has been a huge blessing in my life. I have had the opportunity to work with some amazing people.

Robyn Werth

Behavior Consultant
Email: rwerth@esusixteen.org
https://robynwerth.weebly.com/
Robyn Werth resides in Hyannis, Nebraska with her husband, Jon, and their two daughters, Asthon and Audrabell. Robyn's dad was a historian and curator and she grew up on historic sites in Nebraska and North Dakota. Her family was active in living history. She worked for several years in the tourism industry. She loves to travel and learn about places and cultures. When Robyn started her teaching career she chose to teach in rural Nebraska. After teaching for 8 years in remote rural schools, as a K-8 instructor, Robyn became the special education teacher at Hyannis Area Schools in 2009. Robyn spends much of her out of school time teaching her daughters how to ride and taking them to horse events. For many years Robyn was a PRCA trick rider and is now sharing that sport with her children. She also enjoys cooking, gardening, sewing, leather crafting, collecting and making Christmas villages, shooting sporting clays, and archery. Robyn and her family attend the Shepherd of the Hills Church. In 2000 Robyn was Miss Rodeo North Dakota. The following winter she was asked to serve on the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame Board of Directors, a position she held for 6 years. She was Lion of the year for the Hyannis Lions Club and is the president of the Grant County Pool Board. In the spring of 2017 she earned her Master's Degree from the University of Nebraska at Kearney in Special Education and has Behavior Specialist endorsement. Robyn working for ESU16 as a the behavior consultant. She works with students, teachers, and administrators in a 12,000 square mile area. She likes to listen to books on tape as she travels.

Gwen Bergstrom
Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner (LIMHP): MS Ed. Email: gbergstrom@esusixteen.org

I received my Bachelors of Science in Business Administration with an Emphasis in Management from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. I then received my Masters of Science in Education (MS Ed.) in Clinical Therapy from The University of Nebraska at Kearney. This is my thirteenth year as a Licensed Mental Health Practitioner and I have been with ESU 16 for 3 years. I am part of our ESU 16 Crisis Response Team. I previously worked for Mid-Plains Behavioral Healthcare in the roles of Foster Care Therapist and Intensive Family Preservation Therapist. I also worked in private practice for 6 years
My hobbies include running, fishing, camping, and growing pumpkins at Homestead Pumpkin Patch.

Jamie Meismer

MA, Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner (LIMHP)
Email: jmeismer@esusixteen.org

I have been working with students for around 15 years. Throughout my journey in education, my passion for wanting to further help students and families grew and grew. I found myself drawn towards the counseling path. After having been a teacher and school counselor, I gained my license to practice in mental health in 2015. I was in private practice for three years. As time went on in private practice, I found myself providing services to clients in their schools more and more. For some students, this was the best way to help them and their families. Eventually, I was very blessed to have the opportunity to work with ESU16. I absolutely love being able to work with families and schools to best help our children as these are huge components of a child's identity and well-being.

Sara Gentry

School Social Worker
Email: sgentry@esusixteen.org
I earned my Bachelors of Science in Social Work from Molloy College in 2007 and my Masters Degree in Social Work through the University of Southern California in 2019. I have worked in a variety of different settings including; therapeutic foster care, child protective services, out-patient mental health and in law enforcement. I began her journey with ESU 16 as a Services Coordinator for the Early Development Network in 2017 until the agency developed the School Social Worker position in 2019. When I'm not at work I enjoy spending time with my family, friends, dogs, traveling and reading.

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School Psychologist: Ed.S; NCSP Work phone: 308-284-8481 (ext. 2203) Email: cruhlman@esusixteen.org I received my Bachelors of Art in Psychology with an Emphasis of Mental Health and minor in Sociology from Doane College in Crete, Nebraska. I then received my Educational Specialist Degree (Ed.S) in School Psychology from The University of Nebraska at Kearney.

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Autism Resources!

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This site is intended as a place to share resources related to educational interventions for students with autism. If you have developed a resource that you would like to share with others, please email Annette Wragge at awragge2@unl.edu.

For more information about autism and the Nebraska ASD Network, please visit our website at: https://www.unl.edu/asdnetwork/home.

To participate in a variety of autism related webinars, please visit our webinar page at: https://www.unl.edu/asdnetwork/webinars. The webinars are available on demand 24/7 and cover a wide variety of autism topics. Certificates of attendance are available for all webinars.

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This site is intended as a place to share resources related to educational interventions for students with autism. If you have developed a resource that you would like to share with others, please email Annette Wragge at awragge2@unl.edu. For more information about autism and the Nebraska ASD Network, please visit our website at: https://www.unl.edu/asdnetwork/home.

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Project Harmony: Many Resources

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Hotlines/Apps/Agencies

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Secondstep Mindfulness Program if you create a free account you have access to free mindfulness sessions

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Access free guided mindfulness sessions, and subscribe to unlock all Mind Yeti content.

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#1 app for sleep & meditation can try it for free and check back frequently on their websites sometimes they offer a free subscription to teachers

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Calm is the #1 app for sleep and meditation. Join the millions experiencing better sleep, lower stress, and less anxiety.

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Meditation App: Might be free to some EHA users check with your district representative

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Unlock hundreds of mood-boosting meditations, relaxing sleep exercises, focus music, and more with our biggest offer of the year.

It's the healthiest, happiest deal you'll find this Black Friday, and it won't last long.

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Meditation and Sleep Made Simple - Headspace

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Live a healthier, happier, more well-rested life in just a few minutes a day with the Headspace app.

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Click on Resource Tab to have access to the variety of mental health resources

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Mental Health | Please Pass the Love | United States

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Please Pass the Love School Mental Health Nonprofit

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CASEL Cares : SEL Resources during COVID

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CASEL Cares : SEL Resources during COVID

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The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated feelings of isolation, stress, loss, and more among young people, adults, families, and communities. Social and emotional learning (SEL) offers a powerful means to support one another during these challenging times as our communities work to address the impact of the pandemic on students' learning and development.

Now, more than ever, we understand how important it is to demonstrate empathy and resilience, build relationships across distance, and call upon our collective resolve to strengthen our schools and our communities.

So, how can SEL support you and your work during this time? Find resources and guidance in Reunite, Renew, Thrive: SEL Roadmap for Reopening School (July 2020).

Our recommendations follow the four core focus areas for schoolwide SEL and districtwide SEL:

First, create a foundation for SEL.

Work with students, families, and communities to envision how education can more holistically support all learners.

Prioritize strong, two-way communication between families and schools.

Second, attend to well-being and mutual support among adults.

Pay close attention to our own social-emotional needs in order to be the community of adults who best serve our young people.

Foster supportive adult relationships to process emotions, share challenges, and offer support to one another.

Third, promote SEL for young people.

Provide consistency in daily routines to foster a sense of safety and predictability.

Listen to young people and support them in building or maintaining a sense of community and connection.

Incorporate social and emotional skill-building into learning (such as CASEL's SEL 3 Signature Practices).

Fourth, reflect on how things are going and adjust as you learn.

Listen to students, families, and your wider community of stakeholders as valuable sources of information about what is or isn't working.

Analyze results with a lens of equity to meet needs using our SEL Data Reflection Protocol

How is CASEL advancing this work?
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Guidance on School Transitions and Reopening

To aid in this time of continued transitions, CASEL collaborated with more than 40 partners to illuminate a way forward through Reunite, Renew, Thrive: SEL Roadmap for Reopening School (July 2020), centered on relationships and built on the existing strengths of a school community. As we prepared for Spring 2021, we offered three strategies adapted from the SEL Roadmap to re-examine efforts for a successful second semester: Refocus on the SEL Roadmap: Actions for a Successful Second Semester (January 2021).

CASEL CARES Webinar Series

In response to the pandemic, CASEL mobilized to provide social and emotional support to our communities and share best practices through an initiative called CASEL CARES. We offered weekly practical guidance and information on topics that were sourced from the field and relevant to the needs of today. Our CASEL CARES Webinars covered a wide range of SEL topics and attracted more than 100,000 people. View the on-demand series

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The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated feelings of isolation, stress, loss, and more among young people, adults, families, and communities. Social and

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Resources to Support Your Work through COVID-19 | DEC

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DEC Collaborate - DEC Community . To join, you must be a DEC member. You will use your CEC login information to access DEC Collaborate. If you forgot your username or password, or contact member services via phone (888-232-7733) or email .

