Conversations on Corona Virus Impact and How to Support Self Care

Yesterday, I was able to hop on a virtual meeting with other coaches from around the US.  We talked about ways instructional coaches can support teachers.

I know self-care is critical at this time.  There are feelings of stress, pressure and sadness as we witness the warpath of the virus and how it's wrestling people for their lives.  It's tough to take.

Teachers are holding their own learning, doing and trying to stay positive for families and students.  I witnessed a tearful moment today as I watched my daughter's school teachers drive through the neighborhood beeping horns and showing signs that said, "we love you" and "we miss you".  Well, we love you and miss you too...my heart was in my throat! I choked back the tears but they came anyway.

I worry about teachers.  I want to help but how?  What's the best way?  Dr. Brad Johnson shared a wonderful meme earlier in the week.

 

I thought about how I could help teachers with a focus on self-care.  So, I created a self care bingo board.  I wanted to add this cheerful message:

 

and create a video to introduce the self care board along with incentives for completion without it feeling like one more thing to do.

Here is the board I created:

header created using Canva

I hope it's seen as a way to support teachers.  What do you think?  Helpful or harmful?

Living in the Time of Corona Virus-Pioneers Blazing the Virtual Learning Trail

I can't believe the way of the world...

A Pandemic...

A Super-spreader virus...

I never thought...

None the less, the journey's begun.  We are living in quarantine and have been for the almost three weeks.  It feels like an endless Saturday or Groundhog day where it's become cycle, rinse, repeat.

It's all over the place.  Our governor and the state director of health have shut it down.  Thank goodness because many more people would be infected if it weren't for them sounding the alarm about how we can fight the virus through the use of "social distance" planning.  We're doing it. 

Now, school has become a  virtual learning experience too.  I am experiencing it as a teacher, a coach, and a parent.  It's not easy.  I worry about the equity of it all.  Many families don't have internet access but students are suppose to learn "online".  This is likely how it will be through the end of the school year.

Yet, every day I am a witness to absolute dedication and living out of the habits of promise by our teachers and students.  I see the smiles on their faces, the digital determination alive in our tiny humans.  I have joined in our promise circles to hear the dear things our kiddos are saying.  I am so proud of their commitment to learning as they share their thinking with their classmates.

So here we are crossing the bridge together to blaze a trail on the other side where no one has gone before.  We are virtual learning pioneers.  And-we've got this!