Coping During Difficult Times Transitioning to Virtual Schooling

Coping During Difficult Times Transitioning to Virtual Schooling

Stress & Coping with the COVID-19 Everyone is on edge because of COVID-19. Our daily lives have been disrupted, and we are not sure what is going to happen tomorrow. Many of us feel the nonstop news coverage and social media isn't helping. The feelings of uncertainty you are experiencing can cause stress, anxiety, and fear. Experts say if children learn how to deal with stress in a healthy way, it will help them become more resilient, both now and when the pandemic is over.

WHAT IS STRESS? Stress is the mind and body's response to a real or imagined threat, event, or change which can be internalized. Stress is a common feeling that everyone experiences at times. Two types of Stress: Acute & Chronic Stress Triggers in Teens: Social Media An abundance of stress can impact your Brain and Body.

Video: Stress and the Teenage Brain

Getting to know how your Brain Works Prefrontal Cortex- Helps us process information, plan, make good decisions, pay attention, and learn. Amygdala- Helps keep us safe. It is responsible for our emotions, survival instincts, and memory. Hippocampus- Helps us remember what we learn and stores our memories.

Video: How Stress Can Affect Your Brain

When we face a STRESSOR, we do one of THREE Things: • Fight Response- Causes you to face the stressor head on. • Flight Response- Makes you run away from the stressors. • Freeze Response- Causes you to do nothing and let the stressor happen.

What happens When your Amygdala goes into Overdrive? "You Flip Your Lid"

Jus. TMe "Don’t Flip Your Lid" Hip-Hop Artist from Oakland, California. Known as Jus. TMe but his birth name is: Timothy Earl Scott Jr. His vision is to inspire kids and adults to look internally to manage their emotions and cultivate well-being. His song "Dont Flip Yo' Lid" discusses the importance of practicing Mindfulness when you are stressed out.

What is Within my control? Understanding what we can directly impact in a situation helps to reduce our stress while allowing us to regain control.

What Can I control? hers t o f o s r o i v The beha Th e w ea s c i m e d n a P the r How I treat others What video games I play My daily routine Today's outfit Getting to class on time School b us was l ate

How Routines Help Routines allow our brains to know what is coming next so that it does not worry about the unknown.

Before COVID-19 School arrival Breakfast Changing classes Lunch School buses Sports

Alternate New Routines What our routines look like during distance/virtual learning.

Virtual Learning Routines Breakfast Logging on to the computer Virtual schooling Eating a nutritious lunch Virtual schooling Exercise and social interaction ***Remember to take breaks to stretch, get a drink, breathe, and refocus***

SET UP A ROUTINE THAT WORKS FOR YOU

You Have Skills! Adaptive Skills You already know how to handle yourself. Remember your strengths Self-Care Communication Health and Safety Social Skills Leisure Skills These skills that you already have can be used to cope with returning to school.

Re-entry Worries "When I worry, I feel it here. . . "

"I worry this much. . . "

Coping Skills Don't listen to rumors. Get information from trustworthy sources. Eat healthy. Food is fuel for your body and brain. Practice good sleep hygiene.

Move Your Body! Exercise can interrupt anxiety and refocus your mind Exercise releases happy brain chemicals Exercise helps you sleep better It's free You can do it while social distancing You can do it to music

. . . with a little help from my friends Social distancing can lead to loneliness which is bad for your physical and mental health [insert audio clip] Reach Out Stay connected with friends, family, teachers, counselors, administrators Talk about your feelings with your friends. Ask them about theirs. Practice being a good listener We are calmer together Words can travel thousands of miles. May my words create mutual understanding and love.

I have questions about returning to school Whom should I ask? Your family School Counselor Assistant Principals Teacher The School Nurse Librarian Your doctor Principal School Social Workers

Mindfulness A mental state achieved by focusing one's attention on the present moment, while acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and physical presence in a calm manner.

Mindfulness Techniques Changing Uncomfortable Feelings Some feelings are uncomfortable, and we want to make them go away Most of our worries are about the future To lessen them, we must live in the present Mindfulness helps us return to the present moment To transform your uncomfortable feelings: First, name it _____ Second, sit with it, let yourself feel it for a little while Third, use your coping strategies to help you send it away

Coping Strategie s

Hope/Resiliency We are all returning to learning because you and your families have faith in our school community. We share the same HOPE and desire of a world class education. We come to virtual school to learn and we enjoy the safety of our school community. We were all impacted by not being able to attend school this past Spring. Let's talk about our experiences away from the school building, how we found the inner strength to endure and what we can do to ensure safety in our virtual school community.

Thoughts (The Pandemic ) 1. What Happened: "How has your extended time away from school in one sentence? " 2. Harm & Impact: • a. "How have you been impacted by the pandemic? " • b. " How has your family been impacted by the pandemic? " • c. " How has your school been impacted by the pandemic? " 3. Making Things Right/Agreements: "What do you need to get back to learning the virtual school environment? 4. Solutions: "What coping skills can I use when I am feeling overwhelmed by transitioning to virtual learning? "

• 1. Welcome (Full class on zoom) • Explain what classroom restorative circles are: A way to share the impact of wrongdoing or world events had an impact on the school/classroom community and work to problem solve a solution as a classroom community where everyone's truth is valued and respected. • Teacher will direct who speaks next in the virtual circle. Everyone is asked to share in each question round (students can choose to say "pass“) • Everyone speaks their truth • Confidentiality • 2. Warm Up Question: "What is your favorite dessert? " • 3. What Happened: "Share about your extended time away from school in one sentence? " • 4. Harm & Impact: • a. "How have you been impacted by the pandemic? " • b. " How has your family been impacted by the pandemic? " • c. " How has your school been impacted by the pandemic? " • 5. Making Things Right/Agreements: "What do you need to feel safe and to get back to learning in virtual school? " • 6. Closing Statement. Summarize the Circle themes and thank students for participating. Restorative Circle (Addressing The Pandemic )