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For those that use MClass as your way to administer Dibels please read this for some possibly options for remote assessment!

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Remote assessment guidance

Our remote assessment guidance will be updated for the beginning of the school year and for summer PD - this will cover improved guidance for how to best assess with all of our mCLASS Literacy and Math assessments in a remote fashion. This will include best practices and professional development videos you will be able to continue to find more mCLASS training resources available in the mCLASS Training and Support and Resource center on mCLASS home.
Online Measures
We are making our existing, validated online measures available free of charge to all of our mCLASS customers. This includes an online reading comprehension measure, an online Word Reading measure, mCLASS Vocabulary and mCLASS Spelling.

With Text Reading and Comprehension Online, students in grades 1-6 will be able to read two texts and answer eight text-dependent comprehension questions, as well as provide responses to text-dependent written comprehension prompts.

Assessment output will inform:

Proficiency status on a grade-level text

Information on type of comprehension task (main idea, making inference, etc.)

WCPM fluency score

Word analysis on the types of words read incorrectly

Writing score on content and syntax

With our online Word Reading measure, students in grades 1-6 select from multiple choices the word that matches the spoken word.

In mCLASS Vocabulary, grade K-3 students demonstrate how well they know grade-specific words, as well as their skill at deriving meaning from text. The assessment covers words that are high utility (tier 2) and content specific (tier 3). Depending on grade level, the student may be asked questions about the word, asked to use the word correctly to fill in a blank, or asked to match the word with its definition.

Finally, with mCLASS Spelling, the grade K-3 students hear a target word selected from a selection of grade-specific words and use letter tiles to spell the word. These words include the phoneme-grapheme correspondences that students at each grade level are expected to learn over the course of a year based upon the scopes and sequences of published reading and spelling curricula.

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Remote assessment guidance Our remote assessment guidance will be updated for the beginning of the school year and for summer PD - this will cover improved guidance for how to best assess with all of our mCLASS Literacy and Math assessments in a remote fashion.

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Since you are looking at this site with an older browser, you will not be able to see any graphics or formatting. For better results, please upgrade your browser.

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Make sure to check this out! It has really great resources in the areas of reading and social-emotional that you can use during the summer and upcoming school year!

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Great information/resources for Summer Reading Program; IRIP (K-3) Guidance; Parent resources; etc

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The NebraskaREADS initiative supports the policies and practices outlined in the Nebraska Reading Improvement Act, which was enacted in 2018 and went into effect during the 2019-2020 school year. The law takes a comprehensive approach to improve the early literacy skills of Nebraska's K-3 students. It emphasizes the importance of strong early reading instruction and individualized supports for students who struggle. The Nebraska Reading Improvement Act values the need to implement with fidelity targeted interventions to bring all students to grade-level proficiency. NebraskaREADS was created to serve the needs of students, educators, and parents along the journey to successful reading.

NebraskaREADS provides tools and resources to support high-quality literacy instruction for all Nebraska students. The initiative highlights policies, procedures, and practices that guide the selection and implementation of literacy practices and evidence-based interventions, and assists districts as they build family, community, and school partnerships to help students become successful readers, setting them up to learn, graduate, and succeed.

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The NebraskaREADS initiative supports the policies and practices outlined in the Nebraska Reading Improvement Act, which was enacted in 2018 and went into effect during the 2019-2020 school year. The law takes a comprehensive approach to improve the early literacy skills of Nebraska's K-3 students.

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Great resources!

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Mental Health First Aid USA - Mental Health First Aid

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Mental Health First Aid is a national program to teach the skills to respond to the signs of mental illness and substance use.

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Lots of mental health resources!

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Connecting people to resources is central to The Kim Foundation's mission of improving lives through mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Through its work, The Kim Foundation ® serves to bridge the gaps in mental health services and further encourages innovation that will enhance programs, expand services, strengthen organizational systems, and most importantly, transform lives.

Focused on increasing awareness and promoting continued education related to mental illness and suicide, The Kim Foundation strives to break down the stigma often associated with seeking mental health care. The Kim Foundation works to assure individuals and families touched by mental illness and/or suicide that they are not alone on their journey to recovery.

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The Kim Foundation: Mental Health, Suicide Prevention

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Connecting people to resources is central to The Kim Foundation's mission of improving lives through mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Through its work, The Kim Foundation ® serves to bridge the gaps in mental health services and further encourages innovation that will enhance programs, expand services, strengthen organizational systems, and most importantly, transform lives.

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Great information for parents

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Connecting Nebraskans with special needs to resources and support.

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Resource Guide: Resiliency, Stress and Grief:Managing Through Covid-19. Boston, MA: Boston University Center for Future Readiness

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Resource Guide: Resiliency, Stress and Grief:Managing Through Covid-19. Boston, MA: Boston University Center for Future Readiness

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Social-Emotional Curriculum. The creator has provided some free resources that you can use with distant learning.

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Teach Kids to Manage Big Feelings Through Effective Social Emotional Learning

Over 80% of U.S. public schools reported in 2022 on the negative impact of the pandemic on child well-being and self-regulation. Kids are:

Struggling to manage their feelings and mental health

More disruptive in the classroom

Needing additional social, emotional, and behavioral support

(source: National Center for Education Statistics)

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The Zones of Regulation is a complete social-emotional learning curriculum, created to teach children self-regulation and emotional control.

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Social-Emotional Resources/Webinars

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The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated feelings of isolation, stress, loss, and more among young people, adults, families, and communities. Social and emotional learning (SEL) offers a powerful means to support one another during these challenging times as our communities work to address the impact of the pandemic on students' learning and development.

Now, more than ever, we understand how important it is to demonstrate empathy and resilience, build relationships across distance, and call upon our collective resolve to strengthen our schools and our communities.

So, how can SEL support you and your work during this time? Find resources and guidance in Reunite, Renew, Thrive: SEL Roadmap for Reopening School (July 2020).

Our recommendations follow the four core focus areas for schoolwide SEL and districtwide SEL:

First, create a foundation for SEL.

Work with students, families, and communities to envision how education can more holistically support all learners.

Prioritize strong, two-way communication between families and schools.

Second, attend to well-being and mutual support among adults.

Pay close attention to our own social-emotional needs in order to be the community of adults who best serve our young people.

Foster supportive adult relationships to process emotions, share challenges, and offer support to one another.

Third, promote SEL for young people.

Provide consistency in daily routines to foster a sense of safety and predictability.

Listen to young people and support them in building or maintaining a sense of community and connection.

Incorporate social and emotional skill-building into learning (such as CASEL's SEL 3 Signature Practices).

Fourth, reflect on how things are going and adjust as you learn.

Listen to students, families, and your wider community of stakeholders as valuable sources of information about what is or isn't working.

Analyze results with a lens of equity to meet needs using our SEL Data Reflection Protocol

How is CASEL advancing this work?
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Guidance on School Transitions and Reopening

To aid in this time of continued transitions, CASEL collaborated with more than 40 partners to illuminate a way forward through Reunite, Renew, Thrive: SEL Roadmap for Reopening School (July 2020), centered on relationships and built on the existing strengths of a school community. As we prepared for Spring 2021, we offered three strategies adapted from the SEL Roadmap to re-examine efforts for a successful second semester: Refocus on the SEL Roadmap: Actions for a Successful Second Semester (January 2021).

CASEL CARES Webinar Series

In response to the pandemic, CASEL mobilized to provide social and emotional support to our communities and share best practices through an initiative called CASEL CARES. We offered weekly practical guidance and information on topics that were sourced from the field and relevant to the needs of today. Our CASEL CARES Webinars covered a wide range of SEL topics and attracted more than 100,000 people. View the on-demand series

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The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated feelings of isolation, stress, loss, and more among young people, adults, families, and communities. Social and

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Quick Look

Grade Level: 4 (3-5)

Time Required: 5 hours 45 minutes

This activity is divided into 7 parts. ~135 minutes for Part 1-2; ~60 minutes for Parts 3-4; ~ 150 minutes for Parts 5-7

Expendable Cost/Group: US $5.00

Note: Estimate. Cost varies by amount and type of materials made available to students for designing and constructing their model biodomes.

