May 2020

What are you thinking of?

Thinking about the next deadline? Thinking about what to eat? Thinking about when the next Zoom call is? Thinking about what time you should wake up tomorrow? Thinking about …

But what is happening right now, in-front of you… at this very moment? With many tasks to complete – it is easy to feel overwhelmed. Feeling overwhelmed can lead to unnecessary distress. One way to prevent this is by practicing mindfulness.

“Mindfulness is the practice of purposely focusing your attention on the present moment—and accepting it without judgment. Mindfulness is now being examined scientifically and has been found to be a key element in stress reduction and overall happiness.” Help Guide

 

Click here for more information on mindfulness.

Tips for Online Practicum

Hello Everyone!

Here are some tips that will help better your online teaching experience:

  1. Be concise and direct with instruction (similar to following a recipe book)
  2. Have a planner or spreadsheet with a list of tasks you want to get done for the week
  3. Set yourself times to get specific tasks done (ex. 30 minutes of marking each day to make yourself accountable) 
  4. Set a routine – finding an appropriate workspace, time, separate yourself from home (try not to work on your bed when working) 
  5. Make sure to have a document for grades (ex. Excel document – It will be easier to keep track of students who are missing assignments and identify students who are falling behind in work)
  6. Make your assignments clear and concise -refer back to the big ideas and core competencies.
  7. Try and request for your SA’s number. It will make it easier to communicate with them rather than emailing back and forth.
  8. Make sure to communicate early with your SA with kids who are not completing assignments or not responding to emails. This will help identify any students who need extra help. 
  9. Collaborate with your peers to share resources (we are all facing similar challenges) Check in with cohort members.
  10. Think how you can BEST support your students (checking in with students either through email or phone calls with students who may be falling behind or struggling) 
  11. Flipped Classroom 

If you would like more tips in the future, please submit your feedback here.

Haven’t been to a museum for a while?

Here is an idea for you to stay connected with your friends and family! Right now, many of us are using Zoom, House Party and other platforms to stay connected.

We thought it would be a cool idea to take virtual museum tours with each other, since many entertainment places are closed until further notice.

Here are some online tours:

The Louvre – Paris France

Van Gogh Museum – Amsterdam, Netherlands

The National Museum of Anthropology – Mexico City, Mexico

Let us know if you have other fun ideas to stay connected under the “Contact Us” page!

 

How are you feeling?

During the BEd program and recently with COVID-19, how have you adapted to the new demands of becoming a future educator?

Just like you, we both had to adapt to the transition towards remote learning. We have felt moments of stress and uncertainty. However, practicing self-awareness and adapting our coping framework has allowed us to navigate through this current situation and provide support to our practicum school community.

Working on our self-awareness leads to an overall development of emotional intelligence.

To read about how to manage working from home click here.

 

Keep Moving! – Movement Guidelines for All Ages.

Take a moment to reflect about your typical day. Are you staying active during this Pandemic now that fitness gyms, sports’ facilities, and parks are closed?

According to ParticipACTION, Canadian adults aged (18-64 years of age) have a letter grade of “D” for overall physical activity. How can we work together to improve this?

To read more about Canadians and physical activity click here.

This next resource is a break down of recommended daily physical activity for various age groups.