“Things left undone” – Why the COVID Closure of Schools May Be So Difficult for Educators

"...it's the things left undone that make this so difficult. We weren't able to grieve the end of school. We just left on Friday the 13th...and it was over..."DEEL Team Member Like many educators across the nation, I was on a Zoom meeting last week. However, this one was different because of a comment made...

The DEEL Reel – How Flexible Are You?

Photo by Saketh Garuda on Unsplash No, not the bendy kind of flexible - I mean, the kind of flexible when you consider other people's perspectives, when you're open to new ideas, and when you're willing to consider many options for solving a problem. When you're facing complex problems and feeling frustrated, confused, tired, or stressed, the habit...

The DEEL Reel – Imagine the Possibilities

As children, our imaginations could take us anywhere and could solve any problem. We could dream up hundreds of creative solutions and ideas. Then we grew up, and for some of us, our creative, imaginative, and innovative spirits got pushed aside for more realistic and logical reasoning. Right now, our world looks completely different than...

The DEEL Reel – Structuring Meetings: Exploring and Discovering

http://Photo by N. on Unsplash Welcome back to DEEL REELS! This is episode 5 in the series of Structuring Meetings. In the first four series, we looked at setting the tone for your meeting; how to incorporate inclusion activities; we then looked at creating agendas, working agreements and meeting outcomes; and in episode 4 we...

The DEEL Reel: Connecting with Google Forms

"Only connect!"E.M. Forster, Howard's End As educators, we know the value and the power of forging connections and building relationships. However, when we are no longer face-to-face with our students, colleagues and families, forging and maintaining those connections becomes a new and different kind of challenge. In this DEEL Reel, learn how to use Google...

The DEEL Reel: Eisenhower Matrix

Why am I spending so much time on things that are not important and don't have to be done today?DEEL Team Member Before I started reading Make Time: How to Focus on What Matters Every Day and Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity I found myself working all day, and still not being...

The DEEL REEL – Structuring Meetings: Activating and Engaging Protocols

Have you ever sat in a meeting that was chaotic and disorganized? Have you ever wondered how to create meetings where they are purposeful, and have tight protocols for sharing thoughts and ideas? If so, you will enjoy this series on How to Structure Meetings. In this episode, we will explore protocols for activating and...

The DEEL Reel – I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends

The Beatles weren't wrong - we all need the help of our friends, family, colleagues, neighbors, or community to get by...especially when we're facing tough times. The Beatles might not have faired well towards the end, but they were able to work together and accomplish great things in their 7 years together. And while most...

The DEEL Reel – Paraphrasing Online with Empathy

This DEEL Reel is aimed at using the paraphrase as a tool for understanding others in an online environment. I'm not sure about you, but when I get finished with a frustrating conversation with one person and a new person sends me a text, I can read tone into the new text that may not...

The DEEL Reel — Sharing ALL The Things: Part II

In the last DEEL Reel in this series, we discussed assessing parent-educator readiness in order to help educators determine what kinds of information might be helpful to share with parents and educators as they navigate their new roles. Now, in part II of this series, some tools for sharing resources with parents and caregivers will...

The DEEL Reel – Structuring Meetings: Episode 3 – Outcomes, Agendas, Working Agreements

Welcome back to Structuring Meetings! Would you like to bring clarity to your meetings? Well, in this episode we look closely at the importance of creating meeting outcomes, agendas and working agreements to clearly define the big picture (outcomes), the roadmap to follow (agendas) and how we will all agree to behave (working agreements). Find...

The DEEL Reel – Laughter is the BEST Medicine

"The most wasted of all days is one without laughter"E.E. Cummings Photo by Huyen Nguyen on Unsplash When things look bleak and you’re unsure of what to do, finding humor might just be the best answer! Not only does laughter burn calories, but it also helps us feel connected to others and provides us an outlet in difficult...

The DEEL Reel – Sharing ALL The Things — Part One

In the world of Covid-19 teaching, parents/caregivers and teachers are crafting a new kind of relationship. Although teachers still bear the responsibility for developing content and instruction, parents/caregivers' role in supporting students has shifted; parent-educators are now serving a instructors, coaches and behavior management specialists! Many teachers may be grappling with this question: What do...

The DEEL Reel – Is it Worth the Risk?

How do you move forward when you’re stuck? How do you find options when you don’t know what your next step should be? We often find ourselves faced with uncertainty - especially now while the world is facing such a dynamic health crisis. As educators, learning to support our students and colleagues in new territory...

The DEEL Reel – Structuring Meetings: Episode 2 – Inclusion Activities

Welcome back to DEEL Reel! This video clip is the second in the series of how to plan well structured meetings. Episode one focused on how to set the tone at the beginning of your meeting by setting clear expectations, defining the purpose and clarifying outcomes. Episode two will explore how to incorporate inclusion activities...

The DEEL Reel – Structuring Meetings: Episode 1 – Setting Expectations

Have you ever sat through a meeting and wondered why you were there? Have you ever left a meeting and thought, that could have been an email? Have you ever been in a meeting where you were confused and did not understand the purpose or goal of the meeting? If you answered yes to any...

The DEEL Reel – Using SCARF in the Time of a Pandemic

This blog was written and graciously shared with the PCS educators by Carolee Hayes. Carolee was the original trainer in Pitt County for Cognitive Coaching and is a wonderful soul and great mentor. The DEEL Reel at the end of this blog explains SCARF in a brief video. SCARF in the Time of a Pandemic...