Wellness Wednesday’s For Wellbeing
Sydney schools are in their seventh week of continuous lockdown and remote learning.
The wellbeing of our students, our teachers and ourselves need to be a priority at this uncertain time.
What is your school doing to look out for each other?
Learning from home can be isolating and lonely as well as throw in that frustration is high, patience levels are low, the uncertainty is unnerving and teachers do not have all the answers to the questions our students may be asking.
Some initiatives that your school may like to implement to ensure the healthy wellbeing of our students include;
Ensure to have a class Zoom session at least once a week as a check-in and sharing time. Depending upon the size of your school, could you organise a whole year level Zoom?
Have a morning check-in prompt, where students complete questions on how they are feeling such as a Padlet
Have an afternoon exit slip with a few tick a box questions students can quickly reflect on before clocking off for the afternoon
Share unique resources for your class to liven things up - like quotes, pictures, tell a joke, play a prank, set challenges, use riddles, play or send out a Kahoot!
Make time to laugh with your students
Use the Educator Impact’s Pulse App which engages students with a quick check-in, only a handful of questions and helps those that need rapid intervention
Dedicate a period of time each week such as Friday afternoons to be technology-free. Students complete activities not needing a device e.g free developmental play, outside fitness, cooking, reading, interviews…
Or better yet if you can swing it somehow give your students a day off such as Wellness Wednesdays
Suggest a podcast such as Grow Your Mind which is hosted by 12-year-old students and teaches them about their mental health and ways to be resilient
Send out postcards or rewards to students as a surprise to receive in the mail
For the mental health and wellbeing of our teachers try;
Offering competitions for staff and the winner receives an extra hour of RFF
Keep meetings within school hours where possible
Invite staff to bring a drink to your Friday afternoon check-in session
Organise guest speakers over Zoom on Wellness Wednesdays to liven things up e.g. mindfulness workshops, flower arranging, aromatherapy, yoga, masseuse, chef, financial adviser…
Remind staff that Headspace is offering Premium accounts for free at the moment. Encourage your team to take advantage of this offer. You may like to even begin or end your Zoom staff meetings with a meditation
Host a non-meeting such as completing an online Escape Room, Scavenger Hunt, LEGO challenge, dress up or even a cooking demonstrated by one of the teachers
Perform random acts of kindness
Have a staff Jamboard where taches can nominate someone or something they are grateful for each week
Have a well-being check-in chat with your room buddies through TEAMS
Set a staff wellness challenge such as who can read the most books, do the most minutes of mediation, walk the furthest etc.
And most importantly remember to looking out for yourself! It is difficult to pour from an empty cup. Make sure to;
Take breaks throughout the day
Shower each day
Eat nutritious foods
Get outside or take a walk at least once during the day
Download and use the Balance app which is currently offering a free years membership
Invest in a good office chair if you are working from home
Don’t take online learning too seriously. The students will be fine and will get back on track once you are back at school
Try to avoid schoolwork of a weekend
Stop having discussions that involves the current state of the world
Create a work focus and work escape playlist on Spotify
Do something kind for someone
Mental health should be taken seriously particularly at this time. It is key that we look out for each other and not put too much pressure on ourselves.
What ideas has your school implemented for either staff or students? We would love it if you joined the conversation and left a comment below.
