Based upon your observations and experience in your classroom and school what are your ideas for improving mental wellness for your students? For your fellow educators? For yourself?
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Responses
They are stressed
Model apologizing or sharing humor/setbacks regularly; I don't have to apologize often to students (we all try our best) but at least once a week I can apologize to a student or share something that makes me relatable or shows humanity. I also try to laugh really hard when given the chance.
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Michelle B.
Moderator Pick
Mental Health
In order to better help students, we need more training and more professionals working in schools with students.
For teacher's mental health, we need admin to actually listen when we ask for help and not just continuously load more on top of us until we're drowning.
For myself, I need my district to actually take actions that will make the schools a less toxic work environment instead of just talking about how they want to change things... it has all been performative and I need them to actually make positive changes.
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improve mental wellness
Have group meditation first thing as a school or as a small program.
Have students screened for depression in all grades including middle school.
District can buy Panorama to track mental health trends in our school.
I currently use an online google survey form to have my students fill out three times a week when I don't see them so I can determine how they are doing mentally. If they are elevated I check in with them. I also introduced the gender support plan to the school I work at to increase the comfort level…
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Nick I.
Moderator Pick
Addressing mental health by centering students' voices
My students have made it clear that educators and schools are not prioritizing their mental health. There are two levels at which we must address this crisis:
Classroom level: Educators/administrators need to center student voice when considering how to support student mental health. The context of what students are experiencing varies so widely by age and background. Students are so often disempowered in the current structure for developing policies and creating action plans. The most insightful, concrete advice I’ve received about how to better support my students’ wellbeing was when I asked students what teachers need…
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Compassion and empathy
For my social work students and fellow educators (as well as myself), I think coming from a place of compassion, empathy and authenticity is helpful in addressing mental wellness. This starts with modeling in the classroom and beyond- when I need a break, am I able to be authentic and honest about this? Communicate this to my students and coworkers/colleagues? Do I have support from administration at my university to take a "mental health day" or a day for wellness? Can I also do this to support my students?
I think changes institutionally and through policy…
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