Remote learning https://www.morningsidecenter.org/ en Feelings & Needs Share Out Tool https://www.morningsidecenter.org/teachable-moment/lessons/feelings-needs-share-out-tool <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>Feelings &amp; Needs Share Out Tool</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p><br> Here's a process and a tool you can use on a regular basis to check in with your students to see how they are doing and what supports they might need. Do your check-in every morning, or or even at various times throughout the day.</p> <ol> <li>Introduce students to the "feelings and needs" chart below. (Or, see&nbsp;this&nbsp;<a href="https://www.morningsidecenter.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/Feelings%20%26%20Needs%20chart%20English.png" target="_blank">larger version</a>&nbsp;of the chart. For a printable black and white version of the chart, <a href="https://www.morningsidecenter.org/sites/default/files/documents-pdfs/Charts%20of%20Needs%20%26%20Feelings%20-%20B%26W%20copy.pdf">download this PDF</a>.)&nbsp;&nbsp;Either give students time to read the chart on their own, together as a group, or read it to them. For younger students, use the illustrated version of the feelings chart below.&nbsp;<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>Explain to students that each person will get a chance to share what they're feeling that day, or in that moment. If possible, have students sit in a circle they can go around - or, if you are in a virtual setting,&nbsp;post a list of participants so they know when it is their turn. &nbsp;<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>Remind students that when someone is speaking, everyone else should pay attention and not comment. Also remind them that it is okay if they want to pass.<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>Give each student a minute (it may take less) to share. It can be as simple as each student stating: &nbsp;Today I feel __________________.<br> &nbsp;</li> </ol> <p>As students get used to the routine of sharing how they're feeling, you might expand the practice: Students might say more about what they're feeling and explain why. Or they might&nbsp;let their classmates know what kind of support they may need. Alternatively, you might ask students to pair up and&nbsp;share with one another rather than the whole group.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://www.morningsidecenter.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/Feelings%20%26%20Needs%20chart%20English.png" target="_blank"><img alt="feelings &amp; needs chart " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b073fddf-91ed-45ec-8cdb-dab43594e3d8" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Feelings%20%26%20Needs%20chart%20English.png" width="3300" height="3000" loading="lazy"></a></p> <hr> <p><a href="https://www.morningsidecenter.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/Feelings%20Chart%20with%20numbers%20and%20feelings.1.jpeg" target="_blank"><img alt="illustrated feelings chart" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e2537767-de4f-4c62-b8b2-572d2c91110a" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Feelings%20Chart%20with%20numbers%20and%20feelings.1.jpeg" width="2884" height="2907" loading="lazy"></a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span>Sara Carrero</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'time' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> <time datetime="2020-10-28T08:21:55-04:00" title="Wednesday, October 28, 2020 - 08:21">October 28, 2020</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> Wed, 28 Oct 2020 12:21:55 +0000 Sara Carrero 1495 at https://www.morningsidecenter.org Featured on Edutopia: Student Well-Being in Challenging Times https://www.morningsidecenter.org/news/featured-edutopia-student-well-being-challenging-times <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--article.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>Featured on Edutopia: Student Well-Being in Challenging Times</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--article.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span>Laura McClure</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--article.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'time' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> <time datetime="2020-09-24T08:20:38-04:00" title="Thursday, September 24, 2020 - 08:20">September 24, 2020</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> Thu, 24 Sep 2020 12:20:38 +0000 Laura McClure 1496 at https://www.morningsidecenter.org https://www.morningsidecenter.org/news/featured-edutopia-student-well-being-challenging-times#comments Getting to Know You - Virtually https://www.morningsidecenter.org/teachable-moment/lessons/getting-know-you-virtually <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>Getting to Know You - Virtually</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p><a href="https://www.morningsidecenter.org/sites/default/files/documents-pdfs/GettingtoKnowYouVirtually.pdf"><img alt="Getting to Know You cover image" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="08454293-ed98-4378-ac80-08c99b42dff0" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Getting%20to%20know%20you%20covers.png" width="1700" height="2200" loading="lazy"></a></p> <p><a href="https://www.morningsidecenter.org/sites/default/files/documents-pdfs/GettingtoKnowYouVirtually.pdf">Getting to Know You - Virtually PDF</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p></div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span>Sara Carrero</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'time' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> <time datetime="2020-09-21T12:37:32-04:00" title="Monday, September 21, 2020 - 12:37">September 21, 2020</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> Mon, 21 Sep 2020 16:37:32 +0000 Sara Carrero 1493 at https://www.morningsidecenter.org Poem Reflection: Sometimes https://www.morningsidecenter.org/teachable-moment/lessons/poem-reflection-sometimes <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>Poem Reflection: Sometimes</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Invite young people to watch and listen to Morningside Center's Daniel Coles' recitation of&nbsp;the poem Sometimes. Then&nbsp;read and reflect on it with young people, using the process below.<br> &nbsp;</p> <hr> <p><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/417610128" width="640"></iframe></p> <hr> <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <h3>'Sometimes'</h3> <p>Sometimes things don’t go, after all,<br> from bad to worse. Some years, muscadel<br> faces down frost; green thrives; the crops don’t fail.<br> Sometimes a man aims high, and all goes well.</p> <p>A people sometimes will step back from war,<br> elect an honest man, decide they care<br> enough, that they can’t leave some stranger poor.<br> Some men become what they were born for.</p> <p>Sometimes our best intentions do not go<br> amiss; sometimes we do as we meant to.<br> The sun will sometimes melt a field of sorrow<br> that seemed hard frozen; may it happen for you.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <hr> <h3>Reflecting on a poem</h3> <p>Read the poem out loud or play the video above.</p> <p>Next, share your screen so students can see the text of the poem.&nbsp;</p> <p>If possible, you can read as a group by inviting students to read up to a line each.&nbsp; In a virtual classroom setting, you can put a "circle" order into the chat box and ask students to remember who comes before them.&nbsp; You may want to read it twice to get a good flow.&nbsp;</p> <p>Give students a few minutes to study the poem by themselves, in silence. &nbsp;Invite them to pick a line that resonates with them in some way as they think about the past few weeks of their lives.</p> <p>Once again, go around, this time asking students to read out the line that resonates with them, thus creating a personalized version of the poem.&nbsp;</p> <p>For the next go round, ask students to read their line again, this time explaining why they picked that line.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <hr> <p><em>Poem used with permission of author, who asked not to be credited.