WELLNESS CHALLENGE

The Body Coach - YouTube workouts

Kahn Academy:

Step-by-step video
QuickStart Guide to setting things up

Raz-Kids

Characters of a Good Distance Learning Student

GISD Teacher's Digital and Remote Learning Resources (updated often)

Putting Your Videos On YouTube

Teachers:

• Create your videos and upload them to Google Drive.   
• Once uploaded, in Google, share the videos with Kevin (ktipton) and Laurie (lvansume).   
• If they are already on YouTube, send the link.   
• Email Support with the name of the video you have created to let us know it is ready to upload.

 Technology:

• We will upload the videos to our District YouTube site and sort them into specific playlists.
• Once the uploads are finished and placed into Playlists, you’ll be sent a link that you can send to parents to access.
• Our YouTube channel is only available by link; it is not a public site.

 Parents:

• Once a parent receives the email with the link, they can view the contents of your playlist.
• All videos within the playlist will be available to those that have the original link.   
• No login by parents should be necessary.

Share Your "Stop and Smell the Roses" Moments! 

• Although I never had intentions of teaching students online, I am excited to try something new and challenge myself as an educator!
• I am making masks for the medical workers.  
  
• Family walks have been great.  This is definitely an aspect of everyday life that used to get placed aside with an excuse of we are too busy.  I am grateful for this time to capture these moments with family outdoors.
• We did our walking activity this morning as a family and we are doing creative learning time next. (I am thinking it will be baking some St. Patty’s day cookies to go with my green beer and pot roast!)
• I created my first video by myself!
• It's such a blessing to see so much of my family and how much the world and community is banding together with free websites, encouragement,etc. So great to see!
• I have been taking my freshman daughter out daily to practice driving since many parking lots are empty. Good news is: we’re all still alive and haven’t even run over a curb!   I guess I’m a better “teacher” than I thought! 
• My teacher friend’s 2nd grade daughter refuses to get dressed. She is adamant  that it’s pajama day at school again! :)
• Let's make the best of what we've been dealt.
• Teachers and students can come together in new ways, even though we are apart.
• Continue using tools that you are familiar with.  Use this opportunity to learn new tools and ways to teach.
• There is no growth in your comfort zone, and there should be no comfort in your growth zone.  We are all in our growth zones right now.
• Do your part to deal with the situation in positive ways.  Even in bad times, good things will emerge.  Those will become our memories.
• Support and help each other. Share what you have learned.
• Remain flexible and adjust to this uncertain situation.  No one knows where this is going.  
• Stick together
  

This special collection of meditation, sleep, and movement exercises below are designed to help you keep a strong and healthy mind in the midst of this global health crisis. 

SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL NEEDS RESOURCES


Reporting Abuse During the Covid-19 Crisis

FREE!  Trauma-Informed Resilient Schools teaches school professionals how to create trauma-informed schools and classrooms. The training focuses on resilience, exploring the core values and beliefs of educators and places an emphasis on understanding how trauma impacts children and their school experience. Lastly, proactive strategies such as fostering connections, prioritizing social and emotional skills, establishing safety, and promoting play are presented.

Use the code TRAUMAINFORMED at check out for a free purchase ($200 value).  6-hour course/earn CEUs

Michigan Virtual Courses offers a series of five FREE Social-Emotional learning courses to combat unintentional mental stress of the school closings, developed jointly by the MDE and Michigan Virtual.  May earn SCECHs per course.

ONLINE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR STAFF

FREE/Low-Cost Online PD for Certification Renewal & Progression

Build Math Minds Elementary Online PD - FREE

FREE MSU Online Mini-MOOC on Remote Teaching
The Master of Arts in Educational Technology Program at Michigan State University is honored to support the amazing work that educators.  Our Mini-MOOC on Remote Teaching focuses on high-priority, digestible topics with the intent of applying them to practice tomorrow. Because educators are teaching across a range of remote teaching contexts, we include no-tech, low-tech, and high-tech strategies throughout the experience.

EduPaths Free Online PD for Educators

Michigan Virtual Courses on how to teach in online and blended learning environments.  May earn SCECHs and many courses are free.

MDE Learning at a Distance Guidance

Learn how to engage students and enhance their learning in an online environment through effective use of the formative assessment process - Register HERE for April 23rd PD

MESSA COVERAGE NOTICE

MESSA’s Member Service Center is open to handle any questions members may have about their benefits. MESSA members can call 800.336.0013 between 8 a.m. and noon, and 1 to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday for help. Members can also chat online during those same hours by logging into their MyMESSA member portal and clicking the chat icon in the bottom right corner.

Below are the updates/changes to Health Savings Account (HSA) rules due to the CARES Act provided by MESSA (4/23/20). 

• The CARES Act or Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act has created a temporary safe-harbor allowing HSA-compatible health plans to cover telemedicine and remote care services before an HSA participant meets their deductible. In other words, health plans can cover remote care services in the same way they cover preventive care services without interrupting a participant's HSA eligibility.
• The CARES Act includes a provision that allows members to use health account funds to pay for over-the-counter (OTC) medications without needing a prescription.
• The CARES Act extended the list of HSA qualified expenses to include menstrual care products. MESSA is making updates to extend these provisions to you.

The link below at Health Equity provides great examples and FAQ’s for you.
https://healthequity.com/cares/

MESSA has taken the following steps to ensure access to care for all MESSA members and their covered dependents: (3/19/2020)

•MESSA will fully cover medically necessary testing and treatment for COVID-19 for all MESSA members and their covered dependents. Members will not have to pay a deductible, copayment or coinsurance.            

•MESSA will fully cover medical and mental health telehealth visits with in-network providers through May 31 at no cost to members and covered dependents. Medical or mental health appointments with a member’s current in-network provider that are conducted over the phone or online also will be fully covered through May 31. Note: Due to the ongoing public health crisis and the system updates necessary to waive the cost, it may take as long as six months for a member to receive a credit.

If you have any questions, contact Group Services at 888.888.4167 or via Online Chat in the Business Administration Center, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. We value our relationship with you and want you to know that we’re here for you during this challenging time. 

MESSA contact numbers that may be helpful for addressing any questions that you may have regarding coverage and the application of benefits