Here’s promised post w/ a few strategies (among many) to help educators help students deal w/ COVID-19 threats including diminishing the possible traumatizing effect, even in absence of attack on known individuals. A caveat: if schools close, that raises a host of issues not addressed here. 1. Don’t pretend virus doesn’t exist by hiding reality. Being honest is key. How one expresses that honesty is a different issue. 2. Do activities at start of class to lower autonomic nervous system; these should involve the senses. 3. Consider pop-up courses for older students (short courses; small groups) and accurate activities on viruses for younger students. Some pop up course suggestions: a) What is a pandemic (note word panic w/in it) and when have they occurred in US?; b) Are masks helpful in preventing disease spread; if so, for whom?; and c) Is quarantine the best strategy for disease containment? What does quarantine entail? For younger students, consider these activities: a) Draw what viruses (any virus) looks like to you? Draw how it looks for real under microscope? Color images; b) What are vaccines and who creates them? List current vaccines. Note these topics don’t address COVID-19 virus head on; that’s purposeful. Knowledge is power as is stability and structure. …see more