Strategies for Supporting Students this Year

Across the country, students -- and educators -- have returned to the classroom setting. Some for the first time in over a year. This return can bring a whole host of emotions ranging from excitement, to nervousness, to the general feeling of unknown as the pandemic continues. Licensed Clinical Social Workers and TNP advocates Michelle Greenberg and Debbie Weinberger share strategies to help support students as they navigate this transition. 

First and foremost, we as educators (and individuals) need to give ourselves the space and grace to process all that we’ve experienced over the last 18 months. The pandemic has touched and changed all of our lives in some capacity. Understanding that will help form our approaches in supporting our students in three main avenues: building the classroom environment, the use of self in the classroom, and building relationships within the classroom.

Building the classroom environment

Perhaps this year more than previous years, a sense of calm and security will be key in the classroom. Think about ways that you can welcome students -- and families -- into the classroom, even if the latter needs to be done virtually.

Ideas for building the classroom environment:

  • Share a video of the classroom so family members who may not be able to enter the building can see what their students are experiencing each day

  • Consider using more calming colors than primary in your classroom decorations and limit decorations so the environment is not overstimulating

  • Take brain breaks to seize the moments when you have “quiet” time to utilize regulating activities like the Calm app, playing soothing music/sounds, or working with students on 3-count breathing exercises (breathe in for 3 seconds, hold for 3 seconds, breathe out for 3 seconds)

Use of self in the classroom

Keep in mind that everyone is bringing a piece of pandemic pie into the classroom (educators, family members, and students). We need to accept that and do everything we can not to make each person’s piece any bigger. 

Ideas for promoting use of self in the classroom:

  • Emit calmness whenever you can to ease students’ minds

  • Use a glitter jar to help students settle their emotions. Watching the glitter settle can help settle our own minds too. (We love these for DIY glitter jars.)

  • Familiarize yourself with the “Flipping Your Lid” concept from Dr. Dan Siegal. When you can understand what is going on in your (or a student’s) brain, it helps you start to feel better.

Building relationships within the classroom

Relationships are key to making students feel safe and to helping them learn in the classroom. Kids may behave differently in the classroom than you’ve experienced in the past, be it in their interactions with you or with their peers. This may be due to the fact that they’ve experienced so many different classroom settings over the last 18 months. 

 
 

Ideas for building relationships within the classroom:

  • Adopt the “you can’t add when you’re sad or mad” mindset and focus whenever possible on students’ mental wellbeing

  • Ensure students know that you’re glad to see them each day -- whether this is a personal greeting or taking the space to address students individually

  • Flex your Ability Inclusive Mindset to ensure everyone has access and feels like they belong

  • Remember that meaningful learning does not happen without meaningful relationships

Looking for more resources for building safe, inclusive classrooms? Check out this post on our “What I Wish You Knew” communication cards.

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