Promoting Positive Learning Climates Online and at Home
This resource list was developed to support educators' and parents' efforts to maintain a positive learning climate while students are physically separated from their teachers and classmates due to the COVID-19 school closures. The resource list is organized by the three elements of a positive learning climate - safety, support, and social & emotional learning - that have been shown to contribute to welcoming schools and support positive youth development. Since the community impacts of COVID-19 may be similar to what occurs during a natural disaster, many of the resources are specific to the unique needs of children impacted by an infectious disease outbreak or another community trauma. Please pay careful attention to these resources and use them to inform your interactions with students. Other resources are more generic and can be used flexibly and in combination based upon the specific needs of learners.
NOTE: links shared that take users beyond the Pennsylvania Department of Education's website to a non-PDE website, organization, product, process, service, manufacturer, or company do not constitute endorsement or recommendation by PDE, and, PDE is not responsible for the content featured on any of the sites or pages referenced. Educators should be mindful of digital resources that require teachers or students to create online accounts. Please check with district policies and consider HIPPA, FERPA, and COPPA laws with regards to student privacy BEFORE implementing any of these resources.
Strategies to Promote Safety/Wellness Online and at Home
Maintain norms and routines to the greatest extent possible
Education First:
Making the Most of Going Virtual - ideas for teams
Edutopia:
Extending Classroom Management Online
Huffington
Post: sample at-home learning schedules
Healthychildren.org: Family Media Plan
Provide age/role appropriate information to caregivers and children
COVID-related
PA Department of Education: Talking to Children About COVID 19
Talking
with Children about COVID-19 (CDC)
Talking With Children: Tips for Caregivers, Parents, and Teachers During Infectious Disease Outbreaks: SAMHSA
National Association of School Psychologists' COVID-19 Parent Resources
Online safety and digital citizenship
Applied Educational Systems digital citizenship resources
Coronavirus, Online Learning, Social Isolation, and Cyberbullying: How to Support Our Students (Cyberbullying Research Center)
Department of Justice: Children Internet Safety and Resources
REMS Guidance on Online Safety Considerations for K-12 School Districts
Safe sibling supervision
Red Cross Babysitter Training Handbook
Parent resource to support child development
Parent Toolkit
Ensure safe homes and workspaces
Safe Kids resources
Attend to physical and emotional safety needs through tiered systems of community support
National Traumatic Stress Network: Coping in Hard Times Together
211 essential services referral line
Support Strategies for Children, Families and Remote Teachers
Physical supports
Feeding and other services in conjunction with local service agencies
211 essential services referral line
Action for Health Kids COVID-19 and At-Home Resources
Exercise and wellness activities
Healthy Kids Healthy Future website
Move Your Way
Nemours Kids Health in the Classroom
PE Central
SHAPE America's Virtual Resources for Health and PE
Common Sense Media "Best Nutrition Health and Fitness Apps"
28 Days of Activities for Kids: Staying Sane During Covid-19 (Born to be Adventurous)
Technology/connectivity
Digital K-12 Platform (PDE)
Everyoneon.org
Mental and behavioral health supports
Implement self-care routines for adults
America Meditating Radio
American Psychological Association: Building Your Resilience
Care for your Coronavirus Anxiety Toolkit
Developing Your Self-Care Plan
Feeling Stressed About Coronavirus (COVID-19)? Managing Anxiety in an Anxiety-Provoking Situation
Manage Anxiety and Stress (CDC)
Mental Health and COVID-19: Information and Resources (Mental Health America)
Mindful Teachers Self-care Resources
National Association of Social Workers: Self-Care During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Parent/Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope with the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
SafeSpace: Resources and Tools to Create an Emotionally Safe Environment
SAMHSA: Taking Care of Your Behavioral Health
Support for Teachers Affected by Trauma
Teacher Well-Being Workbook
Provide developmentally appropriate information and support
Just for Kids: A Comic Exploring the New Coronavirus (NPR)
National Council on Family Relations' list of resources on how to talk to children about tragedies
National Institutes of Mental Health: Health Children and Adolescents Cope with Natural Disasters and Other Traumatic Events
NAESP Helping Kids Cope with Tragedy
NASP Large-Scale Natural Disasters: Helping Kids Cope
Use online platforms for social connection
Common Sense Media Coronavirus Resources
UNESCO Distance Learning Solutions
Conduct periodic check-ins with students who have known needs
Edutopia's "Personalizing Engagement: Checking in with Students Before They Check Out"
Offer virtual counseling
Planning for Virtual/Distance School Counseling During an Emergency Shutdown
The School Counselor and Virtual School Counseling
Proactively address potential for coronavirus racism and harassment
How to Respond to Coronavirus Racism (Teaching Tolerance)
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Strategies for Children
Resources for adults on modeling and promoting social emotional learning in the home
PA Career Ready Skills: Implementation: Specific Practices and Strategies
CASEL Signature Practices Playbook
Commonsense Media Educator Toolkit: SEL
Confident Parents Confident Kids
Learning Heroes for Parents
Parent's Guide to SEL
SEL Parent Toolkit
Recorded SEL or mindfulness videos (examples only)
8 Amazing Videos to Teach and Practice Mindfulness with Kids
5 Incredibly Fun GAMES to Teach Self-Regulation
Mood Meter Intro
Sesame Street: Empathy
Social and Emotional Learning: What is SEL and Why It Matters
Yale Emotional Intelligence: Emotion Words
Online Story Times (examples only)
100 Read Alouds to Teach Social and Emotional Skills
Instagram: SAVEWITHSTORIES
Practicing Social and Emotional Skills Remotely (examples only)
Good Housekeeping: How to have remote playdates and keep kids social during the COVID-19 Outbreak
Middle Web: Promote Book Talks with Online Literature Circles
CNN: The art of the socially distant birthday party
Scholastic: Writing Letters to a Pen Pal