Ms. Praml's Counseling Corner
May 2020
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
May 6, 2020
This is an unprecedented and very difficult time for all of us. My hope for you is that you give yourself grace and patience. You are doing fabulous. No one prepared us for a moment like this so try to not feel shame for allowing screen time, guilt for unhealthy snacks, or stress about routines and schedules.
The resources included here are meant to help parents and students during this strange and scary time. Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is good for all of us at all stages of life. However, I believe that it is now more important than ever that we help our students cope, build strong resiliency skills and provide them with feelings of security and love.
Just a reminder, I am available via email Mondays through Fridays from 8:30AM - 2PM. Should you need to speak to me, an appointment may be scheduled via email for future phone correspondence. Please be advised, I do not have access to school phones/voicemail during this time.
Want more? My website is updated multiple times a week with new resources for both parents and students. You can access it here: https://www.montville.net/3/department/20
I'm also posting information for students in their Schoology Groups. Check them out!
Be well, be safe--
Heather Praml, M.Ed., LPC, NCC
School Counselor
A few resources that may help you explain the COVID-19 to your children are listed here:
Montville School Counseling Department COVID-19 Resource Page
https://www.montville.net/1/Content2/1246
COVID-19 Book for Children
https://www.mindheart.co/descargables
BrainPop Video
https://www.brainpop.com/health/diseasesinjuriesandconditions/coronavirus/
Talking to Children about COVID-19
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/talking-with-children.html
Managing Stress & Anxiety
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/managing-stress-anxiety.html
SEL and Mental Health Resources for COVID-19
As local, state, national, and international leaders work to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus, many communities across the country are experiencing a heightened level of fear, anxiety, and worry during these uncertain times. Parents, educators, youth development professionals, childcare providers, and others are looking for ways to help young people reduce, manage, and cope with the fears, worries and anxieties that might be provoked by this health crisis and continue to develop the social and emotional skills they will need for managing and coping with future life challenges.
Here is a collection of resources to support these efforts.
https://sel4us.org/covid-19-sel-mental-health/
CASEL CARES Initiative
As the country and the world respond to the coronavirus (COVID-19), we are all feeling a range of emotions. At CASEL, we understand how important it is to attend to the social and emotional needs that arise during times like these. SEL offers a powerful means to explore and express our emotions, build relationships, and support each other – children and adults alike – during this challenging time.
CASEL CARES is a new initiative that connects the SEL community with experts to address how SEL can be most helpful in response to today’s circumstances.
Growing a Growth Mindset
5 Daily Growth Mindset Questions to Ask Your Children:
The concept of a growth mindset was developed by psychologist Carol Dweck and popularized in her book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Students who embrace growth mindsets—the belief that they can learn more or become smarter if they work hard and persevere—may learn more, learn it more quickly, and view challenges and failures as opportunities to improve their learning and skills.
- What did you do today that made you think hard?
- What challenge or problem did you work on today?
- Can you think of a mistake you made today? How can you use this mistake to do better next time?
- Can you think of something new you tried today? What was it?
- Is there anything you are struggling with? Great! What new strategies can you try next?
Share Your Silver Linings Contest
PDFNJ is looking for New Jersey students to share some of the positive stories or "silver linings" they have discovered during this time of social distancing.
Students are invited to share a story about a new healthy and positive family ritual, habit, activity or a healthy tip you have discovered while social distancing!
By submitting a silver lining story, students will be automatically entered to win* one of five $100 Amazon gift cards.
Parents or teachers - upload a 150 word** or less experience to share a silver lining story!
Deadline for submissions is May 22, 2020
http://www.drugfreenj.org/blog/post/all-pdfnj-programs-are-now-virtual/
Cedar Hill School
Email: heather.praml@montville.net
Website: https://www.montville.net/3/department/20
Location: Cedar Hill Elementary School, Pine Brook Road, Towaco, NJ, USA
Phone: 973-331-7100
Facebook: facebook.com/MontvilleTownshipPublicSchools
Twitter: @CHES_Bulldogs