All students know about the coronavirus. Not talking about it may make students worry even more.

Most students are most concerned about those closest to them. Assure them that they are safe and suggest some measures they can take to remain safe (hand washing, cough etiquette, healthy eating, social distancing, etc.)

Don’t talk over them, but match the amount of information and the language you use to their age and stage of development.

Kids are going to hear many things from their peers, on television, etc. We need to make sure we are only sharing reliable sources of information that we know are facts and can be traced to the source.

Students are professionals when it comes to knowing if we are not being authentic. Be sure to put yourself in a positive, calm mindset before having these conversations. Remember to model what you want to see for your students and set the tone.

In times like these, what many of our students need most is someone to be an empathetic listener. We do not need to have all the answers but we do need to listen and validate what our students are feeling.