</em></p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span>Sara Carrero</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'time' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> <time datetime="2020-05-12T09:18:49-04:00" title="Tuesday, May 12, 2020 - 09:18">May 12, 2020</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> Tue, 12 May 2020 13:18:49 +0000 Sara Carrero 1433 at https://www.morningsidecenter.org Fun Activities for Remote Learning: Pre-K-5 https://www.morningsidecenter.org/teachable-moment/lessons/fun-activities-remote-learning-pre-k-5 <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>Fun Activities for Remote Learning: Pre-K-5</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p><strong>To the Teacher</strong><br> &nbsp;</p> <p>In these uncertain, stressful times of physical distancing, coming together and connecting socially and emotionally is especially important. For young people to see and connect with their peers can be ray of light for some, and a real lifeline for others. Students might connect over things that spark joy and gratitude or over things that bring on more challenging feelings. Young people, like all of us, need a chance to express and share their feelings, and get the support of others.&nbsp;<br> <br> We’ve been hearing from educators that students don’t necessarily want to talk about what’s challenging for them during Covid-19 on a weekly basis.&nbsp; They might want a break from it all to connect with friends and classmates on a lighter, more fun note.&nbsp;</p> <p>In this part three of our series of lessons for the corona age, we offer a series of lighter, fun activities for you and your students to come together and enjoy each other’s company.&nbsp;These are stand alone activities, not intended to be done in any particular order or combination. Decide what works best for your students and please&nbsp;adapt&nbsp;an activity&nbsp;as needed&nbsp;for all students to participate and have fun together.</p> <p><strong>Note:</strong> If you have any light and fun activities that have worked well with your students in a remote setting, please <a href="mailto:info@morningsidecenter.org">send them to us</a> so we can share them more widely.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <hr> <h3><br> <strong>Follow the Leader </strong></h3> <p><br> Begin by explaining to your students that you want them to copy/mirror the things that you’ll be doing. Start with simple movements that you know your students can easily replicate, like clapping or shaking your hands, marching in place, etc. As your movements get gradually more complex, continue to check in with students asking them how they’re doing and giving them directions as needed. You might slow down the movement and provide more detail. Continue to support your students as needed.&nbsp;</p> <p>Consider the following movements and add your own more complex movements, especially for higher grades, recognizing your own and your students’ needs and limitations:</p> <ul> <li>Clap your hands</li> <li>Shake your hands as if shaking off excess water</li> <li>Walk in place</li> <li>Now march in place, lifting your knees, start swinging your arms</li> <li>Slow things down: Continue swinging your arms, but in slooow motion and slow down your marching too<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>Now, imagine your feet now being firmly rooted into the ground, shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent</li> <li>Sway from side to side like a tree</li> <li>Now twist slowly from side to side from your core</li> <li>Bend your body down to touch your toes, slooooowly, making sure to keep your knees bent<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>Now loosen those roots, hop little hops, and gradually getting further off the ground</li> <li>Next jump from side to side</li> <li>Walk on your tippy toes</li> <li>Stomp your feet and ball your fists</li> <li>Pretend you’re flying like a bird</li> <li>Fall to the floor like a leaf, slowly making your way down</li> <li>Flap your arms like a bird, maybe a fledgling on the edge of the nest, now slow it down<br> &nbsp;</li> <li>Roll on the floor, one way, and now the other way</li> <li>Shake your hips, and let it resonate though your whole body till all of you is shaking</li> <li>Move sideways on all fours like a crab, and back</li> <li>Rise back up and kick with one foot and then the other</li> <li>Pretend to swim freestyle, etc.</li> </ul> <p><br> At any point, you may turn things over to your students, so that students take the lead in showing a movement that they’d like the other students to reflect back at them.&nbsp;</p> <p>Continue the activity while interest is high.&nbsp; And as you start wrapping up, slow down the actions, making them smaller and quieter.&nbsp;</p> <p>End with actions like:</p> <ul> <li>Try to stand as still and quietly as you can for 10 seconds</li> <li>Take a slow, deep breath into your belly, and relax your belly as you breathe out</li> <li>Pretend to go to sleep/sleep like a baby</li> <li>Slowly sit back up and try to yawn, looking at all the other friends on our screen (This may help everyone to yawn together)</li> <li>Take some deep breaths, do some stretches, and see how you’re feeling right now</li> </ul> <p>At this point you may ask students:</p> <ul> <li>What did you like best about the activity?</li> <li>What was easy about the activity? What was hard?</li> <li>Which movements did you like best? Why?</li> <li>How did it make you feel?<br> &nbsp;</li> </ul> <hr> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3><strong>If You’re Happy and You Know It</strong></h3> <p><br> Consider playing the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71hqRT9U0wg">If You’re Happy and You Know It</a> video by Barefoot books. &nbsp;Have your students sing along and do the movements.&nbsp;</p> <p>After the video is done, welcome students, by saying hello yourself and using different student names (following the students’ lead at the end of the video).&nbsp;</p> <p>Ask students if THEY know how to say “hello” in other languages besides English.&nbsp; How does it make them feel when they are hearing “hello” and being welcomed in different languages? Why?</p> <p>And if students are open, engage them in a conversation asking them:</p> <ul> <li> <p>What makes you happy?&nbsp;Why?</p> </li> </ul> <p>The kids in the video used different ways to show that they were happy.&nbsp; They clapped their hands, wiggled their hips, pointed their toes, stomped their feet, etc.</p> <ul> <li>Which did you prefer?&nbsp; Why?</li> <li>How do YOU show you are happy?&nbsp; Show us if you’d like.&nbsp; (Have all other students mirror what they are shown.)<br> &nbsp;</li> </ul> <hr> <h3><br> <strong>“If You’re Happy and You Know It” 4Rs* Variation</strong><br> &nbsp;</h3> <p>Say hello again to each of your students by name, using some of the non-English words for “hello” that were shared in the previous activity.&nbsp;</p> <p>Engage students by asking them to help you out with the pronunciation and introduce additional customs that they and their families have to welcome visitors and loved ones.</p> <p>Next, engage students in a variation of the song “If you’re&nbsp; happy and you know it …” that includes a range of feelings.&nbsp; Start and end the song with “If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands.” But in this variation of the song, introduce feeling words other than “happy,” and ask students to show what those emotions look and maybe sound like for them.</p> <p>For example:</p> <ul> <li>If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands</li> <li>If you’re angry and you know it stomp your feet/ball your hands</li> <li>If you’re proud and you know it go hurray (and throw your arms in the air)</li> <li>If you’re sad and you know it go boohoo</li> <li>If you’re tired/bored and you know it yaaaaaawn</li> </ul> <p>And so forth.&nbsp; Have students come up with their own feeling words and ways they show those feelings.&nbsp; And end the song on a positive note with:</p> <p>If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands&nbsp;</p> <p>This song allows young people to express (verbally and physically) the range of feelings they may be experiencing during this challenging time.</p> <p><em>*&nbsp;<a href="https://www.morningsidecenter.org/4rs-program">The 4Rs (Reading, Writing, Respect &amp; Resolution</a>)&nbsp;is Morningside Center’s social and emotional learning curriculum for grades preK-5.