What Students and Educators Will Require in 2021/2022! Not What You Think!!!

What Our Students and Educators Will Need as We Open the 2021/ 2022 School Year!

This will be a fully written article soon! Teachers around the country and world are sharing that in this time... our students are struggling with emotional and physical stamina ( so are our educators!) We have the opportunity to change how we "do school" this fall and it will be critical! It will take much more than a program or a 30 minute SEL lesson talking about our feelings!

LET"S DO IT!!!

1. Routines that are predictable, feel doable and rewarding!

2. Frequent check-ins that attune to our nervous systems and include check-ins by students! ( These do not have to fall on the adults because students know what their peers need!

3. Name all of our sensations and feelings each day! ( when we can share , we can be with our bears! )

4. Procedures that include regulatory practices with breath, movement, rhythm, pressure, heat, cold, etc.

5. "Chunking Assignments" with frequent breaks and check-ins (water, snacks, movement and art!)

6. A combination of technology and face to face! We need to ease back into face to face so let's create a gradual release!

7. Creating a "family culture" in August! Class mantras, T-shirts, hats, rituals and talismans! ( More to come)

8. A HARD FOCUS on Process... This is going to be a challenging year and we cannot afford to look at results, strategies to fix, or end products! Let's take our students through a year of "The Hero's Journey!"

9. Generate service opportunities all year long because when we serve others, these acts create purpose for the developing nervous systems!

10. SCHOOL WIDE RITUALS- How do we begin the school day, meet with transitions and end our days? What is the emotional tone administrators can set in their buildings in August and September? Settled Adults produce a student body of settle students!

11. Bring the community to our schools! We need to invite massage therapists, OT's, personal trainers, authors, physicians, hair stylists, online venues, mutual aid organizers, humane society and a variety of entrepreneurs.

12. One half day a week, we create an innovative / creative well-being day for staff and students!

13. Themed weeks and days based on students and staff input! Let's being in August with "Neuroplasticity!" Our human super power! ( Let's focus on the nervous system instead of pathologizing and labeling disorders! )

14. Reflection walls and displays highlighting our strengths and challenges during the pandemic!

15. Publication Publication Publication! Let's invite staff and students to blog, create art, write stories and essays and publish! There are hundreds and thousands of websites and online publications that welcome the opportunity to hear from youth!

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