COVID-19:
Resilient Educator Toolkit

MORE RESILIENT TOGETHER
THROUGH THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

The trauma of the present COVID-19 pandemic has hit teachers hard and is further compounded with school closures happening across the country and the world. Now, more than ever, the focus to provide additional resources for teachers – and to expand those resources to include students, parents, and families for widespread adoption – is essential.

The COVID-19: Resilient Educator Toolkit equips teachers with actionable strategies and advice to use immediately for themselves and in working with and supporting children, parents, and families during these difficult times. Amidst chaos and through adversity, these rich teacher wellness and self-care resources can support and nurture teachers to become more resilient together.

For Teachers: Staying Calm Amidst Chaos

These days, I feel like the air is silently buzzing – full of angst, worry, and fear. These are trying times for all, ages 0-100+.

Family Tip Sheet: 5 Pathways to Family Calmness

Why do we need calming strategies? Overall wellbeing takes into account your mental and physical states. In trying times, our personal sense of balance can

Student Activity: Calming Cards and Calming Catcher

Sometimes in life, when you are stressed or frustrated, you might need a little reminder about how to calm yourself.. in your back pocket! Find

For Teachers: Practicing Mindful News Literacy

You probably have watched, read, and heard more news in the past two weeks than you have in the past few months. Half of US

Family Tip Sheet: Being‌ ‌Mindful‌ ‌About‌ ‌News‌ ‌and‌ ‌Media‌ ‌Habits‌

Right now, in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, you may have orders to shelter in place, and your children’s school was likely closed. You’re

Student Activity: Be a Journalist

DIRECTIONS – Part 1 – Observe & Interview You are going to be a journalist and write a news story about a day in the

For Teachers: Building Resilience Starts with Self-Care

“Should the cabin lose pressure, oxygen masks will drop from the overhead area. Please place the mask over your own mouth and nose before assisting

Family Tip Sheet: Self-Care for Your Family

In a time where there are a lot of unknowns, and when feelings of stress and uncertainty can interfere with our daily routines, there is

Student Activity: Taking Care of “Self”

DIRECTIONS In each section, draw or write a way in which you take care of your mind, body, and heart. Use a brad to fasten

From SHARE Professional Development: The coronavirus has upended life for everyone. For teachers and students, the stress associated with this disease is compounded by suddenly moving their classrooms online.

As educators, we have overcome moments of crisis in the past by relying on one another, and we will do the same again. We at SHARE are helping in the following ways:

Teaching Through the Coronavirus Pandemic

Teaching Through the Coronavirus Pandemic is a free 90-minute, self-paced course on the stresses and trauma specifically caused by responses to COVID-19, such as quarantine and social distancing. It also provides strategies to help teachers and their students remain strong during the pandemic – and beyond.

Your Reference Guide to Teaching Online

Educators across the world have been asked to teach online. Whether you’re a veteran teacher or just starting your practice, we’re here to help. Our free Guide to Teaching Online offers simple and practical tips as you recreate your learning environments in the digital setting.

Woman relaxing with a cup of coffee, staring out the window, being mindful.

For Teachers: Building Resilience Through a Strong Mind-Body Connection

If there has ever been a time to evaluate your health, now would be it! Staying healthy and building a strong immune system is the

Family Tip Sheet: Stress Busters

Stress can do a number to our bodies and can decrease our body’s ability to fight off becoming sick by weakening our immune systems. Stress

Student Activity: Mind-Body Connector

We can start to recognize our feelings and our emotions by feeling them in our body. Can you identify where you feel certain emotions? DIRECTIONS

For Teachers: The Reassurance of Routines

Much of our anxiety these days comes from the unknown. A recent Harvard Business Review article, “That Discomfort You’re Feeling is Grief,” highlights the work

Family Tip Sheet: The Ritual of Routine

Routines provide predictability, a sense of boundaries, and reassurance. And whether it is work or for school, we all know that a sense of routine

Student Activity: Ready, Set, Routine!

DIRECTIONS – Part 1 – Log Your Routine In order to create a well-balanced daily schedule, it is a good idea to first reflect on

For Teachers: Maintaining Balance in Time of Uncertainty

In the iconic 1980’s film Karate Kid, Mr. Miyagi took young Daniel under his wing to train him in karate. Daniel eventually learned that karate

Family Tip Sheet: Balancing Life Through Uncertain Situations

When we feel stressed, anxious, and overwhelmed, we may say that our life is “out of balance.” And considering the drastic changes we’ve all faced

Student Activity: Balancing My Responsibilities vs Activities

DIRECTIONS – Part 1 In the My Responsibilities section in the diagram, write your duties: the things that you must do and are responsible for

From SHARE Professional Development: Learning in the Time of Coronavirus is a multi-part video interview series where, in each episode, we interview folks with a unique perspective on how COVID-19 is affecting education across the world – and how we can keep learning in spite of it.

How do I capture the presence of my classroom, online?

Like many educators across the world, Zach Fruhling, Instructional Designer, has been asked to take his curriculum online. Luckily he has some experience with this. Zach shares some of his practical tips to help people with less experience get up and running online. (Hint: Zach is a big fan of organization and structure.)

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Research tells you one thing, your emotions tell you something different

In this episode, Jenna Epstein, Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in dealing with trauma survivors, walks us through her experience as a “counselor, a mom, and just a person,” giving some helpful advice about how we can all stay sane (and productive) amidst the uncertainty.

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Teaching from home: “You have to have some adult facilitation.”

In this episode, we talk to Tabitha Wiedower, At-Home Teacher / Instructional Designer, who has two kids whose school has been shut down indefinitely. She’s using her experience and resources as a teacher to provide continuing education for the kids in her community. She shares some insight and resources with us to help parents in similar situations.

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Turn off the news!

In this episode, Jody Johnson, Early Childhood Specialist, talks with us about the importance of self-care, particularly in our present world and how we manage constant changes to find peace. “What do we do when our normal, everyday self-care plan goes awry?” And what about the news?

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Following up with Tabitha, “Teaching from home.”

Tabitha, our first return guest, walks us through the learning packet she recently received from her kids’ school and how parents in similar situations may supplement such resources schools across the country are sending home.

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Education is changing. How am I going to change with it?

Dr. Thomas Armbrecht, Online Learning Architect, talks to us about how his decades of experience in creating online learning experiences shaped his opinion that teaching online is not a radical departure from classroom teaching. Tom also provides some practical guidance about how we can remain thoughtful and clear-headed in confusing times.

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Teacher Wellbeing

Teacher wellbeing is a crucial element of overall school health. Educators often experience significant amounts of pressure and stress and don’t have the proper tools or mindset to overcome these challenges. We have the right resources for educators to find that healthy work-life balance and live happy and productive lives inside and outside of the classroom.

Trauma-Informed Practices in School

Many of the challenging behaviors seen inside classrooms stem from stress or trauma in students’ lives outside of school. Trauma, both physical and emotional, can alter a young person’s brain functions, which impacts learning and behavior. Students don’t need to stumble through emotional minefields. Let’s give them a map using trauma-informed tools.

Technology Integration

Technology is increasingly becoming an important topic these days, especially for online learning. Here's a guide for teachers and leaders to choose the best strategies of integrating technology for the on-campus and online classroom. Learn about evaluating an LMS platform, assistive technology, strategies and more. Instead of fearing technology, learn to maximize it.

Here’s our handpicked, curated selection of book titles that support and develop resilience. For your students, check out our Mini-Library of Resilience-Building Books for Children and Young Adults. And don’t forget to share the list with your fellow teachers, students, parents, and anyone else who may benefit from these great readings!