Oxygen Mask Lesson Plan Oxygen Mask
Professional Development Lesson Plan
Duration: 120 Minutes
Audience: Educators (Tier 1)
Why This Matters
Educators often face challenging situations that can impact their well-being and, in turn, their effectiveness in supporting students. This lesson equips educators with tools to build resilience in students and prioritize their own self-care, leading to a more supportive and sustainable learning environment.
Objective
Participants will identify strategies to foster resilience in students and recognize the critical importance of self-care to prevent burnout and secondary traumatic stress.
Preparation & Materials
Review all generated materials including slide deck and worksheets.
Ensure projector and computer are set up for slides.
Print copies of Toolkit, STS Reading, and Self-Care Plan.
Arrange seating for small group discussions.
Facilitation Roadmap
20 MIN
Introduction to Resilience Science
Warm-up question and Slides 1-3. Focus on "Resilience Building Blocks."
Large-group share on "Resilience" definition (5m).
Present core concepts & importance (10m).
Experiential discussion (5m).
30 MIN
Strategies for Student Resilience
Slides 4-7 and Student Resilience Toolkit Activity.
Practical strategies presentation (10m).
Small group brainstorm using Toolkit Activity (15m).
Large group debrief & toolkit sharing (5m).
30 MIN
Understanding Secondary Trauma
Slides 8-10 and STS Reading Material.
Intro to STS and Burnout (10m).
Silent reading of "Understanding STS" (10m).
Safe-space discussion on signs and impact (10m).
30 MIN
Personal & Community Self-Care
Slides 11-13 and Professional Self-Care Plan Worksheet.
Importance of sustainable self-care (10m).
Individual completion of Self-Care Plans (15m).
Partner share of one strategy (5m).
10 MIN
Closing Reflections
Slide 14 and final commitments.
Summary of key learnings (5m).
Personal commitment writing (5m).
Facilitator Notes
This session covers sensitive topics like burnout and trauma. Ensure a safe, non-judgmental environment. Remind participants that experiencing Secondary Traumatic Stress is a normal reaction to being a caring professional, not a sign of weakness. Encourage vulnerability only to the extent people feel comfortable.
Key Vocabulary
Resilience: Ability to adapt well in the face of adversity.STS: Emotional duress from indirect trauma exposure.Burnout: Exhaustion from prolonged workplace stress.
Discussion Prompts
"What does 'resilience' look like in your classroom?"
"How can our school culture better support self-care?"
"What are the barriers to setting professional boundaries?"
Building Resilience Slides The Oxygen Mask
Resilience & Self-Care
Professional Development Session
Welcome participants and introduce the session's focus: resilience and self-care. Start with a warm-up question: What does 'resilience' mean to you in the context of education?
What is Resilience?
"The ability to adapt well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, or significant sources of stress."
It's not about avoiding stress, but learning how to navigate and grow from it.
Crucial for academic success and emotional well-being.
More Than Bouncing Back
It is about forward momentum and growth through challenge.
Define resilience and explain its importance for students in navigating academic, social, and emotional challenges. Connect it to positive outcomes.
Resilience: A Skill, Not a Trait
Internal Strengths
Self-Awareness
Self-Regulation
Problem-Solving
External Supports
Positive Relationships
Safe Environments
Meaningful Participation
These are skills we can teach and nurture!
Introduce the idea that resilience isn't an innate trait but a set of learnable skills. Briefly touch upon the 'building blocks'.
A Strength-Based Approach
Identify
Focus on what students can do—their existing strengths and positive attributes.
Empower
Help students identify and label their own strengths so they can tap into them intentionally.
Celebrate
Acknowledge small victories and incremental progress to build self-efficacy.
Transition to actionable strategies. Emphasize a strength-based approach rather than focusing solely on deficits.
What Can We Do?
Teach Coping Skills
Breathing, mindfulness, self-talk.
Promote Problem-Solving
Guide them, don't solve for them.
Build Relationships
Foster belonging and trust.
Growth Mindset
Effort and learning from mistakes.
