The past year and a half has felt like a whirlwind for most, both personally and professionally. Educators have been forced to expeditiously address a multitude of issues, including the adjustment to a temporary virtual teaching environment and then for some, a hybrid teaching environment. As we look to start another school year with COVID-19 very much in the picture, we must continue to consider the mental health aspect for our students.One nationwide trend that is being reported among both teachers and students is a significant decrease in overall morale. The impact of mental health on learning has been expectedly exacerbated during this unprecedented global pandemic.<h2>Consider These Virtual and In-Person Strategies to Help Both Teachers and Students Thrive During COVID-19:</h2><ul><li>Conduct structured “check-ins” with students, focusing on their overall well-being</li><li>Engage teachers on a virtual breakroom or collaborative communication platform such as Microsoft Teams or a Facebook Group or in in-person small groups.</li><li>Launch a virtual bulletin board where staff can post inspiring quotes, phrases and breakthroughs or simply give kudos to their colleagues.</li><li>Create student and teacher buddy systems to guide conversations, answer questions and establish a schedule for checking in.</li><li>Implement the student and teacher resources outlined in “<a href="https://thrivingschools.kaiserpermanente.org/resources-for-schools-and-families-impacted-by-covid-19/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="font-size: 18px;">Thriving Schools</a>” by Kaiser Permanente, created specifically to address impact of COVID-19.</li><li>Launch Social Media Activities such as Sprit Week, Scavenger Hunts, Daily/Weekly Challenges and Surveys.</li><li>Conduct scheduled wellness and Social Emotional Learning Sessions for students and staff.</li><li>Make sure students are getting exercise at recess</li></ul>Resources:<ul><li><a href="https://covid19.ca.gov/img/wp/california-surgeon-general_stress-busting-playbook_draft-v2clean_ada-04072020.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="font-size: 18px;">CA Surgeon General Resource</a>-Stress Relief Play Book</li><li>SEL <a href="https://www.camptimber.com/SELDistanceLearning" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="font-size: 18px;">Free Resources/Activities</a> + <a href="https://campussuite-storage.s3.amazonaws.com/prod/735103/5e2e7db8-b8d5-11e6-bf0d-22000bd8490f/2071948/48d16dee-6d67-11ea-8c28-12b959789e89/file/virtual-calm-down-corner.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="font-size: 18px;">Virtual Calm Corner Interactive Tool</a></li><li><a href="https://www.closegap.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="font-size: 18px;">CloseGap.org</a>: Great resource for student emotional wellness that also support students who are non-verbal.</li></ul><a href="https://www.crosscountryeducation.com/contact-us" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="font-size: 18px;">Contact us</a> today to discover how Cross Country Education can deliver solutions for your educational staffing needs, during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond.

How Educators Can Boost Morale and Mental Health During the COVID-19 Crisis