by California Casualty | Educators |
Back to School Night can be a source of stress for many teachers. Make Back To School Night a little less stressful with these helpful tips:
Be Prepared
Have everything ready to go the day before your Back To School Night. Make the most of your time by getting everything ready ahead of time so you can focus on having a successful evening. If you are giving a presentation, practice it several times so you appear confident and competent
Dress Professionally
You don’t want to make a bad first impression. Men should wear slacks, and a dress shirt and tie (a coat and tie is most professional). Ladies should wear a pant suit, a blouse with skirt or slacks, or a dress. Lay off the heavy perfume and cologne, but don’t hesitate to throw on more deodorant just before parents arrive.
Calendar
Provide a printed calendar and note important dates throughout the school year. Field trips, due dates of large projects, holidays, days off of school, parties, parent-teacher conferences, and testing dates are just some of the important events you should note on a parent calendar. Parents appreciate knowing this information in advance.
Curriculum and Programs Information
Your building or district may already have this information posted on a website, or available in printed form. However, it is always a good idea to let parents know what their child will be learning in your classroom. It can be as simple as making a bulleted list of concepts, or writing a short summary of what you will be teaching. Tell parents what programs/textbooks you use for core subjects. Don’t forget to include any tiered or RTI programs your school provides for students who need them.
Let Parents Know How They Can Help
Create a list of things parents to do to help your classroom. You may need supplies or other materials for your classroom, and providing parents this list may get you what you need! It is also helpful to provide a list of volunteer opportunities, or a description of how a parent can help.
Communication
Don’t forget to provide your contact information. You may also want to be clear about your preferred method of communication. Explain to parents how you will get information to them throughout the year (email blast, newsletter, class website, etc.).
Make sure you have an easy-to-read schedule to give to parents.
Include the school day’s start and end times, along with any other times you may think parents will find helpful (lunch, specials, class periods, etc.).
Ways To Help Their Student
Create a list of ways parents can help their students to be successful in your classroom. This may look like a compilation of apps and websites that help strengthen skills, or it may be things parents can do with their children.
Tools
Will you be using online tools in your classroom that will need to be accessed at home? If so, provide a brief explanation of these tools.
Expectations
Describe your classroom management, class/building rules, and expectations. This includes student behavior, in-class assignments, homework, projects, policies for make-up work, etc.
Introduce Yourself
Tell a little about yourself. How many years have you taught? What grade levels and subjects? Where did you go to school? Including a few pictures may help parents view you as more personable.
Be Brief
It’s difficult to squeeze ALL of your vital classroom information into a 10-minute presentation, or onto a double-sided, 8.5 X 11 piece of paper. Stick to the items you feel will be most helpful for student success. Parents aren’t looking for a classroom manual, but rather some key points that will give them a sense of what the school year will be like for their student.
Have Fun
Let your personality shine through. Incorporate a little humor, or even a little emotion, into the evening.
by California Casualty | Educators |
Students nowadays are becoming increasingly more stressed and anxious. Teaching mindfulness in the classroom can help students learn to cope with emotional and mental stresses. Students who are mindful demonstrate the ability to control their attention, remain calm, and manage stress. Student mindfulness has been shown to have profound benefits for students. Mindfulness allows students to learn by clearing their minds of the things out of their control.
There are several ways teachers can incorporate student mindfulness practices in the classroom.
Breathing
Breathing exercises help to calm body and mind. Try some guided deep breathing with students to help them relax and release their worries.
Music
Help students relax by listening to soothing music or other calming sounds, like ocean waves, nature sounds, or white noise.
Imagery
In guided imagery, words and music can help students use their imaginations to create imaginary scenarios that may promote relaxation and reduce blood pressure and stress.
Meditation
Daily meditation in schools has been linked to a reduction in suspensions and truancy and an increase in academic proficiency. It also helps relax students and promotes a sense of well-being.
Sensory
Tactile items, like Silly Putty, stress balls, and Play-doh can help encourage young imaginations. Make “I Spy” jars by filling them with items that have strong, familiar smells (cinnamon, flowers, cereals, or popcorn) and have students guess the scent. Use tables covered with water, sand, or rice to focus on sense of touch.
Movement
Students are movers. Incorporate movement into your daily routine as part of your mindfulness practice. Yoga is a preferred practice for mindfulness through movement. It is calming, gentle, and flowing.
Resources
MindYeti.com – A mindfulness app for kids
GoNoodle.com – a brain break app that offers mindfulness videos
“Just Breathe” Original Film – a short film by Julie Bayer Salzman & Josh Salzman (Mindful Schools) in which young children describe their experiences with mindfulness
Guided Meditation, Relaxation and Imagery for Children videos from New Horizon channel on YouTube
Guided calming exercises from Stop, Breathe & Think on YouTube.
Relaxing Music by Yellow Brick Cinema channel on YouTube
Yoga for kids by Cosmic Kids Yoga channel on YouTube (for primary and upper elementary).
Yoga videos for a variety of needs, levels, and situations from Yoga With Adriene on YouTube.
Reading Materials
Mindfulness for Teachers: Simple Skills for Peace and Productivity in the Classroom
by Patricia Jennings
The Mindful Child
by Susan Kaiser Greenland
The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind
by Daniel J. Siegel
Visiting Feelings
by Lauren Rubenstein
Have You Filled a Bucket Today?
by Carol McCloud
by California Casualty | Firefighters |
Drones: They are the new rage with millions now in the hands of hobbyists across the nation. They hoover, dive and provide amazing videos of dramatic scenery and inaccessible areas. While unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) can provide exciting new ways to recreate and view your neighborhood, they are also threatening firefighting operations across the U.S. The incidence of unauthorized drones spotted in fire areas across the country has increased dramatically the past few years, and the situation appears to be getting worse.
