Mental Health and Well Being (Strategies for Teachers)
Resiliency Activity
Attention and Hyperactivity/Impulsivity
-Provide frequent short quizzes, rather than long tests at the end of a unit
- Provide activities that appeal to multiple senses
- Seat students with attention problems close to the teacher and away from distractions such as windows, doors, or other students with attention problems
- Use advance organizers, structured note-taking sheets, manipulatives, and visual representations
- Chunk critical instructions, allow time for mental processing
- Give students an outlet for excess energy - scheduled daily physical activity, body breaks
- Post rules/expectations where student can see them (or print out a copy for them)
- Provide a structured environment and a consistent daily routine
Depression
- Model and teach optimistic and positive attitudes, language, and actions
- Ask open-ended questions where there is no specific or correct answer
- Help the student to set realistic goals and to monitor their progress
- Work with the student to develop clear expectations that they feel are reasonable.
- Provide a space in the school for students to go when they are feeling overwhelmed
- Provide students with responsibilities and tasks that they may enjoy
Behaviour
- Plan a full schedule of activities to avoid periods of unstructured time
- Give positive reinforcement to the student for showing self-control in situations that would normally make him/her angry, annoyed, or upset (eg., give a tangible reward such as a classroom privilege or free time)
-Arrange a quiet, safe place where the student can go to calm down when angry
- Focus on appropriate behaviour
- Communicate expectations clearly and enforce them consistently
Bipolar
- Provide clear, simple instructions/set goals that are attainable for the day
- Check in with the student on arrival to determine how the student is feeling and provide alternatives to stressful activities on difficult days
- Establish a method for regular communication between the school and parents about the expectations for the student and/or homework, weekly updates
- Allow extra time for the transition to a new activity or location
- Set up a procedure to allow student to exit quickly and safely from an overwhelming situation
Anxiety
Strategies to Support
- Daily check-ins with student to see how they are feeling
- Develop a coping plan for unexpected events (fire drill, supply teacher)
- Provide a safe and quiet space for test-taking
- Help the student break the project or large assignment into manageable chunks
- Reduce schoolwork and/or homework based on information from parents and the school team about how much stress the student can manage
- Provide advance warning of any changes in routine
-Provide predictable schedules and routines in the classroom