Group Size: 3

Activity Dependency: None

Subject Areas: Biology, Life Science, Science and Technology

NGSS Performance Expectations:

Summary
In this multi-day activity, students explore environments, ecosystems, energy flow and organism interactions by creating a scale model biodome through applying the engineering design process. The Procedure section provides activity instructions for Biodomes unit, lessons 2-6, as students work through Parts 1-6 to develop their model biodome. Subjects include energy flow and food chains, basic needs of plants and animals, and the importance of decomposers. Students consider why a solid understanding of one's environment and the interdependence of an ecosystem can inform the choices we make and the way we engineer our own communities. This activity can be conducted as either a very structured or open-ended design.
This engineering curriculum aligns to Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).

Engineering Connection

Every day, engineers adapt existing designs for housing, structures and cities so they work optimally in specific environments and ecosystems. To do this, engineers apply their understanding of the specific environment and biosphere, along with the concept of ecosystems to inform their designs and shape the human-built environment. Engineers employ the cyclical steps of the engineering design process to creatively brainstorm, design, prototype and create our human-made world.

Learning Objectives

After this activity, students should be able to:

Define a biodome and name its important features.

Use the engineering design process to create a model biodome of a particular environment.

Describe how engineers use their understanding of the biosphere, ecosystems and community interactions to design our human-built environment.

Educational Standards

Each TeachEngineering lesson or activity is correlated to one or more K-12 science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) educational standards.

All 100,000+ K-12 STEM standards covered in TeachEngineering are collected, maintained and packaged by the Achievement Standards Network (ASN), a project of D2L (www.achievementstandards.org).

In the ASN, standards are hierarchically structured: first by source; e.g., by state; within source by type; e.g., science or mathematics; within type by subtype, then by grade, etc.

NGSS Performance Expectation

Click to view other curriculum aligned to this Performance Expectation

This activity focuses on the following Three Dimensional Learning aspects of NGSS:

Science & Engineering Practices

Disciplinary Core Ideas

Crosscutting Concepts

Develop a model to describe phenomena. Science explanations describe the mechanisms for natural events.

The food of almost any kind of animal can be traced back to plants. Organisms are related in food webs in which some animals eat plants for food and other animals eat the animals that eat plants. Some organisms, such as fungi and bacteria, break down dead organisms (both plants or plants parts and animals) and therefore operate as "decomposers." Decomposition eventually restores (recycles) some materials back to the soil. Organisms can survive only in environments in which their particular needs are met. A healthy ecosystem is one in which multiple species of different types are each able to meet their needs in a relatively stable web of life. Newly introduced species can damage the balance of an ecosystem. Matter cycles between the air and soil and among plants, animals, and microbes as these organisms live and die. Organisms obtain gases, and water, from the environment, and release waste matter (gas, liquid, or solid) back into the environment.

Suggest an alignment not listed above

Materials List

Each group needs: (Most items are available at hardware or garden center stores.)

Biodomes Engineering Design Project Workbook: Lessons 2-6

2 plastic containers (1- and 2-liter bottles with lids work well, or other inexpensive clear plastic trays, bowls, covers and lids) Well in advance, ask students to bring biodome construction materials from home, or rinse out plastic containers from a recycling bin.

seeds (provide several types for different climates)

soil (3-4 cups or .7-.9 l)

sand (3-4 cups or .7-.9 l)

supply of miscellaneous materials, such as pebbles, rocks, wire, small paper cups, plastic wrap, string, foil, popsicle sticks, chopsticks, etc.

If insects are not available outside (due to the weather or other limitations), consider purchasing a small supply of crickets from a pet store.

For the entire class to share:

masking tape

duct tape

glue (preferred: hot glue sticks with glue guns)

scissors

exacto knives (if teacher cuts the plastic bottles)

butterfly nets and/or jars and paper cups (to catch and hold insects and worms)

drill (to make a hole in plastic bottle lids)

water

Worksheets and Attachments
Visit [www.teachengineering.org/activities/view/cub_bio_lesson02_activity1] to print or download.

Pre-Req Knowledge

Some knowledge about environments and ecosystems, as introduced in Lesson 1 of the Biodomes unit.

Introduction/Motivation

Let's see what you know about different environments. Can anyone name an example of an environment? (Possible answers: Tropical rain forest, desert, other forest types [such as deciduous or coniferous], grassland prairie and arctic tundra.) All of these environments and ecosystems are part of our biosphere. The biosphere is the part of the Earth's atmosphere that supports life and includes both living (biotic) and nonliving (abiotic) things. It includes all the plants, animals, weather and climate. So, what happens when we have too many organisms in one environment? It may get too crowded! We call the number of organisms in a particular environment its population. Populations are made up of all the members of a species living in the same place at the same time. We learn about population numbers, or population density, to help us understand how much of resources (such as food, water and air) are available for each individual organism in an environment. Engineers need to know about the population density and how it is distributed so they can design areas for cities, parks, roadways, and even water systems so enough is available for a community to drink and use.

If you were able to design an environment, what would it look like? Would it have plants and animals in it? Which ones? How would you decide how many plants and animals you would put in your environment? Would you also live in your environment? How would you get the right amounts of air, water and food for each of your plants and animals? Well, engineers actually design artificial environments that consider all of these things. These environments are called biodomes. A biodome is a model that is designed to represent a particular environment and the community of organisms that live there. Biodomes are used to study ecosystems and attempt to model how living and nonliving things interact in those natural environments. The goal of a biodome is to create an environment that has enough resources for every plant and animal, creating a balance or equilibrium. Engineers come up with all sorts of cool designs using the engineering design process and eventually they settle on one to create.

Who knows something about the engineering design process? It is the set of steps that engineers take when they develop a new or improved product. Can you think of some of the steps an engineer may need to complete when designing something? Well, first they have to have a problem or a need. Then, they brainstorm creative ideas and solutions to that problem or need. Next they select the most promising idea, and draw or communicate the idea to others. Finally, they build a model of the design and evaluate whether or not that design is successful.

Who would like to become and engineer, learn more about environments, and create a biodome? Here is our challenge for this project:

Countries from all over the world have started a new project to create the best biodome yet! This new biodome will represent all the different climates and landscapes on the globe. The organizing committee has asked engineers from all different countries, including you, to help them in the design process. They request that you create a small-scale version - or prototype - of your design. Your design must only include one climate and landscape. When all the designs are done, one of them will be selected as the winner, to be built. So, it is time to put on your engineering hats and start thinking about how to make the best biodome. First thing to do is brainstorm your ideas and then make a drawing. Are you ready?

Procedure

Before the Activity

This activity can be conducted as either a very structured or open-ended design. For a more structured lesson, direct the students to build model biodomes as described in Figure 1. Otherwise, provide students with a variety of materials and set them loose to design a biodome structure of their own imagination (see Figure 2).

Gather materials and make enough copies of the Biodomes Engineering Design Project Workbook: Lessons 2-6, one per team (staple the pages together to make workbooks).

With the Students

Part 1: Designing Your Biodome (for Biodomes unit, Lesson 2)

1. Divide the class into engineering teams of two to four students each.

2. Give each group a Biodomes Engineering Design Project Workbook: Lessons 2-6.

3. Have students decide on a name for their engineering design team (and record it on the first page of their workbook).

4. Instruct the students to brainstorm ideas on what a biodome would contain for a given environment. (Provide teams with an environment, perhaps the local environment.)

5. After the students have brainstormed their ideas and shared a few with the class, have them pick one of their ideas from which they will build their team's model biodome.

6. Next, have students draw a picture of their biodome design in the space provided in their workbooks. (Note: For a simple biodome structure, follow the Figure 1 instructions, have students design uniform biodomes, and provide them with a variety of materials, soils and seeds for the interior. For a more open-ended project, instruct the teams to creatively design their own biodome structures and materials [see Figure 2].)

Part 2: Building Your Biodome Structure (for Biodomes unit, Lesson 2)

1. During this class period, provide each group with the supplies they need to build the structure of their designed biodome.

2. Provide time for the students to build their biodome structures. Remind them that they need a tight seal on their biodome, so that it becomes a completely contained mini-environment (use tape or hot glue, preserving the ability to open/close the biodome for future steps).

3. Have students answer the questions in Part 2 of the workbook. Remind them that engineers often encounter challenges many times during the engineering design process, before they achieve a finished product.

Part 3: Energy Flow in Your Biodome (for Biodomes unit, Lesson 3)

1. Instruct students to sit together with the members of their engineering design teams.

2. In their workbooks, have students explain their biodome environment and make a list of the organisms that could be found if their biodome was built on a larger scale.