</em><br> &nbsp;</p> <p><strong>A Note to the Teacher on Managing Feelings</strong>:&nbsp; Naming our feelings can help us to manage them better, or as Dr. Dan Siegel would say, we can name our feelings to tame them. Our feelings inform our actions which is a good thing in that positive feelings indicate what we care about, what we are drawn to, and what we want more of. Negative feelings, on the other hand, inform us about what to be careful with or stay away from, like a busy street with speeding traffic or a blazing fire.</p> <p>When feelings of anxiety, fear, or anger overwhelm us, our more primal, “reptilian brain” takes over. We might go into the survival mode of fight, flight, or freeze, which is useful when we are in immediate danger. But in many cases our negative feelings don’t stem from an immediate threat, and the “fight, flight or freeze” response may not be the best way to react in the moment.&nbsp;</p> <p>So if we can use words to name those intense negative feelings, as in “I am feeling anxious” or “I am feeling afraid,” we are able to put some distance between us and our feelings. It’s a subtle way of reengaging our executive-functioning brain, called the cortex, while calming down the emotional part of the brain called the limbic area. This helps us avoid being triggered into reacting, and instead allows us to think things through and choose a response that seems fitting in the moment.<br> &nbsp;</p> <hr> <h3><br> <strong>Looking for My Friends</strong></h3> <p><br> This activity gets everyone singing and clapping together while we’re welcoming each unique individual into our online gathering.</p> <p>Explain that you’ll all be singing a song and clapping together.&nbsp; It’s very simple.&nbsp; Ask students to follow your lead, as you start singing and clapping your hands. The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sa_cIOFfqrQ">I’m Looking for My Friends</a> video link provides you with the tune.&nbsp;</p> <p>You might tell students that they don’t have to stand up and dance – they can use a hand motion, a facial motion, or any other move they want to make (and are able to make) – or they can make a sound. &nbsp;</p> <p>The language below is changed a bit from the video so that you can direct who gets to show off their moves or sounds. There are also a few added lines to give students time to gather themselves between each student getting “on stage.”</p> <ul> <li>I’m looking for my friends</li> <li>I’m looking for my friends</li> <li>I’m looking for you, you, you, you (point to the camera/webcam several times over)</li> <li>I’m looking for my friends</li> <li>I’m looking for my friends</li> <li>There is “Anna” (point to the camera as if you’re inviting Anna, or whichever student you choose)</li> <li>Show us what you can do&nbsp;</li> </ul> <p>This is Anna’s cue to wiggle, groove, dance and/or make a sound – whatever works for her. When she’s done or when you feel it’s time to move on, start the song again:</p> <ul> <li>I’m looking for my friends</li> <li>I’m looking for my friends</li> <li>I’m looking for you, you, you, you (point to the camera several times over)</li> <li>Clap, clap, clap, clap …</li> <li>I’m looking for my friends</li> <li>I’m looking for my friends</li> <li>There is “Jalen” (point to the camera as if you’re inviting Jalen)</li> <li>Show us what you can do</li> </ul> <p>This is Jalen’s cue to wiggle, groove, dance and/or make a sound – whatever works for him.&nbsp; When he’s done or when you feel it’s time to move on, start the song again.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span>Laura McClure</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'time' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> <time datetime="2020-04-26T14:28:05-04:00" title="Sunday, April 26, 2020 - 14:28">April 26, 2020</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> Sun, 26 Apr 2020 18:28:05 +0000 Laura McClure 1429 at https://www.morningsidecenter.org Fun Activities for Remote Learning: Middle and High School https://www.morningsidecenter.org/teachable-moment/lessons/fun-activities-remote-learning-middle-and-high-school <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>Fun Activities for Remote Learning: Middle and High School</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><h4>To the Teacher:&nbsp;</h4> <p>In these uncertain, stressful times of physical distancing, coming together and connecting socially and emotionally is especially important. For young people to see and connect with their peers can be ray of light for some, and a real lifeline for others. Students might connect over things that spark joy and gratitude or over things that bring on more challenging feelings. Young people, like all of us, need a chance to express and share their feelings, and get the support of others.&nbsp;<br> <br> We’ve been hearing from educators that students don’t necessarily want to talk about what’s challenging for them during Covid-19 on a weekly basis.&nbsp; They might want a break from it all to connect with friends and classmates on a lighter, more fun note.&nbsp;</p> <p>In this part three of our series of lessons and activities for the corona age, we offer a series of lighter, fun activities for you and your students to come together and enjoy each other’s company.&nbsp;&nbsp;These are stand alone activities, not intended to be done in any particular order or combination. Decide what works best for your students and please&nbsp;adapt&nbsp;an activity&nbsp;as needed&nbsp;for all students to participate and have fun together.</p> <p>These activities are not intended to be done in sequence; you can do them singly or in any combination that works for you and your students.</p> <p><strong>Note:</strong> If you have any light and fun activities that have worked well with your students in a remote setting, please <a href="mailto:info@morningsidecenter.org">send them to us</a> so we can share them more widely.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <hr> <h3><strong>Creative Check Ins</strong></h3> <p>Students, especially teenagers, often don’t like being asked to share their feelings. But there are other ways to check in with students and get a sense of where they’re at.</p> <p>In Morningside Center’s <a href="https://www.morningsidecenter.org/4rs-program">4Rs</a> and <a href="https://www.morningsidecenter.org/building-belonging">Building Belonging</a> curricula, we sometimes use weather check-ins with students: Instead of asking students how they are feeling, we ask them for “their weather” in that moment.&nbsp;</p> <p>Answers might include: I’m cloudy, foggy, I feel a thunderstorm brewing, or I’m sunny, clear blue skies, I feel like a gentle rain, a sprinkle, a snow flurry, a storm, or possibly pounding hail.&nbsp;</p> <p>Alternatives for a weather check-in could be:</p> <ul> <li>What emoji are you today?</li> <li>What snack are you today?</li> <li>What animal are you today?</li> <li>What kind of music/genre are you today?</li> </ul> <p>Have students themselves come up with their own metaphors for how they’re doing as well. They’ll likely come up with colorful, fun alternatives.</p> <p>And if you want to take it further, and students are ready to go there, ask them to also explain why. For those who are struggling, or feeling down for whatever reason, consider these follow-up questions:</p> <ul> <li>What snack, animal, emoji, or music would you want to be right now?</li> <li>What can we do to help you become that?&nbsp;</li> </ul> <p>And for those who are doing well today:</p> <ul> <li>What can we do to help you hold on to that?</li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <hr> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3><strong>Scavenger Hunt</strong></h3> <p>For a simple scavenger hunt, break your class or advisory group into smaller groups of two, three, or four. Give each group a list of common household items and ask each group to find as many of the items on the list that they can.&nbsp;Depending on the length of the list, give them 7-10 minutes before asking them to return to the remote meeting.</p> <p>Examples to include on your list:</p> <ul> <li>a coffee cup</li> <li>a book on ___________</li> <li>a plant</li> <li>a key chain</li> <li>a sock</li> <li>a spoon</li> <li>a piece of soap</li> <li>a quarter</li> <li>a charger</li> <li>an instruction manual</li> <li>a paper clip</li> <li>a safety pin, etc.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li> </ul> <p>And as a bonus perhaps:</p> <ul> <li>an item that you don't think anyone else in your class/advisory would have in their home, etc.