Apr 13th (No Title)

Apr 6th (No Title)

During Spring Break,  lunch and breakfast distribution will continue at Fordson High School.  You can also go pick up breakfast and lunch at Unis Middle school, Woodworth Middle school and Salina School. Spring Break schedule:  April 6 to April 10.Only on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
From 10am to 12pm.

Apr 6th (No Title)

During Spring Break,  lunch and breakfast distribution will continue at Fordson High School. 

You can also go pick up breakfast and lunch at Unis Middle school, Woodworth Middle school and Salina School.

Spring Break schedule:  April 6 to April 10. Only on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
From 10am to 12pm.

Apr 6th (No Title)

Apr 2nd (No Title)

Fun Activities to Promote Executive Function Skills in a Time of Social Distancing

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

With much of the nation experiencing widespread school closures, a lot of teachers and parents alike are looking for creative ideas to have a little fun (and to incorporate some learning too). Building executive function (EF) skills can help children become better students. In fact, EF skills are the fundamentals for learning. EF skills consist of working memory, impulse control, and cognitive flexibility. This crisis is certainly calling on our ability to think flexibly and manage our impulses. So, why not take the opportunity to build these skills intentionally? Did you know that there are a lot of different games and activities that don’t feel like learning but actually incorporate executive function skills? Let’s look at five examples that are perfect for students (and even your own children) who are currently at home.

Simple Card Games

Slapjack and crazy eights support practice in impulse control and working memory. Think of the anticipation of waiting for the next card to be flipped and the tension in your arm as you wait to slap the jack cards. How many times did you slap the wrong card? How hard was it to wait? Talk about those physical feelings as students play. Have students or your own child take notice of what it feels like to wait in that tension. Ask if there are other times that they feel that way. You can even add an element of flexible thinking to the game by changing the rules. Slap the twos, or add a wild 10 card to the mix. Using a deck of cards for a memory game is another great idea.

Board Games

I used Clue to help my son learn how to analyze data and use the information he gained to form a hypothesis. As a teacher, you can apply this same concept by creating an online challenge, giving out clues to solve a mystery by the end of the week. Ask students to track the information, and use it to decide “whodunit.”

Whether you are at home with children of your own or looking for suggestions to give to parents of students, here are some board games that utilize EF skills:

• Sorry!, Trouble, and Parcheesi support impulse control and flexible thinking.
• Chess and checkers are great for improving working memory, cognitive flexibility, and impulse control.
• Jenga can improve flexible thinking and impulse control.

Activities to Encourage Movement

With all the energy built up from being in a limited space, activities that get students moving are also good ways to build EF skills. Try encouraging students to learn a new dance online like one set to “Old Town Road,” the “The Git Up,”” or any of the popular dances going viral on TikTok currently. They can post a video to their favorite social channel and challenge other students, friends, or siblings. These dances work on memory skills and impulse control. They are also friendly for all ages. Teachers can build relationships (and likely get a few laughs) by posting themselves doing the dance and asking their students to learn it as well.

If you are like me, you might have grown up playing hand-clapping games like “Miss Mary Mack.” These are great games for building EF skills as well. Teachers can also create a lesson for parents that sends younger students on a “treasure hunt” through their house, having them find things that are based on a particular theme and then explain why they grouped them the way they did.

Quiet, Independent Fun

Thriving together in small spaces also means strategic use of quieter activities. For those moments, mazes and puzzles are great for flexible thinking. Reading a book is one of the best ways to improve attention and memory skills. While reading, students work on focus, holding information in their mind and understanding the perspective of others. Having a book discussion afterward is also a great way to get learners talking about feelings and choices.

Mindfulness

Finally, as we all work to cope with staying indoors so much, try teaching some mindfulness through deep breathing or yoga poses. Slowing down the body, noticing whether it is revving like a race car or purring like a kitten, not only helps build skills in impulse control, but it also lays the groundwork for the jump into the social-emotional learning skill of self-awareness. There are some excellent apps out there to work with.