3. Next, have students draw one or more food chains or food webs to show the flow of energy through their biodome environment. Have them consider the relationships of the food sources and consumers in their individual biodomes.

4. Have several student teams share their food chains or food webs with the class. Discuss the flow of energy through each of their model biodomes.

5. Engage the students in a class discussion about their biodomes. Questions: From where does the energy to sustain your biodomes originally come? (Answer: The sun.) How will you make sure that sunlight gets into your biodome? Where are the air and water sources for your biodomes?

Part 4: Plants in Your Biodome (for Biodomes unit, Lesson 4)

1. Instruct students to sit together with the members of their engineering design teams.

2. Discuss basic plant needs with the students (food, water and energy from the sun).

3. Have students place soil, sand, rocks, ponds, or earth features into their biodomes, according to their designs.

4. Next, have students plant several seeds in the soil of their biodomes.

5. Remind students to record in their workbooks what they are adding to their biodomes.

6. Next, have students water their biodome and seal it up tightly.

7. Ask students to review their food chain drawings and the plants they placed inside their biodomes. Will these plants support their food chains? If not, what changes will they need to make to their food chains? Tell them that engineers often have to make adjustments to their projects as they learn new information or change their materials (in this case, seeds) from their original design.

Part 5: Animals in Your Biodome (for Biodomes unit, Lesson 5)

1. Instruct students to sit together with the members of their engineering design teams.

2. In their workbooks, have student record observations of what happened to their biodome since they last added something.

3. Inform the students that today they will collect animals from outdoors to place into their biodomes. Before they go outside to collect the animals, they need to plan what kind of animals they can have inside.

4. Make a list on the board of possible animals (insects) that the students may find to put in their biodome. (Ideas: grasshoppers, crickets, snails, ants, flies, moths, box elder bugs, June bugs, water bugs. Worms will be added in the decomposition activity, Part 6.) Also make a list of food sources that those animals require.

5. Ask the students what kinds of problems they might have in picking which animals to put inside the biodome. Explain that they do not want the animals to be eaten by the other animals in the biodome. If this happens, all the animals would die once their food source is gone. Also explain that engineers are often limited by the materials that are available to them. In this case, the students are limited to the animals they can find outside their classroom, mostly insects.

6. After giving instructions on outdoor policies, give the students some time go outside with nets and jars to collect insects for their biodomes.

7. Returning to class, ask the students to place their insects/animals into their biodomes and observe what they see.

8. Have students add water, if needed, to their biodome and seal it up tightly.

Part 6: Decomposers in Your Biodome (for Biodomes unit, Lesson 6)

1. Instruct students to sit together with the members of their engineering design teams.

2. In their workbooks, have student record observations of what happened to their biodome since they last added something.

3. Inform the students that today they will collect worms from outdoors to place into their biodomes. The worms help to break down animal and plant wastes into more useful soil and nutrients.

4. Ask the students what kind of problems they see with putting animals and plants into a biodome. Lead them to realize that it is very difficult for humans to make a safe atmosphere for all the different types of plants and animals and that often some of the plants and animals die in their new locations. While the idea of biodomes is a very popular one, there have not been many successes. Engineers work with biologists and other scientists to try their best to design environments in which the animals can live as if they were in nature.

5. After giving instructions on outdoor policies, give the students some time to go outside to with jars or paper cups to collect worms for their biodomes.

6. Returning to class, ask the students to place their worms into their biodomes and observe what they see.

7. Have students add water, if needed, to their biodome and seal it up tightly.

Part 7: Review & Evaluation (after completion of the model biodomes)

1. Instruct students to sit together with the members of their engineering design teams.

2. In their workbooks, have student record observations of what happened to their biodome since they last added something.

3. Have them answer the review and evaluation questions in their workbooks.

4. Exhibit the completed model biodomes, along with the completed team workbooks in the school library, display cases or at parents' night.

Vocabulary/Definitions

biodome: A human-made, closed environment containing plants and animals existing in equilibrium.

brainstorming: A technique of solving specific problems, stimulating creative thinking and developing new ideas by unrestrained and spontaneous discussion.

ecosystem: A functional unit consisting of all the living organisms (plants, animals and microbes) in a given area, and all the nonliving physical and chemical factors of their environment, linked together through nutrient cycling and energy flow. An ecosystem can be of any size - a log, pond, field, forest or the Earth's biosphere - but it always functions as a whole unit.

engineer: A person who applies scientific and mathematical principles to creative and practical ends such as the design, manufacture and operation of efficient and economical structures, machines, processes and systems.

engineering design process: The design, build and test loop used by engineers. The steps of the design process include: 1) Define the problem, 2) Come up with ideas (brainstorming), 3) Select the most promising design, 4) Communicate the design, 5) Create and test the design, and 6) Evaluate and revise the design.

model: (noun) A representation of something, sometimes on a smaller scale. (verb) To simulate, make or construct something to help visualize or learn about something else (as the living human body, a process or an ecosystem) that cannot be directly observed or experimented upon.

prototype: A first attempt or early model of a new product or creation. May be revised many times.

Assessment

Pre-Activity Assessment

Discussion Questions: Solicit, integrate and summarize student responses.

What is an environment? What types of things does an environment include? Can you think of any artificial environments?

Are you familiar with the engineering design process? Can you name any steps in the engineering design process?

Activity Embedded Assessment

Workbook: Have students follow along with the activity using the Biodomes Engineering Design Project Workbook: Lessons 2-6. Ask the student teams to complete the questions in the workbook after they have finished each part of creating the biodome. After students have finished the workbook questions, have them compare answers with their peers. Review their answers to gauge their mastery of the subject.

Post-Activity Assessment

Re-Engineering: Ask student teams to brainstorm to come up with many ideas on how they could improve their biodomes. Have them sketch the most promising ideas.

Show and Tell: Have student groups show off their biodomes to the rest of the class. Have them explain: 1) how they developed their design, 2) the best part of their design, 3) what could go wrong with it, and 4) what could be fixed or improved in future models. Remind students that engineers go through the design-build-redesign process many times before they are satisfied with a finished product.

Engineering Poster: Using the knowledge they learned in the biodomes lessons and activities, have student engineering teams each create a poster to present their best design for a biodome of a particular environment. Ask them to title their posters with an engineering company name that they invent, such as, Eco Engineering Corporation.

Making Sense: Have students reflect on the science concepts they explored and/or the science and engineering skills they used by completing the Making Sense Assessment.

Safety Issues

Warn students to be careful when cutting plastic bottles. Or, depending on the ability of the students, cut the plastic bottles in advance of the activity.

Set up a hot glue gun station that either the teacher or a classroom assistant supervises. Do not hand out hot glue guns unless students are able to use them responsibly and safely.

Be aware of any student allergies to insects, grasses, etc.

Warn students not to try to capture potentially dangerous insects, such as bees, wasps or spiders.

Be sure to monitor students when they are outdoors.

Troubleshooting Tips

Limit the materials that students are permitted to use to create their biodomes, otherwise, the biodomes tend to become large and resource demanding. This approach mirrors the real world, in which engineers are usually given size, budget and/or resource limitations. One way to limit size is to set a maximum footprint area, such as one square meter or one square foot.

To give the seeds more time to grow, consider swapping the order of Parts 3 and 4, so the seeds are planted earlier in the model biodome development process.

For Part 5, if insects are not available outside (due to the weather or other limitations), consider purchasing a small supply of crickets or snails (often free since they usually have too many) from a pet store, or potato bugs from a science lab. Note that snails and aquarium plants should not go down the drain or into a nearby stream as both are nasty invasive species. Instead, explain to the students that you'll find a home for them, and then either return them to a suitable aquarium elsewhere or destroy them.

Activity Extensions

Have students conduct research to find out what types of construction methods have been used in real biodomes. See if they can find any details on how these design ideas were reached.

Have students make a bar graph representing the class' biodome diversity.

Have students make a bar chart of the animals and plants they included in their biodomes. Gather all class data and make a class chart as a demonstration. From the data, ask the students how biodome engineers make sure they gather an appropriate sample of plants, animals and decomposers. (Point out that most of students probably gathered the easiest animals and plants to find. What would happen if biodome engineers did this? Would it be a good representation of life?) Then, ask the students to do this for their own biodomes.

Have students research real-world biodomes and find out what animals, birds and fish are inside. How do biodome managers control how the animals come into contact with each other in order to maintain healthy populations of both predators and prey?