</li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <ul> </ul> <p>If you have time to add another layer to the scavenger hunt, consider including (bonus) questions like:</p> <ul> <li>What was our regular day/time to meet for our class/advisory?</li> <li>What room (number) did we meet in for class/advisory?</li> <li>Where at school would you find the fire extinguisher?</li> <li>What is the room number of Principal Cintron’s office?</li> <li>How many floors does our school building have?</li> <li>What can you see when you look outside of our classroom?</li> <li>How many nationalities are represented in our class/advisory group? List them.</li> <li>How many languages does our advisory group speak? List them.</li> </ul> <p>You might also ask questions about things they could&nbsp;research on the school’s website, such as:</p> <ul> <li>What is Officer Moore’s first name?</li> <li>How many teachers in the _____________ grade/department?</li> <li>What is our school’s mission statement?</li> <li>Who is featured in the picture for the admissions page?</li> <li>What is our school’s mission statement?</li> <li>What are the names of the other schools in our building?</li> <li>What does it say on the front of the building?</li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Wrap up&nbsp;the activity by&nbsp;finding out how many of the objects (and correct answers) each group was able to find.&nbsp;And if students are interested, process the activity asking follow-up questions such as:</p> <ul> <li>What was that activity like for you?</li> <li>How easy was it to find these items/answers?</li> <li>Did you strategize with your teammates in any way?&nbsp; Explain.</li> <li>Did you encounter obstacles? What were they?</li> <li>Did you come across any unexpected objects/factoids&nbsp;while you were searching?&nbsp; Share out.</li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <hr> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3><strong>One Line Drawing Challenge&nbsp;</strong></h3> <p><strong>Materials:</strong> Paper and pencil/pen</p> <p>This video of the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNcFAkkpuPY&amp;feature=youtu.be">One Line Drawing Challenge</a> was shared by a teacher at one of our schools. For this challenge, ask students ahead of time for images that resonate with them.&nbsp; In the video, the images used are Pokémon characters.</p> <p>The challenge is to:</p> <ul> <li>Look at the image (which you can either post on the desktop of your online platform or possibly email to your students ahead of time)</li> <li>Draw the image using one uninterrupted line, never lifting your pen or pencil off the paper</li> <li>Don’t look at what you’re drawing until you’re done.</li> </ul> <p>Consider showing part or all of the video to give students a sense of what they’ll be doing.&nbsp;</p> <p>Afterwards, you might ask students questions such as:</p> <ul> <li>What was hard about that for you?</li> <li>What was easy?</li> <li>Were you surprised by what you drew? If so, why?</li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <hr> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3><strong>Game: Can You Draw This?</strong></h3> <p><strong>Materials: </strong>Paper and pencil/pen</p> <p>The next activity can be done with students in pairs, or with the whole group.</p> <p>One student finds an image of some basic, drawable object ahead of time. They might find an image online from a page <a href="https://www.google.com/search?safe=off&amp;rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS690US690&amp;sxsrf=ALeKk02Nt7Xq-YLSHPP7jFus-CL2_L-GXA:1587760456293&amp;source=univ&amp;tbm=isch&amp;q=communication+game+drawing&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwic__DP9IHpAhXgmHIEHWCNCCYQsAR6BAgBEAE&amp;biw=1113&amp;bih=610&amp;dpr=1.25">like this</a>, or they might find an image from a book or magazine at home. Examples of images include:</p> <ul> <li>a simple house with a door, window, chimney</li> <li>a lightbulb</li> <li>a lit candle</li> <li>a kite on a string</li> <li>a pair of glasses</li> <li>a sail or rowboat</li> <li>a dining room table and chairs</li> </ul> <p>The job of the student with the image is to describe the image in as much detail as possible so that the other student(s) can accurately draw what they hear being described. The student describing the image shouldn’t be able to see (or comment on) the pictures that are being drawn.</p> <p>The student describing the image cannot use words for the items they see in the image. Instead, their directions can include shapes and the direction a line should go (for example, to the bottom, top, right or left side of the page), or whether the line should be straight or curved perhaps.</p> <p>So instead of saying, “Next you will draw a chair to the left of the table,” you’d say something like, “Immediately to the left of what you just drew, starting at the bottom of the page, &nbsp;draw a line going up, for about 3 inches.&nbsp; At the 1.5 inch point, draw a line at a right angle for about an inch, then down from there at another right angle for 1.5 inches,” etc.&nbsp; For a pair of glasses, the student describing the object might instruct others to “draw two circles of the same size, about a half an inch apart in the middle of the page. Then draw a curved line going up, between the two circles,” etc.</p> <p>Afterwards, you may want to process the activity by considering some or all of the following questions:</p> <ul> <li>Why do our pictures vary?</li> <li>Why don’t our pictures match the original?</li> <li>What was hard/easy about giving instructions?</li> <li>What was hard/easy about following instructions?</li> <li>Would it have helped if you’d been able to ask questions?&nbsp;</li> <li>Would it have helped if you’d been able to see the image the student(s) was drawing and adjust your directions accordingly?</li> </ul> <p>Consider adding these last two steps when doing the activity a second time.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span>Laura McClure</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'time' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> <time datetime="2020-04-26T14:12:39-04:00" title="Sunday, April 26, 2020 - 14:12">April 26, 2020</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> Sun, 26 Apr 2020 18:12:39 +0000 Laura McClure 1428 at https://www.morningsidecenter.org Covid Crisis: A Lesson on Feelings and Language for MS and HS https://www.morningsidecenter.org/teachable-moment/lessons/covid-crisis-lesson-feelings-and-language-ms-and-hs <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>Covid Crisis: A Lesson on Feelings and Language for MS and HS</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>&nbsp;</p> <h4><strong>To the Teacher:&nbsp;</strong></h4> <p>In these uncertain, stressful times of physical distancing, coming together and connecting socially and emotionally is especially important. For young people to see and connect with their peers can be ray of light for some and a real lifeline for others. They might connect over things that spark joy and gratitude (like seeing each other on video or hearing each other’s voice) or over things that bring on more challenging feelings (like frustration, fear, uncertainty, anger, hurt and grief).</p> <p>So create a remote space that’s welcoming and supportive for students to come together. Because as Mr. Rogers said: “It is only natural that we and our children find many things that are hard to talk about. But anything human is mentionable and anything mentionable is manageable. The mentioning can be difficult, and the managing too, but both can be done if we’re surrounded by love and trust.”&nbsp;</p> <p>As the pandemic moves through our cities and across our country, family members, friends, and neighbors will get sick.&nbsp;Most will pull through, but others will die. This is going to be a reality for your students and school communities, if it isn’t already. This means that the kind of space you are creating today should, when possible, intentionally focus on the “love and trust” that Mr. Rogers mentions above.</p> <p><strong>Materials:</strong> Paper and a pencil, pen, and/or markers</p> <p><strong>Preparation</strong> (optional):&nbsp;Invite a student or two, ahead of time, to make a video of themselves reading Rumi’s The Guest House out loud to play at the start of your gathering.