Please, if you ever need anything translated, please go to:

https://iblog.dearbornschools.org/translation/

Dav Pilkey, author of Captain Underpants and Dog Man has partnered with Scholastic to offer creative and fun activities with some of your favorite characters from Dog Man and Captain Underpants! Check back every Friday to discover new activities, exciting videos, and so much more!

https://kids.scholastic.com/kids/books/dav-pilkey-at-home/

Google Classroom

I have created a Google Classroom for my students. The activities are good for the whole family to do. Make sure you check in often to see the new tasks. If you need the code to enter, please email me.

I miss you all so very much! Stay safe, read your books, and continue to learn.

Mrs. Valerius’ Google Classroom

Here are some breathing exercises to help when you are feeling stressed or anxious. My favorite is Whale Breath!

Prompts for Breathing Techniques

Balloon Breath- Sitting on our knees we breathe in as we fill up our
balloons by raising our hands over our head. As we
breathe out, we let the air out of our balloons by releasing
our hands to the floor. After 2 or 3 rounds, we then blow
up our balloons and release by popping our balloons by
slapping our hands to the floor.

Birthday Candles- Holding a “birthday cake” in our hands in front of us, we
sing Happy birthday as we blow out the candles on your
cake. Also fun to do in candle pose

Pillows Breathing- One yogi on his/her back, Second yogi lies down so that
first yogi is their “pillow”. Take deep breathes…did you
feel your yogi partner move? Switch! You can even make
a “staircase” by having several yogis line up doing this.

Bowl of Soup or Ice Cream- Each yogi decides the flavor of soup/ice cream and then everyone smells & blows off their soup/ice cream. Then
gobble it up!

Cool Breathe This can help calm you when feeling upset or mad. Make
your tongue into a “straw” by opening your mouth and
pulling up the sides in a U shape. Deep breathes in
through straw & out through nose.

Whale breath Sitting pretzel style, sit up tall, take a deep breathe in,
HOLD it while you count to 5 with your fingers then tilt
head up to blow it out of blow hole OR reach hands up
on top of head to create the blow hole to “blow” out.

Snake Breath Sitting tall, breathe in, pause, then slowly & smoothly
breathe out making a hissing sound for as long as you
can.

Bunny Breath This can be done seated or with movement. Seated, sit on
shins hands in “bunny” hands in front of heart as you take
quick sniffs. With movement, start at end of mat in yogi
squat and hop to front of mat while taking quick bunny
sniffs.

Bumblebee Breath With a flower prop, as you breathe in you smell your
flower and as you breathe out, make humming bee
sound. Try for long, short, high/low sounds.

Pom Pom Breathing- For toddlers: With a large pom pom in hand, yogis
practice blowing it out of their hand. For older yogis:
Using a straw, yogis can try to move the pom pom across
the floor.

Pinwheels- Practicing with blowing hard or soft as you spin the
pinwheel with your breath.

Feather Breath Yogis practice their breath by blowing feathers off their
hand, up in the air, or just at the feather to watch it move.

Bubbles A fun introduction to breathing for kids. If you are
outside, use regular bubble liquid and wands. Indoors,
you can use a bubble wand and pretend to blow different
sorts of bubbles.

Volcano Breath With hands at heart center, breathe in as you lift hands
up, and then “explode” and breath out and lava comes
down the volcano, hands down by side.

Belly Breathing Placing hand OR small toy on stomach to see or feel it
rise & fall.

Wood Chopper Standing tall with legs hip distance, raise arms above
head and clasp hands together. Breathe in through nose
and as you exhale say “HA” to “chop” wood or do the
same with a SUN and bring it to your belly saying “HA”.

Alternate Nostril breathing Thumb holds one side, pointer finger holds the other. As you breathe in, hold down one side of the nostril and as
you breath out hold down the opposite nostril.

Hoberman Sphere A very fun expanding toy that helps demonstrate the
inhale and exhale in breathing

I came across this illustrated book for children to support with explaining the Corona Virus pandemic. I hope it is helpful.

https://nosycrow.com/blog/released-today-free-information-book-explaining-coronavirus-children-illustrated-gruffalo-illustrator-axel-scheffler/

I found this tip sheet for taking to your kids/student about Infectious Disease Outbreaks. Of special note is the following statement:

A NOTE OF CAUTION! Be careful not to pressure children
to talk about an outbreak or join in expressive activities.
While most children will easily talk about the outbreak,
some may become frightened. Some may even feel
more anxiety and stress if they talk about it, listen to
others talk about it, or look at artwork related to the
outbreak. Allow children to remove themselves from
these activities, and monitor them for signs of distress.

Please see the SAMHSA tip sheet below

First, I would like to share a message to staff, students, and parents from Dr. Maleyko in regards to the school closure. I echo his sentiments that although we are all sad that students will not be returning to school, it is in the best interest of the health and well being of all. You can read the message here:

Secondly, I want to remind students and parents that next week is Spring Break for teachers and students. Please spend this time practicing social distancing and self care (building forts, watching movies, talking/cuddling loved ones in your home, drawing, dancing and listening to music). Please take care of yourself and one another. Together we can get through this. Much love. Kristine

A new Michigan COVID-19 Pandemic Resource Guide provides information on how to access various resources aimed at supporting Michiganders through the coronavirus pandemic and related economic slowdown.

Please check it out here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-r9zam_Gh8Up-msqb4T0BRirLzV5obyuZA91Csbcqb4/edit#heading=h.an3oh59d7wsg

Or click the impeded link above.

Parents can utilize this program for a 30 day trial period to teach social skills. It was developed by speech therapists.

https://everydayspeech.com/parents-and-families/

I came across a great article that gives 5 tips to parents of student’s with ASD who are transitioning to this new normal.
The article is here:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/london-tips-parents-children-autusm-covid19-1.5510273?fbclid=IwAR1V_dDJWd-OldN1r95qFoBogp5ZXDiU7cD9PEuAlhQvSRMg474dhPVT-DA

Please reach out to me should you need any guidance, advice, or just need to talk.

Much love,
Kristine