How Teachers Can Combat Student Stress
Teachers know that their profession can be rewarding and life-changing. They also understand the big impact that they can have on their students. Their job is to educate the future presidents, CEOs, and doctors of the world; to prepare the students of today so they can become the successful adults of tomorrow. Students are constantly under stress with the normal difficulties of growing up, doing homework for multiple classes, studying for tests, and preparing for college, in addition to any problems they may have at home. Childhood and adolescence can be a hectic stage of life, and students are unlikely to succeed if there is a negative classroom climate.
Teachers can make a difference in their students’ lives by learning how to resolve stress in classrooms, thus helping their students become more productive and driven. For all of the teachers who wish to aid their stressed students, here are some tips from Julie DeNeen, a clinical psychologist who has worked at schools helping teachers and students for several years.
- Show them they can trust you. Get to know their likes, dislikes, or any difficulties they may be facing. Although it may not be possible to spend one-on-one time with each child, look for warning signs and make sure they know they can come to you for counsel. Communication is a key aspect of a positive classroom environment.
- Stay in contact with their parents. If a student is in distress, their guardians should be aware of it. Struggling students need the support of both their educators and their parents. Being on the same team with the students’ parents can help them combat their stress more effectively. The child may be struggling at school and the parents may be unaware, or there could be difficulties outside of the classroom affecting the student’s learning.
- Educate students on how to handle disappointment. Most students will experience failure and disappointment at some point in their educational careers, and even more so as they get older and school gets more challenging. It is easy for students to feel discouraged afterwards, but instructors can help them see it as an opportunity for improvement and growth. Instead of simply diving into the next lecture, review what they didn’t understand. Encourage them to do better and believe that they can.
Stress is a natural aspect of life and school. With the right understanding of it and the right motivation from teachers and parents, students’ stress will help them grow and learn. Schools should be a place where students feel safe and comfortable, a place they know they can succeed because they have the right tools and the right motivation, beginning with their teacher.
Find these tips and others here:
Why You Need to Manage Student Stress and 20 Ways to Do It
