Teachers have a unique relationship with their students and they are usually aware of when students are going through a tough time emotionally. Caring for students' mental health is essential in providing a supportive learning environment at school. When teachers take care of their well-being and that of their students, those schools thrive.
The stress of the pandemic has impacted students and teachers alike but taking a healing-centred approach in the classroom is helpful for all. If we're able to create spaces where emotional and social repair can take place, students are more likely to be successful academically and developmentally.
Here are some steps that teachers can bring into their classrooms to make it a place of healing and wellness.
Strong relationships are the basis for learning and creating opportunities. When students practice compassion in the classroom, it can nurture bonds between them.
With young children, assigning a classroom encourager each day is very helpful. Asking the student to keep an eye out for someone who may be struggling and be ready to offer a kind word or a helping hand teaches them to support others who may be struggling.
With older students, encouraging them to help each other, even if it is just on a math problem, shows them to reach out to their friends. When teachers model what helping looks like and sounds like and even provide sentence starters to give them an entry point, students find it easier to practice.
Collaborative learning in the classroom can be rewarding and fun for the students. Learning in groups and partnering together injects joyful moments into the day, and students enjoy the learning experiences.
Teachers can try socially engaging activities where students need to work together to create something, solve something or discover something. If the content seems dry, teachers can consider raising the stakes by creating a game or friendly competition.
Physical activity allows the students to work through emotions, including anxious feelings, frustration, and sadness. It also releases important hormones that buoy children's moods.
Teachers can build-in times for students of all ages to move, whether through play at recess, gross motor work in the classroom or yoga and stretch breaks between lessons. It gives students a chance to blow off steam and tune into their bodies, allowing their brains to focus on the task at hand.
Building with their hands allows the students to accomplish something tangible, and it taps into their creativity and gives them a sense of pride when they succeed. Whether through a project, a craft or a maker's space, opportunities where students use their hands to tinker, investigate and learn can be an excellent source of positive emotion. Beyond setting safety expectations, teachers need to make sure not to be overly prescriptive in the instructions given.
Autonomy and exploration are critical components of the students' healing experience.
When big feelings arise, having tools and routines to help students work through them will let them get back to learning more swiftly. Assisting young students to name their feelings by posting an emotions chart is always helpful.
When we carve out space in our classrooms where an overwhelmed student of any age can take a moment to collect themselves, it shows them that experiencing emotions is normal, and there is always a chance to work through our difficult emotions. It can help de-escalate a heated situation in the classroom.
Celebrating accomplishments is as essential as teaching in the classroom. Taking a moment to mark the happy moments together can go a long way toward building community and connection in our schools.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
