How can we support the emotional well-being of teachers? | Sydney Jensen

TL;DR

The author discusses the importance of building teacher-student relationships and the need for mental wellness supports in schools.

Transcript

Like many teachers, every year on the first day of school, I lead a sort of icebreaker activity with my students. I teach at Lincoln High School in Lincoln, Nebraska, and we are one of the oldest and most diverse high schools in our state. Also, to our knowledge, we're the only high school in the world whose mascot is the Links. Like, a chain. (Lau... Read More

Key Insights

• 🏫 Teaching methods have evolved beyond traditional lectures and rows of silent students. Building strong teacher-student relationships is now crucial for communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
• 💔 Teachers often face the challenge of not being able to control or change external factors that affect their students, such as trauma or difficult circumstances at home.
• 🌍 Schools should prioritize providing convenient and affordable access to mental wellness support for students and teachers alike, recognizing the emotional toll of constantly serving others.
• 😓 Teacher burnout is a universal struggle, with many experiencing symptoms of depression due to the weight of secondary trauma and compassion fatigue.
• 🔗 Repairing the chain of support in education requires acknowledging the difficulty of the work and systematically implementing social and emotional support staff in schools.
• 💚 Schools can create spaces for conversations that matter, such as Wellness Wednesdays or Midweek Meetups, to address challenges and provide support for teachers.
• 💬 Taking just five minutes a day to write an encouraging note to a colleague can have a powerful ripple effect, fostering a sense of connection, support, and hope.
• 🔗 The chain that hangs in the classroom serves as a symbol of connection and support for students throughout their high school journey, reminding them that they are not alone.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the icebreaker activity the teacher leads on the first day of school?

On the first day of school, the teacher leads an icebreaker activity where each student is asked to write something about themselves on a slip of paper. This can be something they love or something that describes their identity. The slips of paper are then stapled together to make a chain, which is then hung up in the classroom as a decoration and a reminder that they are all connected.

Q: What does the chain in the classroom symbolize?

The chain in the classroom symbolizes the values and principles of the school. Each link in the chain represents tradition, excellence, unity, and diversity, which are important aspects of the school's identity. It serves as a reminder that despite their individual differences, they are all connected and part of a larger community.

Q: What is the difficult part about teaching according to the speaker?

The difficult part about teaching, according to the speaker, is all the things that teachers cannot control for their students once they leave the classroom. Teachers strive to provide support socially, emotionally, and academically to their students who come from diverse and often challenging circumstances. However, they cannot change or control the external factors that affect their students' lives and well-being.

Q: How did the teacher realize she needed to change her teaching approach?

The teacher realized she needed to change her teaching approach when she realized that despite feeling like she had done a good job at teaching one of her students, she didn't even know what his voice sounded like. This realization made her understand that building relationships with her students and knowing their emotions and experiences was essential for effective teaching and support.

Q: What does the speaker believe is important for students and teachers to have?

The speaker believes that convenient and affordable access to mental wellness supports is paramount for students and teachers alike. Teaching professionals often experience secondary trauma and compassion fatigue as they continuously absorb the traumas their students share with them. It is crucial to provide emotional support and resources for both students and teachers to maintain their well-being and cope with the challenges they face.

Q: What do many schools acknowledge and do to fill in the gaps?

Many schools acknowledge the difficulty of the work done by teachers and the importance of supporting their well-being. Some schools have implemented initiatives like "Wellness Wednesdays" and "Midweek Meetups" where teachers can engage in activities, conversations, and social events to address their emotional and mental needs. Creating spaces for conversations that matter and providing support can help fill in the gaps and promote a healthier teaching environment.

Q: What does the chain in the classroom symbolize for the students?

The chain in the classroom serves as a symbol of connection, support, and hope for the students. Seniors who come back to the classroom can still locate their link on the chain and remember what they wrote on it. It reminds them of the support they received throughout their high school journey and helps them feel connected to their fellow students and the school community. It represents a sense of belonging and reassurance that they are not alone.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker describes an icebreaker activity she does with her students on the first day of school, where they write something about themselves on a slip of paper and she staples them together to make a chain representing unity and diversity.

• The teacher reflects on the challenges of teaching and the importance of building relationships with students to help them feel connected in a world that depends on communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.

• The speaker emphasizes the need for mental wellness support for teachers, as they often experience secondary trauma and compassion fatigue from absorbing the traumas their students share with them, and highlights the importance of creating spaces for conversations and support within schools.