While these games may seem like just a way to pass time, there is some intentional, executive function skill building happening too. With these ideas as your starting point, don’t be afraid to get creative! If you’re interested in more information about social-emotional learning, particularly in the midst of this current crisis, watch our webinar on Using SEL Strategies to Navigate in Times of Crisis.

https://blog.edmentum.com/fun-activities-promote-executive-function-skills-time-social-distancing

Apr 2nd Food Distribution

Food distribution today. 

Zaman emergency food box pick up today 12-2.

Address:Zaman 26091 Trowbridge, Inkster,Mi 48141.

Mar 31st Empowering Our Minds Against a Pandemic

Empowering Our Minds Against a Pandemic

Learning valuable lessons.

Posted Mar 23, 2020

• SHARE
• TWEET
• EMAIL
• COMMENTS

Source: The Counseling Teacher

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

The courage to change the things I can,

And the wisdom to know the difference.

“If I have enough toilet paper and Purell, then I will feel better.” “If I stay permanently inside, then I will be OK.” “If I watch TV, read articles, and learn everything there is to know about COVID-19, then I will be in control.” “If I hoard food, then my family will be OK.” “If I tell everyone on social media what I think that they should be doing to stay safe, then we will all be better off.” “If I wash my hands with antibacterial soap excessively, then I will stay healthy.”

These are the lies that we tell ourselves. It is human nature to grasp onto the external to make us feel safe and secure. Toilet paper, Purell, and antibacterial soap have become international symbols for failed attempts to gain control over our health. Excessive purchasing of these products does not logically make sense in terms of the COVID-19 prevention: This is not a stomach ailment, the only need for Purell is when you are without access to soap and water, and this is a virus that antibacterial soap cannot kill. 

Think about what you may be doing at this time excessively to make yourself feel safe? Is it working? Are you worrying in order to feel “more” prepared? Do you feel calmer and safer? Probably not. 

As a therapist, I have worked with clients who have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This is an anxiety disorder that relies on compulsive behavior (i.e., checking the stove 10 times to be sure that it is off) in order to relieve the obsessive thought (i.e., “Something bad is going to happen to my house, or it may burn down”). While you may see the irrational nature of needing to check the stove 10 times before leaving your house, this individual may have started off checking one or two times, realized that they still had anxiety, and then increased the number of times they check. 

This is similar to what is happening with behaviors surrounding COVID-19. People have been advised to wash their hands before and after eating, using the bathroom, and when coming back into the home. While this may have initially been enough to relieve someone’s stress, they then watched another breaking news report, learned about more cases, checked social media, and had their work shut down—which then led to excessive Purell usage, washing their hands repeatedly, constant worrying or watching more news. 

But do they feel reassured? Do they feel calmer? Probably not, because one could always do more to stay safe. In the case of OCD, anxiety and obsessive, worrying thoughts cannot be permanently relieved through compulsive action. The anxiety will likely return, and the behavior may not be enough to calm the obsessive thoughts—essentially building tolerance. 

People are grasping at external behaviors, people, and things to quell their fears. Anger and shaming others is evidence of this. If a loved one, stranger, or public leader is not doing things the way that would make individuals “feel” better, then anger and judgment follow. If friends are not following the “social distancing” recommendation, and others are getting angry and panicked, fear is guiding the response—even if it is justified. article continues after advertisement

People have been hoarding toilet paper, masks, soap, Purell, and food. We are never going to be able to control the actions of all others. Government leaders are never going to do all that you believe that they should do. If an individual is feeling stress and anxiety, then it is natural to want to find a target to blame. Most everyone wants answers as to why lives have changed so drastically in the past several weeks, and it gives us a false sense of control to blame people, a country, public figures, or leaders. 

However, the solution is in the mind. The truth is, we are not in control of the external world. Acceptance of that fact can lead to inner peace. Trying to gain control externally is an emotional roller coaster. That explains why it can be so frustrating for individuals trying to make the outside world line up so that they feel internally safe and calm. 