Activity Scaling

For lower grades, adjust the amount of detail required for the biodome design project. You could have the students create identical plant-only biodomes, using the Figure 1 design, or cover only Parts 1, 2 and 4 of the activity.

For upper grades, there are numerous ways to scale up this project. Give students more constraints on materials and size, and/or come up with other "customer" requirements. Add a math component by requiring them to draw their designs to scale, or measure and graph the growth of their plants, or survival rate of their animals and decomposers. You could also have students design their biodomes using a computer-aided design software application. Require the student teams to present their projects to the class as if they were a professional engineering firm.

References

Biosphere 2. Biosphere 2, Tuscon, AZ. Accessed October 26, 2006. http://www.bio2.com/

Dictionary.com. Lexico Publishing Group, LLC. Accessed October 11, 2006. (Source of some vocabulary definitions, with some adaptation) http://www.dictionary.com

Copyright © 2004 by Regents of the University of Colorado

Contributors Katherine Beggs; Christopher Valenti; Malinda Schaefer Zarske; Denise Carlson

Supporting Program Integrated Teaching and Learning Program, College of Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder

Acknowledgements

The contents of this digital library curriculum were developed under a grant from the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), U.S. Department of Education and National Science Foundation GK-12 grant no. 0338326. However, these contents do not necessarily represent the policies of the Department of Education or National Science Foundation, and you should not assume endorsement by the federal government.

Last modified: January 23, 2021

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Biodomes Engineering Design Project: Lessons 2-6 - Activity

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In this multi-day activity, students explore environments, ecosystems, energy flow and organism interactions by creating a scale model biodome through applying the engineering design process . The Procedure section provides activity instructions for Biodomes unit, lessons 2-6, as students work through Parts 1-6 to develop their model biodome.

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Our Mission:
To build an effective, coordinated system for preparing, supporting, and recognizing the early childhood care and education workforce, in order to provide high quality, inclusive programs for young children and their families.

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Our Mission:To build an effective, coordinated system for preparing, supporting, and recognizing the early childhood care and education workforce, in order to provide high quality, inclusive programs for young children and their families.

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These are Free!

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The free Plum Village App has been lovingly created with many volunteered hours of work to allow us all to take Plum Village with us wherever we go.

There are also a range of other meditation apps which can support our mindfulness practice and we list them here.

Often when we are on our computers or smartphones, we become completely lost in our work and completely disconnected from our body in the here and now. You may like to program a bell of mindfulness on your computer or smartphone and every quarter of an hour (or as often as you like), the bell sounds so you have a chance to stop, breathe and relax.

Listen to a sound of the bell

Breathing in and out three times is enough to release the tension in the body and smile, and then continue your work. If we're in the middle of a conversation, hearing the bell of mindfulness can be a helpful reminder to practice mindful, compassionate speech.

There are also virtual Sanghas, guided meditation apps, and other mindfulness apps and tools available online. You may like to check out if you'd like to find a virtual sangha in the Plum Village Tradition (and don't forget you can find a local group that meets up near you by checking out our international sangha directory).

Here are some mobile and desktop apps we hope you'll find helpful in supporting your energy of mindfulness throughout the day.

The Plum Village App (free)

Operating System: Android | iOS

Plum Village is a new meditation app that can support us to cultivate mindfulness, compassion and joy through guided meditations, deep relaxations, practice poems, bells of mindfulness and many other features.

Mindfulness is the energy of being aware and awake to the present moment. It is the continuous practice of touching life deeply in every moment of daily life. To be mindful is to be truly alive, present and at one with those around you and with what you are doing. We bring our body and mind into harmony while we wash the dishes, drive the car or take our morning shower.

In the last decade, countless scientific studies confirmed that a sustained mindfulness practice promotes relaxation, reduced stress levels, better sleep, reduced anxiety, and increased concentration. In general the benefits of meditation have been proven to improve mental health and the overall well-being of practitioners.

The Plum Village app is one of the few mindfulness apps that offer completely free content, including high quality, rare guided meditations offered by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, as well as many other monastic teachers in this Buddhist tradition. It's a great way to support your daily meditations.

The app features resources treasured by thousands of Plum Village practitioners, like guidance on practicing with the inner child, the famous pebble meditation, the four mantras, the five contemplations before eating, guided deep relaxations (body scan), music tracks with practice songs and chants offered by nuns, monks, and lay practitioners, and even nature sounds recorded in the Plum Village Monastery in France, and other practice centers around the world.

This app can be used by experienced practitioners and is at the same time a great fit for new meditators, offering detailed guidance on how to get started, answers offered by Thich Nhat Hanh to frequently asked questions, and podcasts with more than 300 Dharma Talks..

The Plum Village app works on all iPhone and Android devices.
Download from Google Play (Android)
Download from the iTunes App Store (Apple)
Visit the website
Other Mindfulness Apps

Insight Timer (in-app purchases | Android | iOS)

Originally a meditation timer, Insight Timer is now a fun, connected way to support your meditation practice, as well as a marketplace for mindfulness exercises, courses, masterclasses, and mindfulness meditation sessions. It includes free guided mediations from Thich Nhat Hanh and other leading meditation teachers. For those new to meditation, there are introductory guided meditations and a supportive community to help you get started. Insight Timer works on all iPhone and Android devices.
Download Insight Timer from Google Play (Android)
Download Insight Timer from the App Store (Apple)
MindBell (free | Android)
Download MindBell from Google Play
MindBell rings periodically during the day, to give you the opportunity to stop, breathe and smile. Stopping with the sound of the bell is an essential practice developed by Thich Nhat Hanh and the Plum Village community, and is at the foundation of cultivating mindfulness, calm awareness, presence, and self-compassion throughout the day.

Additionally, MindBell can be used as a timer for you meditation sessions.

Headspace (in-app purchases | Android | iOS)

The Headspace app is considered one of the best meditation apps for beginners. Its goal is to help us cultivate the life-changing skills of mindfulness in order to reap the benefits of meditation.
Download Headspace from Google Play (Android)
Download Headspace from iTunes (Apple)
Headspace is a paid app: it offers a free version with 10 lessons, but if you become a monthly subscriber, you can access to hundreds of guided meditations for your daily practice, on a large variety of topics, ranging from stress and anxiety to sleep and focus, and even bedtime stories.
Add Bell of Mindfulness to your Chrome browser
There are seven-day check in sessions and daily meditations recorded by ex-Buddhist monk Andy Puddicombe, aimed at helping us build healthier and happier relationships with the people we love, and Headspace SOS sessions to help us breathe and find a place of calm and relaxation during meltdown moments. The key methods the app offers are breathing exercises and body scans.

Meditation Apps for Desktop

Bell of Mindfulness (free browser extension)

This is a simple bell that reminds us to take a short pause from whatever we're doing on the computer, and come back to our breathing. As Thich Nhat Hanh has taught, returning to our breathing reconnects us with our body and mind in the here and now. We have a chance to take care of any tension we find there - we can stretch, smile, relax for a short moment. Apart from using various mindfulness apps, installing a bell on our computer is one of the surest ways to stay mindful of whatever we are doing.

Time Out (in-app purchases | Mac)
Download Mindfulness Menu Bar for Mac
Time Out offers easy break reminders, with flexible customization. We can set the whole screen to blur or change colour to encourage us to take a rest from time to time.

Similarly with some mindfulness apps, you can configure how long each kind of break lasts, and how long between breaks, and the breaks can be set to count backwards when you take a natural break, e.g. when you go away from your computer.
Download Time Out from iTunes

Mindfulness bell menu bar (Mac)

Mindfulness Bell Menu Bar is a menubar application to aid you in your mindfulness practice. Simply choose an interval and a small or large bell will sound at the prescribed time to invite you to take a moment to observe the breath.

Stay Focused (free browser extension)

Thich Nhat Hanh has said that we need an intentional strategy to manage our media consumption in a mindful, awakened way. StayFocusd is a free app which empowers you to stick to your intention by limiting the amount of time that you can spend on time-wasting websites. For example, you could set a "healthy" time limit on news sites, of, say 5 or 10 minutes per day. There is also a new, paid version for phones and tablets.

Install browser extension for Chrome | Firefox

uBlock Origin (free browser extension)

Thich Nhat Hanh teaches us that "appropriate attention" is essential to being mindful. We need to be aware of the right things, not the wrong things.

