ČOSIV – Page 5

The planned two-day training took place online

14May2.9.2020

Like all of us measures restricting travel affected us at ČOSIV, so we had to replace the originally planned two-day training with our Norwegian lecturers in Prague to a virtual environment. We divided the training into three days to support the concentration of attention of the trainees. The training topic was more than suitable – the activation of the stress response system and the effects of stress on behavior.
The change of established habits and routines, combined with the uncertainty of what and how will happen next, has given us all an authentic experience of increased levels of stress. Nevertheless, we tried to maintain a positive mood and together we thought about how best to support children and teachers after returning to schools.

Getting Back to School after Disruptions

06May10.1.2021

Students need to feel safe at school and have good relationships with peers and teachers so that they can learn, develop their educational potential, and achieve educational success. Many students are exposed to various demanding conditions and experiences during a state of emergency. All students are experiencing changes to their regime, isolation from friends, school, and usual activities. For many children, even their basic necessities (especially sufficient food, sleep and a sense of security) were probably not regularly met. Such children urgently need a safe, predictable, and friendly school environment upon their return. Especially if they continue to be at risk of not meeting their basic needs in the family environment.

In the enclosed document, are presented six strategies that increase the feeling of safety and predictability while supporting behavioral expectations. When returning to schools, using PBIS strategies help providing not only comprehensive support for all pupils, but also targeted support for children with a higher need for support.

ČOSIV receives the donation from First Book again

29Apr8.6.2020

First Book will work in partnership with ČOSIV (Czech Professional Society for Inclusive Education), which was founded in 2011 to engage and empower various education stakeholders individually, while also building local and national relationships, to distribute approximately 200 locally sourced, culturally relevant books to children in need in the Czech Republic.

ČOSIV will cooperate on distribution of the books with Česká asociace streetwork (Czech Association of Streetwork – www.streetwork.cz) which is the platform for all Czech leisure activities and clubs for children in need.

ČOSIV will distribute these books through a partnership with three Czech independent book publishers (Baobab, Meandr, Labyrint) to children in need in the Czech Republic.

Interview with Kaja Naes Johannessen

26Feb27.7.2020

Interview with our colleague from partner organisation Østbytunet on education of children with challenging behaviour was published at on-line magazine Rodice vitani.

“I know it’s not easy with these kids. But adults are adults and should be better able to control themselves than a child. We should learn ways to treat and helpthese children. Of course, this is not easy, because when a child dissolves in emotions, it evokes strong feelings in us adults as well. Cortisol also floodsus and we feel like runnig away or attacking.”There is no easy way to deal with this, and the following is especially recommended: try to recognize the child’s signs of a affect approaching,
and try to stop it before it starts. The sooner we intervene, the more tools we have at our disposal.When we see that a child is getting restless, he is getting a little angry, so as adults we have a chance to work with him. As soon as he starts and we start withbans and punishments, the whole situation will escalate and we will not have many options. The affective arc is practically impossible to be stopped when it starts”.

The whole interview is available here.

First meeting with lecturers from Østbytunet,

21Nov31.7.2020

On June 20^th to 21^st November 2019, we first met with lecturers from Østbytunet, our partner organization; we met in a group composed of the ČOSIV staff, our partners from the Østbytunet centre, and participants of the educational program – lecturers in training who will, after having taken the training under the umbrella of the project, train pedagogical staff in techniques of supporting children with demanding behavior due to developmental trauma. At the meeting, the lecturers presented to us details of the system of services to help vulnerable children in Norway explained the targets of the educational programme and its main theoretical base. We sat down to plan our visit to the Østbytunet centre and the lecturers delivered their first seminar for the public at the Department of Pedagogy of Charles University. The seminar, lectured by Kaja Næss Johannessen and Ann Karin Bakken, two experienced psychologists, was remarkable and the response of participants was enormous. For a videorecording of this public seminar, please see our Inspiromat Support For Inclusion.