Experience Mastery
Provide tiered opportunities for success.
See your Toolkit Activity for more!
Provide concrete examples of classroom strategies. Mention the upcoming activity for deeper engagement.
Your Student Resilience Toolkit
In small groups, brainstorm strategies you already use or new ideas for building student resilience.
Resilience Toolkit Worksheet Student Resilience Toolkit
Classroom Strategies for Success & Well-being
Group Worksheet
Objective & Instructions
Collaboratively identify practical strategies for fostering resilience in students. Be specific: instead of "mindfulness," use "daily 2-minute mindful breathing."
1
Form Groups
2
Brainstorm
3
Document Toolkit
Emotional Regulation Strategies
Managing strong feelings
Problem-Solving Strategies
Approaching challenges
Positive Relationship Strategies
Fostering connection
Self-Efficacy & Growth Mindset
Belief in self
Creating Safe Spaces
Ensuring security
Ready to Share:
Prepare to share your top 2-3 most impactful strategies with the larger group.
Secondary Trauma Reading Professional Reading
Understanding Secondary Traumatic Stress
"The expectation that we can be immersed in suffering and loss daily and not be touched by it is as unrealistic as expecting to be able to walk through water without getting wet." — Naomi Rachel Remen
As educators, you are on the front lines, supporting students through a myriad of challenges, some of which can be deeply distressing. While your primary focus is on the well-being of your students, it's crucial to acknowledge the impact that exposure to their trauma and stress can have on you.
What is Secondary Traumatic Stress?
Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) , sometimes referred to as 'vicarious trauma' or 'compassion fatigue,' is the emotional distress that results from indirect exposure to the trauma of others.
Unlike direct trauma, STS isn't about experiencing the traumatic event yourself, but rather about the profound emotional and psychological impact of hearing about, witnessing, or being exposed to the traumatic experiences of your students. It's a natural, almost inevitable, consequence of caring for others.
STS vs. Burnout
Burnout
A state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged workplace stress . Develops gradually due to chronic stressors like workload or bureaucracy.
Secondary Trauma
Directly related to the content of your work . Mirrors symptoms of PTSD and can have a sudden onset when dealing with distressing situations.
Signs and Symptoms
Emotional Changes
Anxiety, irritability, emotional numbness, hopelessness.
Physical Symptoms
Fatigue, sleep disturbances, headaches, illness.
Behavioral Shifts
Withdrawal, decreased productivity, absenteeism.
Cognitive Impact
Intrusive thoughts, difficulty focusing, impaired memory.
Why Educators Are Vulnerable
Empathy and Compassion: Your inherent desire to care for students makes you open to their pain.
Frequent Exposure: Regular interaction with students experiencing trauma or neglect.
Sense of Responsibility: Feeling helpless or guilty when you cannot alleviate a student's suffering.
Understanding STS is not about alarming you, but empowering you. By recognizing its presence, you can proactively implement strategies to mitigate its effects and ensure your continued well-being.
Self Care Plan Worksheet My Professional Self-Care Plan
Putting on Your Own Oxygen Mask First
"You cannot pour from an empty cup."
Name
Date
Reflect on the different dimensions of self-care. Identify 1-3 realistic and actionable strategies you can incorporate into your routine. Focus on what truly rejuvenates you.
1. Physical Self-Care
Movement, rest, nutrition, hydration
Specific Actions
Frequency
2. Emotional Self-Care
Processing feelings, boundaries, compassion
Processing Strategies
Boundaries to Set
3. Social Self-Care
Supportive connections, healthy relationships
Intentional Connections
Energy Protection
4. Spiritual / Mindful
Values, purpose, nature, reflection
Grounding Activities
Moments of Quiet
5. Intellectual Self-Care
Learning, stimulation, non-work creativity
Creative Outlets
Sustainable Success
Small, consistent steps lead to lasting resilience.
My Top 3 Non-Negotiables
1
2
3
Accountability Partner
Addressing Challenges
"Self-care is an ongoing process. Be kind to yourself as you experiment and adapt your plan!"
