Whole Child Newsletter
May 2021
Inclusion Starts with I
Supporting Students As They Emerge from Remote Instruction
In this Phi Delta Kappan column, Phyllis Fagell counsels a third-grade teacher who writes, “These eight- and nine-year-old kids can’t manage little setbacks well, whether it’s a tough worksheet problem or a missed chance to be line leader, and I think it’s because they’re also coping with big disappointments.” Her students hate Zoom and lack the resilience they exhibited in the past. The teacher asks how she can reacclimate next year’s students when they’ve been through so much.
“The pandemic has had a huge impact on children,” Fagell responds, “changing how they learn, live, and play. And no two kids are going to respond exactly the same way, because everyone has a different backstory and risk factors.” Teachers are a vital part of kids’ support system, she says, and quotes two experts with suggestions:
• The 80/20 rule – “Typically, after a disaster, around 80% of kids will be just fine and recover well, and around 20% will struggle,” says Jonathan Wilson, director of OpSAFE International. Adults who focus on the 20% “end up playing whack-a-mole, jumping from crisis to crisis. It’s better to work with the 100% to rebuild community, talk about feelings, and reduce distress. Then the whole group helps you support the 20% and everybody builds resilience.”
• Anticipation and problem-solving – If, for example, students are having problems with new classroom groupings that separate them from friends, the teacher might suggest after-school play dates to keep those connections, suggests Ryan DeLapp, a child psychologist at Montefiore Health Systems in New York City. Problem-solving skills need explicit instruction, followed by praise when students apply them successfully, and when they deal well with disappointments. An important teacher skill: knowing when a student meltdown is coming and putting aside academics for a few minutes of quiet reading, mindfulness, or play.
“Career Confidential: A Teacher Wants to Help Students Manage Disappointment Better” by Phyllis Fagell in Phi Delta Kappan, April 2021 (Vol. 102, #7, pp. 66-67); Fagell can be reached at contactphyllisfagell@gmail.com.
Trauma Informed Programs and Practices Guide
The TIPPS Guide is intended to broadly frame a trauma-informed approach for schools rather than outline/prescribe a particular program or set of practices. The strategies and resources are offered as examples and focused on deepening connections to the 10 TIPPS "pillars."
In addition, TIPPS will be also working on an "implementation guide" to accompany the TIPPS Guide, as well as, a series of short PD-type courses (which will be accessible on the TIPPS website once it is finalized).
Teen Support Group: Stay Well
Being a teenager can be hard—and when a pandemic disrupts your normal routines, it can get a lot harder. You may feel disappointed, depressed, and anxious about the future. How about connecting with other teens from around the state to share your feelings and compare experiences? Register for a virtual support group designed especially for 14-to-17-years-olds, hosted by our Stay Well counseling team. Sign up for one or more sessions at https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcpcu6rqDooGdJDuHvQba3_y1TJc0BH3XU2
You’ll get a confirmation email with information to join the meeting.
Click Here to See the Stay Well Teen Group Flyer
Michigan Department of Education’s LGBTQ+ Students Project Workshops
Mark your calendars! Below are the workshops offered by the Michigan Department of Education’s LGBTQ+ Students Project between now and the end of the school year. The demand for our workshop from the field this year has been high. During the 2020-21 school year, we have had 17 workshops and 1062 participants from 236 intermediate and local districts from 55 counties.
**IMPORTANT** Only register for workshops if you expect to attend; we have wait lists for our virtual offerings and it’s important to ensure spots are being filled by people who will attend. Continuing Education Credits and SCECHs will be offered at no cost, however you must attend the entire workshop to be eligible. You will be notified if you are on the wait list. Please note that registrations will only be approved for those who have not already attended the workshop in the 2020-21 school year
-When Bias Gets in the Way: How to Recognize and Address Barriers to Supporting LGBTQ+ Students and Families will be on Tues. May 4, 2021 from 8:00-9:30am. In this workshop we will identify strategies for navigating our own biases and collaborating with families and colleagues who may be unsupportive. Register here.
-From the School Bus to the School Board: School-Wide Policies and Best Practices to Support LGBTQ+ Students on Tues. May 11, 2021 from 8:00-9:30am. This workshop explores the ways in which we are able to enact systems to better support LGBTQ+ youth. This workshop is especially great for administrators and/or those who have not been to other workshops in our series. Register here.
-Safe, Supportive, and Inclusive Classrooms: Practical Strategies for Affirming LGBTQ+ Students will be on Tues. May 25, 2021 from 3:30-5:00pm. We are excited to feature guest co-facilitator Owen Bondono, 2021 Michigan Teacher of the Year! This workshop is geared especially toward classroom teachers, however building administrators are also encouraged to attend. Register here.
The next Drop-In Technical Assistance (TA) sessions are Thursday, May 6, 2021 from 8:00-9:00 am (link to join) and 3:00-4:00 pm (link to join). This is an informal and unstructured opportunity to speak with project leads about any questions you may have about supporting LGBTQ+ students in your district. You can also hear questions from others in the field. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out to Laurie Bechhofer, Project Director at bechhoferl@michigan.gov or Kim Phillips-Knope, Project Lead at kim@rootsofchange.us.