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <hr> <h4>&nbsp;</h4> <h3>A Lesson on Feelings and Language</h3> <h4><br> Opening Ceremony</h4> <p>Play the video of students reading the Rumi poem The Guest House (made ahead of time) or ask a student, or two, or three to read the poem out loud, live, at the start of your gathering.</p> <p>Post the text of the poem for students to reference after the read aloud:<br> &nbsp;</p> <blockquote> <p><strong>The Guest House</strong></p> <p>This being human is a guest house.<br> Every morning a new arrival.</p> <p>A joy, a depression, a meanness,<br> some momentary awareness comes<br> As an unexpected visitor.</p> <p>Welcome and entertain them all!<br> Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,<br> who violently sweep your house<br> empty of its furniture,<br> still treat each guest honorably.<br> He may be clearing you out<br> for some new delight.</p> <p>The dark thought, the shame, the malice,<br> meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.</p> <p>Be grateful for whoever comes,<br> because each has been sent<br> as a guide from beyond.</p> <p>— Jalaluddin Rumi, translation by Coleman Barks</p> </blockquote> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Have students reflect on the poem. Ask them to share: &nbsp;</p> <ul> <li>What about the poem resonates with you?</li> <li>How are you feeling right now?&nbsp; Remember, you might be experiencing more than one feeling at a time. Feelings can be complex that way.</li> </ul> <p>If you sense more sharing is needed, ask students to share:</p> <ul> <li>Any&nbsp; connections, reflections, or additions to what their peers shared just now.</li> </ul> <p>If you have time, continue to the activities below. Alternatively, engage students in the Community Guidelines and Naming Our Feelings activity below in your next session together.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <hr> <h4><br> <strong>Community Guidelines</strong></h4> <p>Talk with your students&nbsp;about the importance of&nbsp;coming&nbsp;together during this time of physical distancing, to connect socially and emotionally. We can connect in new ways, and be supportive of one another in our virtual advisory, crew, homeroom, or classroom community.</p> <p>If you haven’t yet worked with students to come up with community guidelines for your online gatherings, consider doing it now. Ask students how they can make this space supportive. What do they need from each other?&nbsp; What do they have to offer each other? See <a href="https://www.morningsidecenter.org/teachable-moment/lessons/sample-virtual-community-guidelines-school-staff">these community guidelines</a> from a Morningside Center online staff gathering as an example.<br> &nbsp;</p> <hr> <p><br> <strong>Naming Our Feelings</strong></p> <p>Share with students that we’ve likely all been on an emotional roller coaster ride during this period. Share a little about your own feelings during the pandemic, whether you’re feeling confusion, frustration, worry, or sadness. Share also the excitement, happiness, or gratitude you feel at seeing your students right now.&nbsp;</p> <p>A recent article in New York Magazine’s <a href="https://www.thecut.com/2020/02/new-theory-of-complex-emotions.html">The Cut</a>, talks about a scientific theory that suggests we have infinite emotions, so long as we can name them. So New York Magazine <a href="https://www.thecut.com/2020/02/78-new-complex-emotions.html">asked its writers</a> to identify new ways to feel. They came up with such words as:</p> <blockquote> <p>Widgi: (“Wish I didn’t get involved”); pronounced wid-gee: Dread and regret, coupled with a desire to flee or disappear or take back your statement.</p> <p>Ventastic: The fabulous and exhausting feeling right after a particularly animated and energetic venting session.</p> <p>Instagrief: The destabilized sensation you get … when you have before you … something shareable, an adorable family moment, say, and you become caught between two impulses: the desire to be engaged inside the moment in a Zen way, to just experience it, and, at the same time, a desire to find your phone, get the camera on, and take a postable photo.</p> </blockquote> <p>The current coronavirus pandemic gives us all the opportunity to tune into how we’re feeling and maybe come up with our own words for any (new) feelings we are experiencing—including, perhaps, feelings that accompany our “cooped-up-ness” and distancing. Those living on top of each other might be feeling “crampritation” and for those spending much time by themselves “solitiredness.”</p> <p>Have students consider some of the new and complex emotions they’ve been feeling in recent weeks. Give them a few minutes to consider giving those feelings a new name or one already in existence. Encourage the use of a thesaurus as students try to name their feelings.</p> <p>Next, ask students to share out their feelings on the virtual whiteboard, in the chat function, or possibly by asking them on a sheet of paper to write and illustrate their feelings, then hold these up to the camera for all to see. Next, ask students one after the other to share and explain their feeling(s) and what, if anything, brought up these feelings.&nbsp;</p> <p>Before wrapping up the activity, acknowledge student feelings. Say something about feelings being part of the human experience—this guesthouse for feelings. There are no good or bad feelings, and it’s okay not to feel okay.&nbsp; In fact many people today are not feeling okay. That’s a normal reaction to a difficult and stressful situation.&nbsp; Encourage students, though, to reach out to trusted friends and/or adults to talk about and process their feelings, especially when feelings get to be too much. We’ll make time for this, as we get together in the weeks to come as well.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> &nbsp;</p> <hr> <h4><br> <strong>Closing Ceremony</strong></h4> <p>Ask students to give you thumbs up, down, or in between to indicate how they’re feeling. Or, ask students to give you a thumbs up, down, or in between to indicate how they were feeling at the start of the lesson, then give you a second thumbs up, down, or in between to indicate how they’re feeling now. Note if the session helped shift and/or lift students’ mood.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <hr> <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <h3>Extension Activities<br> &nbsp;</h3> <h4>1:&nbsp;Emotions of Pixar</h4> <p>Show the following clip <a href="https://vimeo.com/129634826">Emotions of Pixar</a> clip by Lindsay McCutcheon.&nbsp; Ask students to either share what character in the clip resonated with them and why, or to make connections to the earlier discussion around the Rumi poem, The Guest House.<br> &nbsp;</p> <h4><strong>2: Drawing Your Feelings</strong></h4> <p>New York Magazine illustrated the feelings writers came up with by drawing inspiration from the iconic 1970s and 80s book covers of the Mr. Men and Little Miss series of children’s books by English author Roger Hargreaves, which were reproduced as stamps for the British Royal Mail.&nbsp;</p> <p>Invite students to draw their feelings with similarly simple illustrations using basic shapes and colors.<br> &nbsp;</p> <p><em>This activity was shared by Morningside Center Staff Developer Lauren Neidhardt.</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt="Feelings" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="691566de-b4cc-4c45-a0ec-ebd75d5580d1" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Feelings_0.png" width="581" height="257" loading="lazy"></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <hr> <p><img alt="feelings dos donts" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4c4318ca-ccde-45fe-8fe6-74c5a4984a55" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Teacher%20Dos%20and%20Donts%20on%20Feelings%20v5_1.png" width="1000" height="900" loading="lazy"></p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span>Laura McClure</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'time' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> <time datetime="2020-04-05T14:56:27-04:00" title="Sunday, April 5, 2020 - 14:56">April 5, 2020</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> Sun, 05 Apr 2020 18:56:27 +0000 Laura McClure 1420 at https://www.morningsidecenter.org Covid Crisis: A Lesson on Feelings for Grades 3-5 https://www.morningsidecenter.org/teachable-moment/lessons/covid-crisis-lesson-feelings-grades-3-5 <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>Covid Crisis: A Lesson on Feelings for Grades 3-5</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p><strong>To the teacher: &nbsp;</strong></p> <p>In these uncertain, stressful times of physical distancing, coming together and connecting socially and emotionally is especially important. For young people to see and connect with their peers can be ray of light for some and a real lifeline for others. They might connect over things that spark joy and gratitude (like seeing each other on video or hearing each other’s voice) or over things that bring on more challenging feelings (like frustration, fear, uncertainty, anger, hurt and grief).