Talk to anyone in the field of education right now and you’d likely hear something like this…
Is it just me, or is this year really, really hard?
No, it’s not just you. Yes, it’s been a shockingly tough school year.
We have thought up a boat-load of reasons why this year feels so difficult. Each one is valid and real. And depending on your personal circumstances, this school year might be the hardest stretch of the pandemic yet.
Of all the reasons I myself have named, and those I’ve heard my colleagues express, there is a foundational piece clamoring for our attention: the reality of what has happened. We are currently teaching children, who, on the heels of the most unusual educational experience the world has ever known, have been thrown back into a traditional educational setting — and WAM, just like that; things should be normal, right? Many kids have gaps in learning, basic skills missing, and difficulty hanging onto expected routines and daily systems. Not to mention some of the wonkiest behaviors I’ve seen in 15 years in education — and I teach middle school! All of this coincides with the real and legitimate mental health crisis teens are facing in the wake of the pandemic. Last month, The New York Times reported on the United States Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek H. Murthy’s remarks regarding this very issue. Dr. Murthy cites an alarming increase in mental health emergencies in our country, adding insult to injury among an already vulnerable group of humans: teens. Further, teens have become increasingly involved in all things social media, exacerbating emotions and feelings that can, in a flash, wreck a person’s well-being.
This is a lot; so what is one to do?
I, namely, have to re-up my game as a “good thing finder.” My approach — Goal 1: send notes home to students each week, even if it’s just one or two. (Here’s a refresher on this idea). Goal 2: run, run, RUN from negativity. Find the good, say the good, be the good. (Check this out for more of my thoughts on positivity).
Let’s be real though, we can’t just sugar-coat a situation like the one facing our kids. It’s going to take more; it’s going to take genuine empathy. A colleague of mine recently noted that we have dozens and dozens of wounded and hurt children walking our halls. And, sadly, they can’t or won’t tell a soul. We need to change that. We need to greet our kids at the doors of our classrooms. We need to insist on eye contact. We need to linger and check-in. Asking “how are you today” is a terrific start, but dig deeper, be specific, circle back.
Take heart in knowing that it’s not just you, this school year has been a lot. But the New Year is upon us, and what a great time to refresh our efforts and do what’s best for kids.
Joy and cheer, my friends.
Lindsay