Checking in with the student is a good place to start, sending them an email or asking them to stay after class for a catch up.  Asking in a gentle but direct wat gets the best resutls.  Something as simple as "I noticed you seemed a bit down in class, is everything OK?"  You don't need to be the student's therapist.  If the student's response is raising your concern further, you can ask if they would be open to talking with someone from the Student Wellbeing Departments.  As a teacher you are welcomed to contact the Student Wellbeing Department if you feel unsure about how best to proceed.

Related resources

This is very understandable and is a hard thing to manage especially during such unsettling times. You will have days when you are not feeling mentally up to the challenge of teaching your students online. If this is the case then it is ok to take the time off and look after yourself. If you find yourself able to teach but you still feel unsettled then try and be kind to yourself and not judge yourself for having that feeling. Find a way to acknowledge this feeling. Mindfulness can help with this, we have shared below some useful resources. Writing a journal of your thoughts can also be a useful way of giving this feeling a place. 

Some of your students will want to talk about what is happening in the world right now.

Related resources: 

Advice about how to talk to young people about COVID-19:

• Understanding the Mental Health and Social Impact of the Coronavirus: Finding the Middle Path
• Talking about world trauma with kids

Free meditations:

• Free meditations
• https://centerformsc.org/self-compassion-teens-mfy-meditations/
• https://www.mindful.org/category/meditation/guided-meditation/
• https://soundcloud.com/withandrewjohnson/free-relax-with-andrew-johnson

Meditation and mindfulness apps:

• Headspace
• Breathr App
• Smiling mind app

We've been trying out a few different apps that you might find helpful at the moment.  Here's a list of our top recommendations:

General wellbeing and managing your mood:

• https://woebot.io/
• https://www.superbetter.com/

Creating routine and establishing new habits:

• https://habitchallenge.co/

Meditation/mindfulness

• Headspace
• Breathr App
• Smiling mind app

Dealing with self harm:

• https://calmharm.co.uk/

Bereavement/grief:

• https://apartofme.app/

 

Most students will experience the loss of a loved one at some point during their school career.  This loss will have a significant impact on every aspect of their life, including their ability to learn.

Below is a list of resources you can use to guide you through supporting a student who is dealing with the death of someone.

Be aware of your own mental health and reactions.  Speaking to student about the death of someone they knew, may bring up difficult feelings for you.  You may find yourself reacting to what the student is telling you and that might change the way you respond to them.  It may also remind you of a bereavement you have experienced in your personal life.  Give yourself plenty of time to recognise and process your own reactions and feelings about death, what the student is describing and your own experiences with loss.  Talk to someone about what you're going through and make time to relax and look after yourself.

Related resources:

• https://grievingstudents.org/
• https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-climate-safety-and-crisis/mental-health-resources/addressing-grief/addressing-grief-tips-for-teachers-and-administrators
• https://grievingstudents.org/module-section/what-not-to-say/
• https://rems.ed.gov/docs/CopingW_Death_StudentOrStaff.pdf
• https://whatsyourgrief.com/self-care-ideas-for-grievers/

A lot of students will be worried about coming back to school.  Some may not feel worried yet, but may still find themselves feeling anxious or unsettled when they are physically in the building again.

• Give them time and space to express their feelings about being back in school.

• Allow them to ask questions and give feedback about what’s going well and what’s not going well.

• Stick to the facts and be realistic about the situation.

• Avoid speculating about the future or sharing your personal opinions/worries about what might happen next.

• Be aware of your own worries about the situation and how this can have an impact on your students.  Talk to someone about your feelings, especially if you’re struggling or finding it difficult.  Take time to look after yourself and relax/switch off at the end of the school day.

Related resources:

• https://www.teachermagazine.com.au/articles/covid-19-how-teachers-can-help-students-transition-back-to-school
• https://www.lauramooiman.com/post/how-to-re-open-school-after-quarantine-and-support-the-emotional-needs-of-students
• https://childmind.org/article/what-to-do-and-not-do-when-children-are-anxious/

One of the great attributes we see in our students is their ability to adapt to new situations.  International students, and teachers, are more skilled than most at adapting to new situations. Perhaps you moved countries before? Or schools? What skills did you use to help you in those times? Remember…..if you and your students have done this before, you can do it again!

• https://cristalindberg.com/2020/03/30/the-kids-are-just-fine-why-third-culture-kids-will-manage-the-covid-19-crisis-better/