</p> <p>So create a remote space that’s welcoming and supportive for students to come together. Because as Mr. Rogers said: “It is only natural that we and our children find many things that are hard to talk about. But anything human is mentionable and anything mentionable is manageable. The mentioning can be difficult, and the managing too, but both can be done if we’re surrounded by love and trust.”&nbsp;</p> <p>As the pandemic moves through our cities and across our country, family members, friends, and neighbors will get sick.&nbsp; Most will pull through, but others will die. This is going to be a reality for your students and school communities, if it isn’t already. This means that the kind of space you are creating today should, when possible, intentionally focus on the “love and trust” that Mr. Rogers mentions above.<br> <br> <strong>Materials:</strong> Paper and a pencil, pen, and/or crayons</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <hr> <h3><br> <strong>A Lesson on Feelings for Grades 3-5</strong></h3> <h4><br> <strong>Opening Ceremony</strong></h4> <p>Welcome students to the virtual space by name. Use different feelings words as you do so. Welcome Angel, I feel happy to see you today.&nbsp; Hello Racquel, I feel excited to see you. Darius, I feel so fortunate that you joined us.&nbsp; Welcome Ahmed, I feel delight as I look at your beautiful face. Soraya, I feel so grateful that you made it today, welcome, etc.</p> <p>Other words to consider using, as you welcome your students, are: joyous, overjoyed, exhilarated, over the moon, sunny, blissful, thrilled, electrified, jubilant, elated, pleased, tickled, elated, etc.</p> <p>Ask students what they noticed as they joined you for class today. What did they notice about the way you welcomed them? Ask them how it made them feel to be welcomed in this way. Invite them to use a range of feelings words while showing what these feelings look like on their faces.&nbsp;<br> &nbsp;</p> <hr> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h4><strong>Feelings Guessing Game</strong></h4> <p>Explain to your students that to start today’s lesson, you’ll show the following video clip <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOkyKyVFnSs">Inside Out: Guessing Feelings</a>.</p> <p>Explain that this clip, based on the 2015 animated movie Inside Out, is broken into five parts. In each part, you’ll see a character in action, experiencing a feeling. After each part, you’ll see a counter, counting down from 3 to 1 at which point you’ll get a chance to guess what the character was feeling. Jot down the feeling you think it is in the chat box, on the whiteboard, or elsewhere (depending on the online platform you’re using).&nbsp;</p> <p>As the teacher you might even hit the pause button after each character’s feeling, to give your students a chance to guess and submit the character’s feeling.&nbsp;<br> &nbsp;</p> <hr> <h4><br> <strong>Drawing Your Personal Experience with Feelings</strong><br> &nbsp;</h4> <p>Invite students to think about a time recently when they felt one of the feelings from the video they just watched. What happened? Give them some time to draw the feeling, then ask them to share out what the feeling was and what brought on the feeling. Encourage students to show their drawing as they share out. Remind them that this is not an art class – their drawings don’t need to be perfect, they’re just a way to share their feeling.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>At the end of the activity, have students hold up their pictures all at the same time.&nbsp; Acknowledge the various feelings your students are experiencing, no matter what they are. Explain that we’re all likely feeling lots of feelings all the time, especially now that we’re away from school and our regular routine of seeing each other. We’re going to spend some time with our feelings, in the weeks to come, remembering that no matter what our feelings are, “they’re all okay.”&nbsp;<br> &nbsp;</p> <hr> <h4><br> <strong>Closing Ceremony</strong><br> &nbsp;</h4> <p>Ask students to give you thumbs up, down, or in between to indicate how they’re feeling. Or: ask students to give you a thumbs up, down, or in between to indicate how they were feeling at the start of the lesson, then give you a second thumbs up, down, or in between to indicate how they’re feeling now. Note if the session helped shift and/or lift students’ mood.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <hr> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3><strong>Extension Activity: Emotions of Pixar</strong></h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Show the following clip <a href="https://vimeo.com/129634826">Emotions of Pixar</a> clip by Lindsay McCutcheon.&nbsp; Ask students to make connections to how they’re feeling these days.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <hr> <p><img alt="feelings dos and donts" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3680291a-071d-4e59-a832-8b5463c32095" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Teacher%20Dos%20and%20Donts%20on%20Feelings%20v5_0.png" width="1000" height="900" loading="lazy"></p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span>Laura McClure</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'time' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> <time datetime="2020-04-05T14:43:02-04:00" title="Sunday, April 5, 2020 - 14:43">April 5, 2020</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> Sun, 05 Apr 2020 18:43:02 +0000 Laura McClure 1419 at https://www.morningsidecenter.org Covid Crisis: A Lesson on Feelings for K-2 https://www.morningsidecenter.org/teachable-moment/lessons/covid-crisis-lesson-feelings-k-2 <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>Covid Crisis: A Lesson on Feelings for K-2</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><div> <h4><strong>To the teacher: &nbsp;</strong></h4> <p>In these uncertain, stressful times of physical distancing, coming together and connecting socially and emotionally is especially important. For young people to see and connect with their peers can be ray of light for some and a real lifeline for others. They might connect over things that spark joy and gratitude (like seeing each other on video or hearing each other’s voice) or over things that bring on more challenging feelings (like frustration, fear, uncertainty, anger, hurt and grief).</p> <p>So create a remote space that’s welcoming and supportive for students to come together. Because as Mr. Rogers said: “It is only natural that we and our children find many things that are hard to talk about. But anything human is mentionable and anything mentionable is manageable. The mentioning can be difficult, and the managing too, but both can be done if we’re surrounded by love and trust.”&nbsp;</p> <p>As the pandemic moves through our cities and across our country, family members, friends, and neighbors will get sick.&nbsp;Most will pull through, but others will die. This is going to be a reality for your students and school communities, if it isn’t already. This means that the kind of space you are creating today should, when possible, intentionally focus on the “love and trust” that Mr. Rogers mentions above.<br> &nbsp;</p> <hr> <h3><br> <strong>A Lesson on Feelings for K-2 Elementary School Students</strong></h3> <p><br> <strong>Opening Ceremony</strong></p> <p>Welcome students to the virtual space by name. Use different feelings words as you do so.&nbsp; Welcome Angel, I feel happy to see you today. Hello Racquel, I feel excited to see you. Darius, I feel so fortunate that you joined us. Welcome Ahmed, I feel delight as I look at your beautiful face. Soraya, I feel so grateful that you made it today, welcome, etc.</p> <p>Other words to consider using, as you welcome your students, are: joyous, overjoyed, exhilarated, over the moon, sunny, blissful, thrilled, electrified, jubilant, elated, pleased, tickled, elated, etc.