Michigan’s Early Childhood Program Again Among Tops in the Nation
“In Michigan, 37,368 students received GRSP pre-school last year; 27,000 eligible students received no pre-school whatsoever. Legislators, educators, and philanthropists need to work together to make sure that all 64,000 eligible students each year receive GSRP services. The earlier we educate our children, particularly with a program as strong as GSRP, with research-based success, the better our children will do with their later educational outcomes and success as adults.”
Michigan’s Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) serves children across 82 of the state’s 83 counties. GSRP is Michigan's state-funded preschool program for four-year-old children with challenges that may place them at risk of educational failure.
Read the entire press release by clicking here
Upcoming edWebinars
Coming Up Next Register to attend live or receive the recording.
Developing Effective Professional Learning for Your District Monday, May 3 @ 3 pm ET Presented by Adam Drummond, Ed.D., Associate Partner, ICLE; and Jenna Woods, Director of Professional Learning, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Writer’s Workshop: Maximizing Efficiency and Efficacy to Address Learning Loss Monday, May 3 @ 5 pm ET Presented by Kristina Smekens, President and Lead Consultant, Smekens Education
Making Vocabulary Connections: Powerful Strategies and Activities for Expanding Word Knowledge Tuesday, May 4 @ 2 pm ET Presented by Lynn Givens, M.Ed., Educational Consultant and Developer of Reading Intervention Program
Digital Learning Design Strategies for Today’s Teacher Tuesday, May 4 @ 4 pm ET Presented by Martin Ricardo Cisneros, Modern Learning Advisor and Director of Technology, Berryessa Union School District (CA)
Rebuilding a Schoolwide Culture of Reading and Writing Tuesday, May 4 @ 5 pm ET Presented by Patty McGee, M.Ed., Author and Literacy Consultant, Benchmark Education Company; Laura Robb, Author; Evan Robb, Author and Principal, Johnson-Williams Middle School (VA); and S. Travis Crowder, Author and Seventh-Grade Teacher
Using the Summer to Design a Data-Driven ELA Curriculum: For District Leaders Wednesday, May 5 @ 3 pm ET Presented by Dr. David Bain, Vice President Academic Planning & Analytics, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
5 Essential Strategies to Effectively Teach Letters and Sounds Thursday, May 6 @ 2 pm ET Presented by Cheryl Lundy Swift, M.Ed., National Presenter, Learning Without Tears; and Tracy Sloper, National Presenter, Territory Manager, Learning Without Tears
Effective Strategies for Coordinating Summer Reading Growth for K-3 Learners Thursday, May 6 @ 3 pm ET Presented by Dr. Anne Cunningham, Professor, HMH Author, University of California, Berkeley
AASA Leading for Equity: Innovative Action and Equity-Driven Processes for Student Success Thursday, May 6 @ 4 pm ET Presented by Dr. Darin Brawley, Superintendent, Compton Unified School District (CA), and Michele Dawson, Senior Director, Technology and Innovation, Compton Unified School District (CA)
DHHS Prevention Services
- DHHS offers a program called Prevention Services. If you are working with a student or family who is struggling with issues such as mental health, substance use, food insecurity, lack of housing, limited or no health insurance, please connect them with this service. There are staff available to assist in a variety of ways.
- DHHS Prevention Services Information
We need Your Help Creating a Suicide Prevention Crisis Line
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is planning for the implementation of 988, a new, national, three-digit number for mental health crisis and suicide response. The 988 crisis line is set to launch in July 2022. To support implementation, the State of Michigan has established a 988 planning coalition. The coalition is seeking perspectives from people who have experienced suicidal thoughts or behaviors, accessed crisis services, contacted a crisis line, or lost a loved one to suicide to help inform the 988 implementation plan by participating in a virtual listening session. If you have these experiences and are interested in sharing your input, please register at https://publicsectorconsultants.com/988-listening-session/.
Michigan aims to have 24/7 statewide coverage of 988 calls, chats, and texts. Those who contact 988 can be connected to community crisis services and local resources, and call center staff can follow up with callers to ensure they have the support they need. The State is partnering with the current network of certified crisis centers providing suicide prevention and intervention services, as well as the Michigan Crisis Access Line (MiCAL). The 988 planning coalition is examining the state’s current system and capacity for mental health crisis calls, reviewing model legislation for establishing a consistent statewide system for 988 calls, and providing other input on potential funding models and sources. By working together with those with lived experience, Michigan hopes to create a comprehensive and effective crisis line for people in need.
Contact the Whole Child Team!
Janelle Buchler: Whole Child Consultant (janelle.buchler@jcisd.org)
Eric Swihart: Whole Child Coordinator (eric.swihart@jcisd.org)
Caitlin Williams: Attendance and Homeless Program Coordinator (caitlin.williams@jcisd.org)
Rebecca Hurst: Behavior Health Project Coordinator (rebecca.hurst@jcisd.org)
Kelsea Jabkiewicz: Data Integration and Medicaid Cost Recovery Coordinator (kelsea.jabkiewicz@jcisd.org)
Angela Maddox: Whole Child Secretary (angela.maddox@jcisd.org)