Teachers engage in much more than just teaching when it comes to helping students. They witness the setbacks, achievements, and everything in between with their students. Young people also have to manage friendships, school stresses and life transitions, all during a period of life when they may not have the strategies to cope.
Supply Hive aims to keep our educators informed about potential challenges in the classroom and strategies to overcome them, hopefully assisting educators in creating a safe and supportive classroom. Together, let’s explore the ways of how educators can support their students.
1. Create A Safe Place For Feelings
When students feel comfortable being who they are, they are more likely to succeed and the classroom is the ideal place to create that feeling of openness. Simple actions that enable children to express their emotions, such as group activities or morning check-ins, can have a really big impact.
Letting students know that they can open up if they’re having a tough day and that they will not be judged, will help build trust and openness within your classroom.
2. Notice The Small Changes
Teachers are frequently the first to notice minor behaviour shifts in their students. A typically talkative student may be dealing with a serious issue if they suddenly stop talking, if they begin to struggle with their homework, or if they stop engaging with their usual peers in the classroom.
By finding a moment to check in with a simple, “How’s everything going?” or “I noticed you seem quieter than usual” can really go a long way for students and can partially open a door for them to engage and express their emotions and feel a great sense of comfort mentally into the future.
3. Encourage Peer Support and Friendship Building
Educators can use regular group tasks to help students break the ice and form friendships. By frequently pairing students with different classmates, they expand their peer connections and learn to value diverse perspectives.
Teachers can encourage students to celebrate each other’s successes, big or small. This can be done through a “shout-out” board, where students write positive notes about their peers. Celebrating accomplishments reinforces a culture of support and kindness, helping students feel that they’re part of a community that values their efforts and achievements.
4. Creating ‘Classroom Circles’
Classroom circles allow each student to share their thoughts or feelings in a supportive environment, helping them practice active listening and empathy. By applying classroom circles nearer to the end of each lesson with students, it can strengthen relationships and give students a sense of belonging.
It is not necessary to solve every issue a pupil has in order to promote mental health; that isn’t possible. You can however focus on being a great teacher, who is consistent with your pupils and establishes a caring presence in the classroom. By taking small steps and showing understanding, celebrating achievements, and encouraging openness, it can lead to teachers creating a lasting impact in students’ lives.