</p> <p>Ask students what they noticed as they joined you for class today. What did they notice about the way you welcomed them? Ask them how it made them feel to be welcomed in this way. Invite them to use a range of feelings words while showing what these feelings look like on their faces.&nbsp;<br> &nbsp;</p> <hr> <p><br> <strong>The Feelings Song</strong></p> <p>Show&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J7HcVLsCrY">this&nbsp;video of The Feelings Song</a> by Miss Molly Sing Along Songs.&nbsp; Encourage students to sing along as they catch on to the refrain:</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Sometimes you feel happy</p> </div> <div> <p>Sometimes you feel sad</p> <p>Sometimes you feel excited</p> <p>Sometimes you feel mad</p> <p>You might laugh today</p> <p>You might cry today</p> <p>You might feel many different feelings</p> <p>And they’re all okay</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <hr> <p><br> <strong>Feelings Charades</strong></p> <p>Ask students for this next part of the lesson to show what they look like when they feel the feelings that were shared in the video:</p> <p>Show me what you look like when you feel:</p> <ul> <li>worried</li> <li>excited</li> <li>surprised</li> <li>angry</li> <li>thankful</li> <li>embarrassed</li> <li>happy</li> <li>lonely</li> <li>hopeful</li> <li>silly</li> <li>proud</li> </ul> <p>If you still have their attention, ask students for other feelings words they’d like to show each other. Keep the activity going till students run out of feelings words or till attention wanes.<br> &nbsp;</p> <hr> <h4><br> <strong>Closing Ceremony</strong></h4> <p>Ask students to give you thumbs up, down, or in between to indicate how they’re feeling in this moment. Note what you’re seeing. If possible, reach out individually to students &nbsp;who you know or notice are having a hard time, or touch base with their parents.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <hr> <h3><br> <strong>Extension Art Activity on Feelings</strong></h3> <p>Explain that we’re all feeling lots of feelings all the time, and especially now that we’re away from school and our regular routine of seeing each other. We’re going to spend some time with our feelings, in the weeks to come, remembering that no matter what our feelings are, “they’re all okay.”</p> <p>Ask students for the next time you get together to draw a feeling they’re having while we’re all away from school. In your next gathering ask students to share out their drawings and explain when/why they are experiencing that feeling.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <hr> <p><img alt="dos and donts" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="df12ee6b-c658-48c5-8dfa-821c35a511fb" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Teacher%20Dos%20and%20Donts%20on%20Feelings%20v5.png" width="1000" height="900" loading="lazy"></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span>Laura McClure</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'time' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> <time datetime="2020-04-05T14:04:19-04:00" title="Sunday, April 5, 2020 - 14:04">April 5, 2020</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> Sun, 05 Apr 2020 18:04:19 +0000 Laura McClure 1418 at https://www.morningsidecenter.org Self-care for Educators & Caregivers During a Pandemic https://www.morningsidecenter.org/teachable-moment/lessons/self-care-educators-caregivers-during-pandemic <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>Self-care for Educators &amp; Caregivers During a Pandemic</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>With schools closed for the foreseeable future to slow the spread of the coronavirus, educators are being called on to adapt and adjust their practice, sometimes with minimal support from their districts. So principals and teachers are experimenting. In creative and ingenious ways, they are looking to maintain their relationships with students, while creating remote learning communities for and with their students. &nbsp;</p> <p>Educators are doing all this&nbsp;while juggling home environments that may not be optimal for teaching, or learning for that matter—and while coping with their own stress and hardships during this pandemic.</p> <p>Meanwhile, many parents and other caregivers have turned into teachers during this period of sheltering at home, and are themselves struggling to create home environments, structures, and schedules that enable remote education and home-schooling. They too are experimenting and inventing new ways of being with their children, in coordination with their children’s teachers, while juggling work schedules and other adult responsibilities.</p> <p><strong>Self-care at a time like this is key</strong>. We can’t be available for our children if we don’t have the energy or bandwidth ourselves, worse still if we get sick. &nbsp;For this reason we’ve pulled together our resources at Morningside Center for you to have at your fingertips: 12 ways to best take care of yourself in the coming weeks and months.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <hr> <p><strong>1. Pay attention to how you’re feeling.</strong> &nbsp;Check in and recognize what’s going on for you. Whatever you’re experiencing, whether anxiety, sadness, worry, or fear, remember it’s okay not to be okay. This is a normal response to the abnormal stress-inducing reality created by the Covid-19 pandemic. Rather than trying to make yourself and others “feel better,” it’s often more helpful to tune in and actually experience your feelings—uncomfortable though that might be. Pushing feelings down and ignoring them doesn’t serve anyone, least of all you. It may help to let go of the notion that when you’re feeling pain, sadness, or fear of any kind, you’re weak. &nbsp;Recognize feelings, instead, as a natural part of being human.&nbsp;Try to be present with your feelings. And if people sincerely ask how you are, let them know how you’re feeling, for real. &nbsp;It could open up a new connection that can support you through these difficult times. See also Point 12, which describes “the Listening Exchange,” a format to share how you’re feeling with others, because as the saying goes, “shared grief is halved grief.”&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>2. Limit your news intake.</strong>&nbsp; It’s understandable that you want to stay informed, but consuming news all day long, especially at times like these, tends to increase stress and anxiety levels. Do stay abreast by tuning in to reputable news sources at set times, but don’t get caught up in the endless devastating news cycle, especially not right before bed. &nbsp;For accurate, updated information, add the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/">Centers for Disease Control</a> (CDC) and the <a href="https://www.who.int/">World Health Organization</a> (WHO) to your news feeds.&nbsp;And remember that your thoughts produce your feelings and that those thoughts can be shaped by an overexposure to negative media stories.&nbsp;So be intentional about the information you consume.&nbsp;As Mr. Rogers said: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” Paying attention to this kind of news may help you produce a different set of feelings.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>3. Be kind and forgiving, embrace do-overs. </strong>&nbsp;Though continued high expectations, no matter the setting, are important for the sake of our children, we also need to recognize that we do not necessarily have the tools or supports needed to move into this new space of remote learning without glitches and delays. So remember to be gentle and kind with yourself. Forgive yourself when things aren’t going the way you’d hoped or planned. Do-overs are part of learning for us as well as our students. Look at this time as an opportunity to model what do-overs look like—with grace, if you can! This is a great time to all be learners together, making mistakes and being patient with one another as we all adapt, adjust, and make mistakes.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>4. Be generous&nbsp;with others and yourself.