I spent years thinking that meditation was complete gibberish and not something I would ever take in, part especially on a daily basis.  I would occasionally, take part in a quick 2-3-minute session here and there or when someone would send me a link to a new app.  I never felt any differently, so I never went back to it.  I was then given a task to do this consistently for 10 days.  

Intentionally creating Headspace in my life has been a game changer in many ways.  Every morning when I wake up, I lay in bed and turn on my Headspace app for my daily meditation.  I feel that it has enabled me to be more grounded, motivated, focused, calmer, handle stress better and to be more intentional about myself when I am doing things. We are all so busy these days with family, work, school and life that we forget that we need to take time for ourselves to just relax and destress.  All of our issues will still be there whether we are stressed or not stressed about things.  I have learned to take this time in the morning as “me time” to be the best me I can be.  I know I have a long way to go, and I will always be a work in progress. Allowing myself the “Headspace” to connect and renew myself daily, will make me the best me I can be for myself, family, friends, coworkers, and students. 

Good mental health is vitally important for teachers in the classroom.  If a teacher is overwhelmed and stressed the students will pick up on it and react.  Their reactions could turn into disruptive behaviors which could then cause a teacher to react therefore creating a very stressful classroom.  Stressful classrooms do not allow students to feel safe and generally there is just basic learning going on.  The students are getting the basics they need, nothing more.  In a classroom where a teacher’s mental health is being well cared for, these students will thrive.  The teachers will be able to create a caring environment where all of the students will thrive.  Classes will be full of many learning opportunities where kids will be able to go outside of their comfort zone and take academic risks to go above and beyond what they normally would do.   All of the teachers, students, and parents will feel that they are a part of the classroom family.

1. Positive Academic Expectations

Positive Academic Expectations are procedures that are set into place within the first days of school.  These procedures are what teachers use to manage different aspects of the classroom in order for all students to be able to work consistently together as a team.  When students know what and when to do a task, they have the ability to learn more because there will be miscommunication as to what is expected.  

 

An example of a Positive Academic Expectation is the Voice Level Chart.  A teacher explains in the beginning of the year what each level means and demonstrates them.  When students are working a teacher will either write the level on the board or put a clip next to the level on the poster that the noise level is to be maintained.  Using this chart, all students are aware of how the room should sound until the teacher gives the next direction. (Pinterest, 2017)

2. Prosocial Behavior

Students come to school with a variety of feelings every day.  One way I have found to enable a student to express their feeling before their emotions overcome them, is to offer a calming space.  This space can be used by students at any time during the day.  I have a signal that students can give to me or I can give to a student, that signals them it is okay to go to the calming space.  This is a space they can go to try to relax in a tense or hurtful situation.

  This is an example of a type of chart that I might have in the calming corner.  I would also have the word “sad choice” available as well.  In this area I would have various fidgets, cards with calming exercises on them, paper and crayons, and how I’m feeling paper.  During non covid time this would be an area that would have soft things for the student to lay on and try to relax.  When the student felt prepared to return to class and after they have filled out the How I’m Feeling paper they would return to class. (Pinterest, 2018)

3. Behavior Management and Discipline  

One of the most important behavior and discipline procedures I feel is quieting a class.  This is procedure is important for several reasons. The first reason is there are times when a class is broken up into groups working on projects and it is time to return to a whole group setting.  The second is when a class has too many people talking at one time and the teacher needs to regain control.  Another important reason is if there is an important announcement or drill of some kind that everyone needs to hear and understand.

 Below is an example of some call it out chants.  The teacher would say the first section then the students would respond with the second half.  After they said their part, that is their signal that it is time to be silent and listen to the teacher’s directions.  I have used this procedure even in middle school and the students respond very well to it when they are taught what to do. (Pinterest, 2017)

 

4. Transitions

Transitioning from one thing to another can be the most chaotic part of the entire school day if you are not prepared.  If you have good procedures in place for transitions they can and will go smoothly.  Students need time to be able to get up and move during the day.  Implementing movement during some transitions can be a great help.  The key to a good transition the clarity and simplicity of instruction (Wong and Wong, 2020 pg. 178.)

 

This is an example of a song I have used in a classroom to get the students ready to go from the classroom into the hallway.  This is good for the primary grades because it involves both movement and talking before being quiet for a time. (Teachingmama.org, 2017)

5. Caring Routines

Engaging students every day in a caring and meaningful relationship is extremely important.  Sometimes we are the only ones who show these children a kind and caring thought, word or smile every day.  As teachers we need to show them every day that we are interested in them and how they are feeling.  Greetings students before class every morning is a great way to welcome them to class and let them know you are happy; they are with you.

 

These are a few examples of how you can greet your students in the hallway before class.  I have this hanging outside my classroom and every morning, and my students point to the greeting the students want to do with me.  Then they give me the thumb up, down, or sideway for how they are feeling.  If they are having a bad or ok day, I ask them if they want to talk about it.  If they do, we go into the classroom and talk. If we cannot right then, I schedule a time to talk to them later that morning.  (Pinterest 2020)