If we want to cultivate a high quality of presence and concentration, we don't want our attention being taken from us by unwanted advertisements. Ads are usually trying to sell us things we neither want nor need to be happy - or that are even toxic for body and mind. We can limit ourselves to visiting sites that don't display distracting or unwholesome advertisement and by supporting good content creators by paying for subscriptions that allow us to view their content without advertisement. For advertisements that we can't get around uBlock Origin is a free app can block out any kind of content including advertisements. It can be turned off on a per website basis so please consider turning it off on websites of independent web content providers for whom advertisement might be their only, and often minimal, source of income.

Download uBlock Origin for Chrome, Firefox or Safari

Even more meditation apps: 10% Happier, the Calm app sleep stories, Buddhify, Aura, Stop, Breathe & Think, Waking Up by Dan Harris, Simple Habit, Smiling Mind.

Regardless of the app we're using, it's most likely to be successful in our practice if we join or build a community, even just with a few friends, so we could share our journey, our difficulties and successes with them, get inspired, and learn from others.

There are also virtual Sanghas, guided meditation apps, and other mindfulness apps and tools available online. You may like to check out if you'd like to find a virtual sangha in the Plum Village Tradition (and don't forget you can find a local group that meets up near you by checking out our international sangha directory).

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The free Plum Village App has been lovingly created with many volunteered hours of work to allow us all to take Plum Village with us wherever we go. There are also a range of other meditation apps which can support our mindfulness practice and we list them here.

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I believe that public education is one of the greatest accomplishments of our democratic society. Education is guaranteed to all children. Education is power and by providing an education to all students we are empowering our young people to be active members of our community, our country, and our world. I truly believe that every student can learn and that they can contribute to society in some manner. I believe that all students must be given the power of choice and understand that though choice they determine their future. We must provide students the opportunity to make true and genuine choices within the school setting so they have these skills when they leave for the adult world.

I believe that knowledge is not limited and we should never stop seeking clearer and more complete knowledge. I believe that knowledge comes from a variety of sources: science, intuition, insight, experience, feeling, trial and error, research, logic, deductive reasoning, and inductive reasoning are all vital components in the search for knowledge.
Education is not a one size fits all endeavor. If we tell students that the only way to have knowledge is to memorize it we limit them. No one knows everything we are teaching lifelong learners and we want them to have the skills to be lifelong learners.
I believe that it is our job as teachers to give our students the tools to make moral decisions. Not just moral for oneself but moral decisions for humanity. It is important to teach all students that hate is wrong and can lead to horrible consequences. American education has the unique opportunity to not just provide an education to all religions, cultures and, races but all abilities as well. Seeing one another in a positive accepting light is important to this education. Good inclusion practices are paramount to this success. People are afraid of what they don't know so students must be given the opportunity to work with others of varied backgrounds and abilities and see qualities that are human and tie us all together. This positive inclusion means creating a fostering environment where students work together for a common goal and all students are valued within the classroom no matter their abilities. As an educator I often ask "how can I keep this child active in the school and provide him or her chance to be seen as a positive contributing member of a class or community?" It is my hope that all students learned about differences and are accepting to others that are different throughout their lifetime.

I feel that students should take responsibility for their actions and learn to make choices for their lives. I don't think that adults can make all choices for students until they turn 18 and then suddenly say, "Okay now you make the choices." I love behavior charts and using them so that students can self monitor their behaviors and see that the choices they make during the day affect the outcome.

​I believe that each individual must be responsible for his or her own learning. Learning is not a passive activity- one must be involved. An individual's learning is just that- individual. Each person is unique and has unique experiences, interests, and skills. This makes their learning and learning needs unique. As en educator it is my responsibility to facilitate the learning of students and provide guidance toward meeting their greatest learning potential and then use to better their community. ​

Educational Goals

Build teams of people to enhance the education of all students especially those with special needs

Build individual student skills so they become productive members of their community

Contact Information

Robyn Werth rwerth@esusixteen.org

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I believe that public education is one of the greatest accomplishments of our democratic society. Education is guaranteed to all children. Education is power and by providing an education to all students we are empowering our young people to be active members of our community, our country, and our world.

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Great Resources in all areas!

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Esu 16 Paras Pinterest site for Ideas https://www.pinterest.com/esu16/

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Has great resources along with information about our Early Childhood Team!

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ESU 16 welcomes you to their Early Childhood website. We hope to offer you information about ourselves, our services, and helpful links and resources that are educational and informative.

In addition, we also have information regarding our Planning Region Team which is instrumental in bringing training to parents and professionals and bridging the gaps and barriers across our 9 county region.

If you have questions regarding ESU 16 Early Childhood Support Services, please call our offices at (308) 284-8481.

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ESU 16 welcomes you to their Early Childhood website. We hope to offer you information about ourselves, our services, and helpful links and resources that are educational and informative. In addition, we also have information regarding our Planning Region Team which is instrumental in bringing training to parents and professionals and bridging the gaps and barriers across our 9 county region.

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Has great resources for Reading, Math, Speech/Language, Early Childhood, and much more!

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Photo Credit: Gerd Altmann

About Our Services
ESU 16 provides special education services to area schools including: Audiology, Behavior, Assistive Technology, Audiology, Behavior, Consultant, Deaf Education, Early Childhood, Inclusion, School Psychology, Speech Pathology, Transition, Vision and helpful Para Educators.

reading

Study Island

Reading Plus

Florida Reading Research

Common Core Sheets

Math

Study Island

Math-Aids.com

Common Core Sheets

Speech & Language

Identify the Signs

Identify the Signs - S/L Disorder

Mommy Speech Therapy

Stuttering

Apraxia Kids

Autism

ESU 16 Autism Team Referral Form

Transition

Nebraska Department of Education

NDE Department of Special Education

Alternate Assessment

Behavior

Organizations

Angelman Foundation

Early Childhood

Feeding Littles

Zero to Three

Identify the Signs - Early Child

Cari Ebert Toddler Tips

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Photo Credit: Gerd Altmann About Our Services ESU 16 provides special education services to area schools including: Audiology, Behavior, Assistive Technology, Audiology, Behavior, Consultant, Deaf Education, Early Childhood, Inclusion, School Psychology, Speech Pathology, Transition, Vision and helpful Para Educators.

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Shareable Resources on Coping with COVID-19

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Shareable Resources on Coping with COVID-19

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Help raise awareness about coping with COVID-19 by sharing these resources.

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is stressful for many people. People respond to stress in different ways and it is normal to experience a range of emotions, including fear, anxiety, and grief. Sharing accurate information about COVID-19 and strategies for coping can be an effective way to manage stress and connect with others.

Help raise awareness about coping with COVID-19 by sharing these resources.

Check Out News Stories about Coping with COVID-19

Read news stories featuring NIMH staff discussing coping strategies and the mental health impact of COVID-19. More stories can be found on the Dr. Gordon in the News webpage.

Listen to radio interviews with NIMH staff about coping strategies.

Educate Yourself and Others about Resources for Coping with COVID-19

Check out these informational pages for more resources on coping with COVID-19.

These NIMH resources also offer information and strategies for dealing with difficult times.

Use Videos to Educate Others

Click "Copy link" or "Share" to copy the video URL and post these videos on social media, or embed them on your website.

Learn More about COVID-19

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Shareable Resources on Coping with COVID-19

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Help raise awareness about coping with COVID-19 by sharing these resources. The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is stressful for many people. People respond to stress in different ways and it is normal to experience a range of emotions, including fear, anxiety, and grief.

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List of activities/websites for kids, all subjects

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List of activities/websites for kids, all subjects

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List of activities_websites for kids. - Google Docs

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Hidden Picture Games which is fun to play with students on zoom!

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BrainPlay Poll

Have you ever found a four-leaf clover?

Tell Me How

How can I have fun on a rainy day?

Show Answer

How can I have fun on a rainy day?

There are lots of ways to have fun when it's raining outside. You could create some art or bake something with a parent. Or escape to a new world with a good book. You could build your own cozy reading fort, turn out the lights, and read with a flashlight. Or you could try balloon tennis. Attach a paper plate to a paint stick or ruler to make your tennis racket. Blow up a balloon and let the games begin!

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The place for children of all ages to play games and discover new jokes, surveys, answers to science questions, and fun crafts and recipes from Highlights.

