by Melissa Merz
Client Success Manager, Eduscape
"How are you?"
"Welcome to class!"
"I’m happy you’re here!"
These 3 simple phrases are so simple, yet so impactful when it comes to building a classroom community!
As teachers, we have always focused our priorities on the overall well-being of our students - this is a given. When we “signed up” to be teachers, it was because we felt our calling to a greater purpose, and not just because we had a love for academic content and a need to spend countless nights grading papers.
Over the last 2 years, the mental health of our students, as well as ourselves, has turned very fragile. We as teachers are even more overworked, and feel underappreciated. We've become heroes to some, and even bigger heroes to many. But are we taking time for ourselves? If we're really the heroes that we're made out to be, why aren't we listening to our own bodies and minds? Now more than ever, it's critical that we take time for ourselves. We have to listen when we reflect on how we are feeling, and what our own needs are. And then - here's the hard part- we have to DO IT. If you know you need a break, take it. If you know a spa day fills your heart with all the happy feelings, book it. Walk the trails. Order the appetizer. Take the nap.
Just as we need to be self-aware and proactive in our own mental health, the same is true for our students. They learn from us - and they learn self-care from those who model it. We have to help guide them through the aftermath of a pandemic: learning loss, social skills declining, and so much more. We're all learning how to act and how to learn again, and that's ok. But we have to open up the line of communication now, more than ever, to help them understand their emotions and what they are feeling. One of the best ways to do that is through guided reflection and conversation.
A great resource to get real time data for that is School Day.
Top 5 Highlights of School Day
Student Perspective
Students can easily express how they are feeling in a safe and anonymous way.
When combining this with class discussions it creates a sense of belonging, they get the feeling that they are being heard and can contribute to the classroom culture, and learn important life skills that they need both in and outside of school.
Teacher Perspective
They get a clear overview of how their students are doing over time, 80% of teachers say they know what to do based on School Day’s data.
Teachers get tailored grade-specific content to support discussions and SEL lessons with their students. 93% of teachers say School Day helps them to support student’s well-being.
School Perspective
Increase in enhanced learning skills and motivation lead to a happier and more inclusive school culture. This in turn leads to GPA improvements and fewer absences / drop-outs.
Now is the best time to try School Day out by yourself and check how automated surveys and easy-to-read data insights will make your goal of increasing social emotional well-being easy to achieve even within the next few days.
Start your free teacher account today by clicking here!
by Melissa Merz
Client Success Manager, Eduscape
Teacher of 15 years
Elementary Education
Masters in Reading Education
Reading Specialist
Online Instruction and Assessment Specialist
What are some practical ways teachers can assess and address the emotional needs of their students without compromising the educational content they need to deliver?
Hello, thanks for the comment! Here's a response from Erin Sailor, Director of Professional Learning here at Eduscape:
Here are some practical ways teachers can assess and address the emotional needs of their students without compromising educational content:
Assessment
-Regular Check-ins: Conduct brief, informal check-ins at the beginning or end of class to gauge students' moods and concerns.
-Observation: Pay attention to students' behavior, body language, and interactions with peers. Look for signs of stress, anxiety, or disengagement.
-Student Self-Assessments: Use simple tools like mood charts or journaling prompts to encourage students to reflect on their emotions.
-Classroom Climate Surveys: Periodically administer anonymous surveys to gather feedback on the classroom environment and students' feelings of safety and belonging.
-Addressing Emotional Needs
Create a Supportive Classroom Culture: Foster a positive and inclusive environment where students feel safe, valued, and respected.
-Teach Social-Emotional Learning (SEL): Incorporate SEL skills like self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making into lessons and activities.
-Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques: Teach students simple mindfulness techniques like deep breathing and meditation to help them manage stress and anxiety.
-Positive Reinforcement: Acknowledge and reward positive behaviors and effort, focusing on building self-esteem and motivation.
-Collaborative Learning: Encourage group work and cooperative learning activities to promote teamwork, communication, and empathy.
-Flexible Learning Opportunities: Offer a variety of learning activities and assessments to develop different learning styles and emotional states.
-Open Communication: Create opportunities for open and honest communication with students, both individually and as a class.
-Seek Support: If a student's emotional needs are significant, work with the school counselor or other support personnel to develop an appropriate intervention plan.
-Integrating Emotional Support with Academic Content
Thematic Connections: Relate academic content to students' personal experiences and emotions.
-Real-World Problem-Solving: Incorporate real-world scenarios that require students to consider the emotional impact of their decisions.
-Character Education: Use literature and current events to discuss empathy, compassion, and other important character traits.
-Creative Expression: Encourage students to express their emotions through art, music, or writing.
By implementing these strategies, teachers can create a more supportive and nurturing learning environment where students can thrive academically and emotionally.