</strong> &nbsp;These might be trying times for people living in close quarters with others. Try to see the best in others and the situation you find yourself in. Practice kindness, compassion, and generosity with others&nbsp;as best you can, while having realistic expectations of who they are and what they’re capable of. And if you live by yourself, practice that same kindness, compassion, and generosity with yourself. Consciously choose to see the best in yourself and others. &nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>5. <a href="https://www.morningsidecenter.org/teachable-moment/lessons/sel-tip-teach-deep-breathing">Remember to breathe</a>.</strong> Throughout it all, remember to breathe. Simple though it may sound, breathing deeply from your stomach is not something that comes naturally to many of us.&nbsp;Natural, deep breathing involves the large muscle in your abdomen known as the diaphragm. It causes your stomach to expand on the in-breath and fall on the out-breath. Try it by placing your hand on your stomach as you slow down and deepen your breath. By breathing this way from your stomach, you signal your nervous system to calm down, which can help to combat your stress and anxiety. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>6. <a href="https://www.morningsidecenter.org/teachable-moment/lessons/sel-tip-practice-gratitude-form-self-care">Focus on gratitude</a>.</strong> Practicing gratitude on a regular basis has been associated with lower levels anxiety, stress, and depression. First thing in the morning (or at any point in the day), think of some things you’re grateful for. It could be anything, large or small, like feeling gratitude for waking up in a warm bed, having hot water for your morning shower, or having a good cup of coffee to start your day. You might feel gratitude for your family, supportive colleagues, your children, or your health. Whatever it is, direct your mind to go there. Then check into how it makes you feel. Take a few minutes to sit with that feeling before moving on to the rest of your day. And where practicing gratitude can brighten our day, take a minute to spread some of that joy during these dark times -- who in your life are you grateful for?&nbsp; Reach out to let them know.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>7. Keep a journal.</strong> &nbsp;Some people prefer to keep a gratitude journal, or use journaling in general to help them slow down, daily. Morningside Center Senior Program Manager Daniel Coles shares a variation on journaling called <a href="https://raisingsagespediatrics.com/the-morning-pages-teaching-your-children-how-write-a-gratitude-journal/">morning pages</a>, a free-write journaling practice for right after you wake up. It is about committing to paper (yes this is about old fashioned long hand!) whatever it is that crosses your mind first thing in the morning. This can help us clarify for ourselves what is happening and how we are feeling, and can sometimes lead to helpful problem-solving.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>8. Maintain a regular contemplative practice. </strong>There is a range of contemplative practices that you may already be using to be more intentionally present, in the moment, full of curiosity, and without judgment. &nbsp;These are important to keep us grounded and connected. Research shows that a regular mindful practice can trigger hormones that relieve stress and anxiety, while improving our mood, self-awareness, mental concentration and emotional self-regulation. They can also help us regulate psychological and emotional swings. A few minutes of mindful breathing or practices such as yoga or tai chi, several times a week, can make a noticeable difference. Below, you’ll find some resources Morningside Center staff have shared around contemplative practices.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>9. Move and exercise daily, if you are able. &nbsp;</strong>As much research has established, staying active helps us to stay fit not only physically, but mentally. It can help lift our mood, improve our cholesterol, lower our blood pressure, improve the quality of our sleep at night and manage our stress—all useful in combating the challenges both of loneliness and living on top of each other in small apartments (or larger living spaces for that matter). So build some movement into your daily schedule, with or without your children, indoors, in the yard, or in uncrowded outdoor spaces that you have access to. Below, you’ll find some resources Morningside Center staff have shared to help us stay active.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>10. Seek out nature, fresh air, and sunlight.</strong> &nbsp;Studies indicate that it’s good for us to spend time in nature. Being in nature lowers stress, combats depression, and promotes positivity. It is good self-care practice to spend time in the outdoors. Of course, this is easier for some of us than others, depending on where we live. But whether you’re able to go for a hike outdoors, head into the yard, or simply open your widows to hear the birds, seek out your own slice of nature. And if you’re looking for things to do with kids, you might want to do some planting, in the yard or on your windowsill. &nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>11. Nourish your body and soul.</strong> &nbsp;While cooped up at home, remember to eat as healthily as you can. If cooking is something you enjoy, consider cooking as a contemplative practice—fully present and with intentionality, you can chop, sauté, stir, taste, season, cook, bake, etc. &nbsp;It’s a great way to slow down. And if you do not have that association with food or its preparation, think about what does bring a smile to your face. Is it music, poetry, scented baths, hot showers, petting a dog or cat, listening to birds outside your window, online gatherings with friends or family, virtual dance parties? Then&nbsp;build that into your daily schedule. And remember, as always: drink lots of water. &nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>12. Distance yes, but only physically. </strong>&nbsp;Connection is a core human need, so reach out to friends, family, and neighbors through text, social media, phone calls, online gaming, video chats, virtual happy hours, and dance parties. Also, turn to trusted friends and family members to process your fears, concerns, and anxiety. Consider a process called “the listening exchange.” In this process, two people who might be life partners, close friends, or trusted colleagues, take turns listening mindfully to each other for equal amounts of time. No interrupting.&nbsp; What’s shared in the listening exchange is confidential. &nbsp;After a listening exchange, people often comment about how wonderful, and rare, it is for someone to give them their full attention without interrupting, even for five minutes. &nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <hr> <p><iframe class="airtable-embed" frameborder="0" height="533" onmousewheel src="https://airtable.com/embed/shrRFDKSVMpkvPKNS?backgroundColor=yellow" style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid #ccc;" width="100%"></iframe></p> <hr> <p><strong>Resources:</strong></p> <p>* Urban Yoga offers free online meditation and movement classes. Go to <a href="http://www.urbanyogafoundation.org/">www.urbanyogafoundation.org</a> to look at the calendar and register.<br> * Alvin Ailey extension offers <a href="https://www.aileyextension.com/keepdancing">online dance class videos</a><br> * Jose Limon offers <a href="http://limon.org/training/open_classes/">dance classes live on instagram</a> daily at 3PM<br> * 26 favorite <a href="https://www.thesimpledollar.com/save-money/20-favorite-dirt-cheap-meals/">cheap and easy meals</a> from The Simple Dollar</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <hr> <p><img alt="self-care for educators" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5cf8d9d5-a17e-4f14-bc34-c1d9d0ce120f" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/self-care%20for%20educators%285%29.png" width="1000" height="1420" loading="lazy"><br> &nbsp;</p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span>Sara Carrero</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--teachable-moment-lesson.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'time' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> <time datetime="2020-03-31T14:38:44-04:00" title="Tuesday, March 31, 2020 - 14:38">March 31, 2020</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/contrib/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> Tue, 31 Mar 2020 18:38:44 +0000 Sara Carrero 1414 at https://www.morningsidecenter.org