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The Story of The Oyster and The Butterfly: The Corona Virus and Me 

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The Story of The Oyster and The Butterfly: The Corona Virus and Me 

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SecondStep is offer K-5 grades lessons/online free! The site also has many free resources/activities that are great to be used in the home and at school. Check out the webinars!!

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Curated for Educators and Families

Support Social-Emotional Well-Being

When children practice social-emotional skills throughout their day, they learn to understand emotions and cope with everyday challenges. Use and share these research-based social-emotional learning (SEL) resources to empower children to thrive at school, at home, and everywhere in between.

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SEL Activities and Resources | Second Step

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Use and share these research-based SEL activities and resources to empower children to thrive at school, at home, and everywhere in between.

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Resource Guide for Parents, Teachers & Students

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Resource Guide for Parents, Teachers & Students

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A list of many helpline numbers in our state!

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Doane University put together a number of resources/apps to help during this time. The Parenting/Educational & Mind & Body Wellness resources are especially helpful.

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Religion app
This app has "decks" of flashcards to help you learn the basics about some of the world's major religious traditions. It's a great opportunity to learn some more about the religious diversity among us!

Meditation apps
These are examples of free apps that offer breathing exercises, mindfulness exercises, and guided meditation.

Online
This is a practice challenge meditation for the current COVID-19 situation, shared by Spiritual Directors International.

Online Religious Services

Lincoln
Live stream church services, access via their website at http://www.firstplymouth.org or Facebook page. online The following options for religious services offers some diverse selections of what is available. If you would like assistance finding another available religious service, please contact the Director of Religious and Spiritual Life at leah.rediger@doane.edu or (402) 826-8118.

Crete
Live stream Masses available in English and Spanish: https://www.facebook.com/SacredHeartCrete, also follow their Facebook page for Lunchtime Chats with Father Steve Major. online

United States
Recording posted of a Spring Equinox Ritual on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/threecranes/videos/2677306735831045/. More to be posted in the coming weeks. online

Lincoln
Live stream services on Fri. evenings at 6:30 pm and Sat. mornings at 9:30 am via https://southstreettemple.org/worship/streaming/. Check their website for additional online meeting opportunities, such as Torah study: https://southstreettemple.org. online

Berean Church (Non-denominational Christian)

Crete
Please contact the church email at office@creteberean.org to be included in the weekly Digital Church email list. online

Spiritual Direction

Rev. Kathryn Campbell (First-Plymouth Church/UCC)

Lincoln
Offers spiritual direction from a Christian or Interfaith perspective. Lincoln Spiritual direction is a one-on-one meeting with a spiritual mentor for a mentally healthy person seeking spiritual support or guidance, and one who journeys with you on your spiritual path. The spiritual directors listed here have generously offered one or more free sessions to members of our Doane community. Please contact the Director of Religious and Spiritual Life at leah.rediger@doane.edu or (402) 826-8118 for their availability and contact information.

Mother Amanda Gott (St. Matthew's Episcopal Church)

Lincoln
Offers spiritual direction from a Christian or Interfaith perspective.

Rev. Amber Doty (ADF/Druid Pagan)

Omaha
Offers spiritual direction from a Pagan perspective

Rev. Stephen Griffith (President, Faith Coalition of Lancaster County)

Lancaster County
Offers spiritual direction from a Christian or Interfaith perspective.

Fr. Steve Major (Sacred Heart Catholic Church)

Crete
Offers spiritual direction from a Catholic Christian perspective.

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Doane University is here for you. We have collected community resources across 11 areas, with our community in mind. Whether you are a student, staff, faculty, or community member, we believe you will find a resource that can help you during this difficult time.

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Free lessons/units on Earth & Arbor Day!!

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This month, we mark both Earth Day and Arbor Day, occasions to showcase science and where curiosity and questions can lead us. This piece focuses on Earth and environmental lessons and readings that are appropriate for home or distance learning. It also includes free downloads, links to author-led read alouds, and information on what NSTA Press has done to make online teaching a little easier during these challenging times.

Use Earth Day as a Springboard for Exploration

April 22 is the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, which highlights the environment and issues that affect the planet. You can use the occasion to encourage children to explore nature outside their door or in any green space, while practicing appropriate social distancing. Download the lesson "Color Walk" from A Head Start on Science, Second Edition: Encouraging a Sense of Wonder, and take a stroll to look for objects in the environment that are a particular color. Green is chosen in this lesson, but other colors may also work well, depending on the season and your location. Your young explorers can take pictures or draw the objects they see in the designated color. Or check out NSTA's new Daily Do's for lesson ideas for home or distance learning, including Christine Royce's "What Can I Observe in the Outdoors?" and Page Keeley's "Why Is My Shadow Always Changing?"

Learn With Picture Books This Arbor Day

"Leaf" it to NSTA Press authors to provide both children's books and lessons about trees and the important role they play in the environment. Larry Lowery's NSTA Kids book Our Very Own Tree: I Wonder Why tells the story of what happens when two friends take an interest in an oak tree and begin to notice more about the world around them, such as the seasons changing and squirrels making homes. Download a sample of this book to see inside. Or download an excerpt from Emily Morgan's Next Time You See a Maple Seed to take a closer look at those ubiquitous seeds that will soon flutter down from trees in some areas. You can explore trees in depth with children through the lesson "Be a Friend to Trees," from Emily Morgan and Karen Ansberry's More Picture-Perfect Science Lessons: Using Children's Books to Guide Inquiry, K-4. In this lesson, learners explore a variety of products made from trees; the importance of trees as sources of food, shelter, and oxygen for people and animals; and ways to conserve trees.

NSTA Kids Books and Read Alouds in Online Learning

NSTA Press is committed to supporting teachers and students to help keep the science learning going from home and online. We are granting a temporary license through June 30, 2020, to educators and librarians who would like to use our NSTA Kids books to support their students via distance learning and remote access. Thank you for all you are doing to help young scientists as they continue their learning. If you post on social media about your reading or activities, be sure to tag us @NSTA so we can share the excitement. Also be sure to check out Emily Morgan's videos of read alouds of Next Time You See a Cloud and Next Time You See the Moon.

Special Offer From NSTA Press: Free Shipping

Between now and April 30, 2020, receive free shipping on orders of $75 or more of NSTA Press and NSTA Kids books or e-books by entering promo code BOOK20 at checkout in the online Science Store. Browse the newest books and bestsellers in our NSTA Recommends Spring 2020 catalog.

This entry was posted in NSTA Press Books, NSTA's Book Beat and tagged activity ideas, Arbor Day, Earth Day, lesson plans, literacy, NSTA Kids, NSTA Press, outdoors, read aloud, reading and science, trees. Bookmark the permalink.

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Mark Earth Day and Arbor Day With Fresh Lessons

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This month, we mark both Earth Day and Arbor Day, occasions to showcase science and where curiosity and questions can lead us. This piece focuses on Earth and environmental lessons and readings that are appropriate for home or distance learning.

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NET's new NET PBS KIDS channel supports early learning and imagination by broadcasting your favorite PBS KIDS programs during the evening and other times when families watch TV together!

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If you sign up you receive a weekly newsletter with education content, activities, and tools for teachers and parents.

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Julie is reading her books live on Mondays and Fridays at 9 CT.

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Julia Cook, Fremont, NE. 21,171 likes · 2,276 talking about this. In order to teach children, you must enter their view of the world. - Julia Cook www.juliacookonline.com

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Step Up to Quality is not a typical rating system - it's a path. No matter where you are on the path, you are making a statement.

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Disney.com | The official home for all things Disney

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The official website for all things Disney: theme parks, resorts, movies, tv programs, characters, games, videos, music, shopping, and more!

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30% off All Products

Professionals and parents around the world are using our expansive collection of curricula, books, games, and posters to teach social competencies to ages 4 and up.

While our deeper work is for individuals with social learning challenges (autism spectrum levels 1 and 2, ADHD, twice exceptional, social communication disorders, etc. or no diagnosis) a subset of our work is being adopted into mainstream classrooms and workplaces around the world to improve social-emotional learning for all.

30% off Livestream-Recorded Events

In light of the coronavirus pandemic, our top priority is your health and safety. So, we put on our flexible thinking caps to figure out how to bring you our conferences safely through the Internet. Introducing...livestream-recorded events! Now, for the first time ever-you can watch a live Social Thinking conference in your pajamas and no one will have an "unexpected" thought about your behavior! (If you're watching from home, that is!)

Check out our upcoming events!