So, what is the solution? It is a simple concept but can be difficult to apply. We need to take responsibility for our internal state of mind and thoughts in order to change how we feel. Here are some suggestions (in addition, please refer to the blog picture):

1. Accept that you are not in control.

2. Increase your awareness of how you are feeling.

3. Practice mindfulness—not judging your thoughts or feelings as they arise.

4. Do not immediately react to how you are feeling; just allow yourself to feel.

5. Give yourself a break from the internet, news, and social media, and try to be present.

6. Engage in activities that are positive, healthy, and clear your mind and change your mood (e.g., exercise, deep breathing, reading a book, spiritual practice, playing with your pet, going on a walk, doing yoga, talking to a loved one about a humorous topic, laughing, etc.).article continues after advertisement

7. Try to challenge negative automatic thoughts with rational responses and positive mantras (e.g., “This too shall pass,” “Odds are, I will be OK,” “In this moment, I am safe,” etc.).

8. Notice that while in the midst of this pandemic, you are able to be at peace—even for a moment.

9. Observe how you feel before and after you speak with anxious loved ones, watch or read stressful media reports, and check social media. Remember, that nothing has changed at that moment except the outside information that you are receiving.

10. Clear your mind again through any positive means that work for you.

11. Observe what external sources you have been relying on for control (e.g., media, washing hands, hoarding supplies, worrying, etc.).

12. Notice if you feel better, the same, or worse if you engage in those external behaviors.

13. Try to refocus on a healthy mind-clearing activity a little bit longer each day.

14. If you are spending time in a stressful environment or needing to watch the news or go onto social media, then be sure to counteract those activities with positive mind-clearing ones.

While we are not in control of the chaos in the world, we are in control of the state of mind that we strive for in our daily lives. COVID-19 is making it abundantly clear that we need to have the wisdom to determine what we can and cannot control in our daily lives. This is a choice that we must make each day, especially during difficult times. There is power in knowing that peace lies within us, no matter what is happening around us.article continues after advertisement

Note: If you are experiencing extreme mental health symptoms, please consult with a therapist to assess what type of treatment may be most appropriate for you. Psychology Today’s Therapist Directory is an excellent resource for finding a good therapist who can meet your needs. It is also advised to follow the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control for COVID-19 prevention.

References

Here is an excellent resource for mental health coping skills in dealing with COVID-19: http://complicatedgrief.columbia.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/COVID-19-Mental-Health-Tips-HSPH.pdf

Mar 31st Embracing the New Reality

Keep Calm and Structure On: How to manage emotions and build structure at home during COVID-19

by Elizabeth Sautter and Dr. Rebecca Branstetter | Mar 18, 2020 | Emotional Regulation | 17 comments

“I’m scared of getting sick and I miss my friends” -5 year old
“I’m scared you are going to get sick and papa (grandparent)” -16 year old
“It’s only Day 2 of home school and we are already going crazy!” -Parent of child with special needs

During this unprecedented time of school closures, social distancing, and fears of the coronavirus, parents are scrambling for ways to support their children’s social and emotional health. 

As a parent, you may be wondering “How do I support my child, calm her fears, and maintain some sense of normalcy during a highly abnormal time?”

If you are a parent of a child with special needs, you may be concerned about managing your child’s social-emotional and behavioral reactions to the big change in their routine. 

All kids (and adults!) profit from structure, predictability, and routines during times of uncertainty. Younger children, children with special needs, and children experiencing high levels of situational anxiety during this time may need structure even more. 

As co-creators of Make it Stick Parenting, we help parents teach their children social-emotional and behavioral self regulation through everyday activities at home. We are offering up this short free three-video series on how to set the stage for a more calm, supportive home environment during school closures.

We invite you to listen, download the tools, and tailor to your personal situation. If something resonates and you want to try it, great! If something doesn’t seem to fit for your family or situation, then adapt as needed. Everyone’s situation is unique and there is no “one right way” to parent in this time. There are some basic guiding principles, however that may help you keep calm, support your child where they are and make the most of this time with your children. 

Download all the Free PDF Tools we mention in our videos by submitting your email below:

1-Four different schedules to print and use.
2-Steps for how to check-in with your child on a daily basis.
3-Calming menus for you and your child.
4-Mindfulness resource guide.GET YOUR FREE TOOLS

Subscribe to get free tools to help create calming strategies, family schedules, and more!

https://makesociallearningstick.com/keep-calm-and-structure-on-how-to-manage-emotions-and-build-structure-at-home-during-covid-19/

Mar 30th Food Mobile Pantry

Mar 30th Spirit Week