Unmanned aircraft have disrupted and canceled water and retardant drops because of the fear of a collision with firefighting planes. It’s also a hazard to smoke jumpers, helicopters and crews on the ground. Flying a drone near a fire is not only dangerous, it is illegal.
Anyone caught interfering with firefighting operations with a drone can be arrested and could face a $25,000 fine and criminal prosecution.
The following are some new strategies being employed to alert UAS pilots to areas they cannot fly, and to stop them if they do.
The FAA has is creating temporary “no-fly zones” around fires and making the information available to pilots of all types, especially recreational drone users. The FAA is urging all UAS operators to visit and download the B 4UFLY smartphone app that provides the restrictions in their area.
The U.S. Department of Interior has launched the “If YOU Fly, We Can’t” campaign with videos, PSAs and posters alerting drone owners of the risks.
Technology is also being tested to prevent drones from flying in areas where a restriction is in place. GPS and geo-fencing systems can literally ground a UAS in a fire-restricted area. The electronic blocking is already being employed around airports, military bases, nuclear power plants and the nation’s capital.
Keep in mind, it often takes a day or two before fires are noted and mapped for the system and the FAA warns that all pilots, including drone operators, are responsible for knowing the rules and local ordinances. In other words, you are responsible for flight safety at all times and can be cited for any careless or reckless actions that endanger others in the air or on the ground.
The FAA requires all operators to be 13 years or older and to register any drones that weigh more than .55 pounds. All UAS pilots must also adhere to these rules:
- Fly no higher than 400 feet
- Keep the UAS within sight
- Never fly near other aircraft, especially near airports
- Never fly over groups of people, stadiums or sporting events
- Never fly near emergency response efforts such as fires
- Never fly under the influence
- Be aware of airspace requirements
All the restrictions can be viewed at https://www.faa.gov/uas/getting_started/fly_for_fun/.
Education about the risk is considered the key to preventing more of these situations. If you have a drone, you need to know the rules of where and when to fly and be aware of the dangers to others. If you are a first responder, you may want to share this information with as many people as possible.
Firefighter’s jobs are already dangerous enough, that’s why California Casualty is asking all of us to be careful and know important drone rules that can save lives.
by California Casualty | News |
You’ve no doubt encountered the glazed look of your child mesmerized by a blue screened device. You’d like them to do their homework, go out and play, or spend some family time. Often, your demands or pleas to turn it off meet with an argument, indifference or just outright defiance.
You are not alone; a recent study found the average child spends seven-and-a-half hours a day plugged into a game console, smartphone or computer. While some digital media use can be beneficial, The American Academy of Pediatrics is addressing the issue with new recommendations and resources to help families maintain a healthy media diet.
So what’s a parent to do? Here are seven strategies to help your children unplug:
Set a good example. Your kids are watching as you regularly binge on Netflix, check email, or text friends or relatives while at the dinner table. If you don’t want them to be doing it, don’t do it yourself.
Create digital-free zones. Have your children help set up rules such as no texting, TV or laptops during meals and time each evening when cell phones, TVs, and computers will be shut off.
Make digital time family time. Joining your kids playing video games or watching a favorite show lets them feel you’re engaged. It will make it easier to help limit that activity.
Set time limits. Whether it’s a home timer, an onscreen countdown clock or verbal reminders, it’s important that you set and stick to deadlines for the digital activity to end.
Recommend other activities. Tell them that after an hour of media, they can have dessert, paint or play a game of hide-and-go-seek.
Keep your kids active. Whether it’s joining them for a bike ride, hike, game of tag, soccer, baseball or basketball, your children will be getting exercise, and they won’t be using their computers or phones.
Help them find organized activities. Organizations such as scouting, sports teams, church groups, academic clubs or volunteer work assist them to engage in social and physical activities, and coaches and group leaders often ban electronic devices.
If all of these fail, have a frank discussion with your children about the mental and physical health issues associated with overuse of electronic devices, game consoles or TV. Ask them if they notice that they might be gaining weight, feeling isolated, having mood swings or are less energetic because of so much time spent watching movies or gaming. Then ask them if they have any suggestions to solve the problem. You might be surprised at their insights and solutions.
by California Casualty | Peace Officers |
Being a police officer, especially in today’s times, is a very demanding job and with each daily demand comes an attitude that can build negatively after a while. We have some ideas to help change your mindset about how you feel at your job in law enforcement.
A positive attitude can make all the difference in a stressful environment. It’s easier said than done, but having a negative attitude for long periods of time will cause more damage. The right approach can also have a lot of benefits you may not realize.
- Lowers depression
- Lower distress
- Better coping skills in stressful situations
- Increased life span
Try these tips we have to help start a new outlook on being a peace officer.
Work to keep a positive attitude daily. This is going to take practice, but soon it will make a difference. Start your shift with positive self-talk then repeat positive comments to yourself throughout your day.
Set achievable goals. Take a minute to make a list of what you want in life. Include what those goals are that include your family, work, and life in general. Writing these out and seeing them on paper can help take those first steps to achieving your goals.
Start with daily goals. What do you want to accomplish each day? Next, what about one-year goals? Finally, what do you want to see done in 5 years?
By putting all of these tips into practice, your outlook about the job will change. You will discover a new perspective and find the passion of being a peace officer again.