Browse All Events

30% off eLearning

Informed by the latest research, 20+ years of clinical work, and honed through hundreds of worldwide presentations, these one-of-a-kind video courses explore all aspects of developing social competencies including building self regulation, executive functioning, social problem solving abilities, and much more.

All courses offer access to continuing education credit for select professions in the U.S. and Canada and a personalized Certificate of Completion!

Browse Courses

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In this time of social isolation-you have the power right now to create a community of support for yourself and those you help through your digital device. During these emotionally fragile times, when we reach out to others we feel more positive, grounded, and supported-and we share these benefits with others, as well.

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Drawing is a great way to practice both fine motor and visual motor skills.  Children can draw "Health Heroes" and send cards to local medical professionals or just talk about the important role they are playing in our world right now.

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We are so thankful for all of the health heroes everywhere! Follow along with us and learn how to draw a doctor or nurse. Parents, you could even challenge your little artists to turn their drawing into a thank you card!

Art Supplies
This is a list of the supplies we used, but feel free to use whatever you have in your home or classroom.

Sharpie (or something to draw with)

Paper (we use marker paper)

Markers to color with (we use Bianyo)

Colored pencils (sometimes we also use Prismacolor colored pencils)

If you'd like to purchase the same art supplies, we use, visit our official Amazon shop. Each art supply in our shop I have bought, and we love using, we love them all. We receive a small commission for purchases made through the shop. We genuinely appreciate your support; it enables us to continue making these lessons for your children. Thank you!

Watch How To Draw Health Heroes

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How To Draw Health Heroes - Art For Kids Hub -

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We are so thankful for all of the health heroes everywhere! Follow along with us and learn how to draw a doctor or nurse. Parents, you could even challenge your little artists to turn their drawing into a thank you card! Art Supplies This is a list of the supplies we used, but feel free ...

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Another great social story to help explain why life is so different now with COVID 19.

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Another great social story to help explain why life is so different now with COVID 19.

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CORONAVIRUS Social Narrative.

I have been avidly following the the Coronavirus crisis and now find myself wanting to fulfill my civic duty.

I have created a FREE Coronavirus Social Narrative to help alleviate fears and anxiety many children may be experiencing at this time.

It seems inevitable now that schools will have to close in an attempt to curb the pandemic Coronavirus crisis.

I posted to my Instagram s tories this morning querying if parents required a Social Narative to help their children navigate the coming days.

I was met with a resounding yes.

I have created the social story in a page by page format, so you the parent can include or exclude whatever information you feel is pertinent to you and your family.

It is highly probable at this juncture that schools will close so I have allocated a countdown box within the social story.

This will help your son or daughter to understand in a concrete sense when school will reopen (if known).
Update- due to the overwhelming demand for the Coronavirus Social Narrative I have updated the link with a visual to help you locate it. I am receiving a great many messages requesting a copy to be sent directly. If you click on the above "Click to download", you will receive an instant download.
I hope this is helpful.
CLICK HERE for an accessible version of the Social Narrative as created by Melanie Thorton of Arkansas Partners for Inclusion.
Download a HINDI translation here.
Download a SPANISH translation here.
I have also been in contact with many schools around the globe this morning seeking to print off multiple copies of the aforementioned social stories to give to students.
You absolutely have my permission to do so. Absolutely no need to request permission. It is expressly given here.
I hope you find this Social Story helpful.

Best wishes,

Amanda

For more FREE Printable resources, click here.

Please note this post originally appeared on my website "The Autism Educator".

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Coronavirus Social Story - Little Puddins

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I have been avidly following the the Coronavirus crisis and now find myself wanting to fulfill my civic duty. I have created a FREE Coronavirus Social Narrative to help alleviate fears and anxiety many children may be experiencing at this time.

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YouTube Free Video Modeling for daily routine tasks.

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YouTube Free Video Modeling for daily routine tasks.

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"video modeling" "video prompting" autism

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Video Modeling/Prompting Dr. Ryan Kellems

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This channel is a collection of videos created to help individuals with disabilities learn how to complete social, occupational, and daily living skills.

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Want to learn more about social and emotional learning? Peruse our library of resources.

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Website with step by step picture supported recipes.  Use the pre-created recipes or make your own.

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Website with step by step picture supported recipes.  Use the pre-created recipes or make your own.

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Accessible Chef - Accessible Cooking for Budding Chefs

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Visual recipes make use of task analysis, which is an evidence-based approach for breaking down a complex task into manageable steps. Each task is separated into discrete skills, and individuals can learn to complete skills in a specific order to learn new tasks.

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Interoception is a sense that provides information about the internal condition of our body—how our body is feeling on the inside.

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This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

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Seesaw | Elementary Learning Experience Platform

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Seesaw | Elementary Learning Experience Platform

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Elementary Learning Experience Platform | Seesaw

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Seesaw is a Learning Experience Platform with 25M+ users, enhancing elementary education, engagement, and school culture while improving academic success.

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Online interactive games!

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Boom Learning | Empowering teachers and students

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Boom Cards transform the classroom into an interactive, gamified learning experience with data to track progress and identify learning gaps.

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interactive games it does cost per month!

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The ultimate library of speech therapy materials! With over 40,000 real life images, animated and interactive games, and activities to target every goal (Articulation, Language, Social Communication, and More) for all ages.

Try it Out Now

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You are unauthorized to view this page. Not yet a member? You can sign up here. Username or E-mail Password Remember Me Forgot Password

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Awesome Strategies!!

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The Nebraska ASD Network is committed to providing up-to-date information and training based on current research about autism spectrum disorders. Which consists of workshops that are scheduled throughout the state on a variety of subjects and several websites that offer on-line training opportunities related to autism spectrum disorders.

Webinars

The 2019-2020 Tri-State Webinar Series offers a wide variety of content. Webinars are live on the dates and times posted on the flyer. All webinars are recorded and archived on our site after the initial airing. This allows you to watch all content later as well!
Download a 2019-2020 Tri-State Webinar Series Flyer

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Nebraska Autism Spectrum Disorders Network | Nebraska

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The Nebraska ASD Network is committed to providing up-to-date information and training based on current research about autism spectrum disorders. Which consists of workshops that are scheduled throughout the state on a variety of subjects and several websites that offer on-line training opportunities related to autism spectrum disorders.

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Professional Online Learning Opportunities 

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Professional Online Learning Opportunities 

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Important Information about Reading Julia Cook Books online! 

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Important Information about Reading Julia Cook Books online! 

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Julia Cook said that if we wish to read and video her books make sure we use the title, her name as author, and also it has been suggested to also give credit to the publisher. You must use a looped system to do this such as Seesaw or Zoom so that it is accessible to your kids and families only. It is illegal to post these videos on Instagram, YouTube or Facebook Live. Please also remember to state the title and the author. Please be respectful and responsible with this request.

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Wide Open School's mission lives on at Common Sense

With schools back in person, we have closed this dedicated distance-learning site designed to guide families and educators through the sudden shift to remote learning.
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Common Sense is dedicated to providing teachers and families with free resources to help kids learn, grow, and thrive with media and technology. Join our community for more tips and resources to support kids' learning and healthy development.

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Wide Open School's mission lives on at Common Sense With schools back in person, we have closed this dedicated distance-learning site designed to guide families and educators through the sudden shift to remote learning. Discover More Great Resources for Families & Educators

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Virtual College Tours, Virtual Reality Education

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Experience 1,000+ colleges & universities in virtual reality. Narrow your college choices with the best virtual experiences of schools worldwide.

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Easily create beautiful interactive video lessons for your students you can integrate right into your LMS. Track students' progress with hassle-free analytics as you flip your classroom!

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Family Voices is a national family-led organization of families and friends of children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) and disabilities. We connect a network of family organizations across the United States that provide support to families of CYSHCN.

We promote partnership with families at all levels of health care-individual and policy decision-making levels- in order to improve health care services and policies for children.

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Family Voices is a national grassroots network organization of families and friends of children and youth with special health care needs and disabilities, promoting partnership with families-including those of cultural, linguistic and geographic diversity-in order to improve healthcare services and policies for children.

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De-Escalation Resources!

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The Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) is an international training organization that specializes in the safe management of disruptive and assaultive behavior.

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The ED Games Expo "Goes Virtual" to Support Distance Learning

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Each year, the U.S. Department of Education hosts the ED Games Expo, an in-person event to showcase