Classroom Chronicles

Students Must Learn Resilience

With the holiday season in full swing, we must remember that we’re also heading towards year two of a global pandemic. While the current holiday season may be less restrictive than last year’s, we still have to deal with variants, masking, and social distancing. That’s hard to do when you’re in a store packed with people searching for the best deals on holiday gifts.

This season is also hard on students. They have to worry about classwork, homework, tests, and COVID. They may also be dealing with sick family members and financial struggles. It’s a lot to place on students and schools need to do more to help students develop coping skills and build resilience.

I work with teens and I’m often frustrated with their lack of resilience. I’ve often observed students with injuries focus more on their scabs than their work. When I speak on it, the students will say that the scab hurts or it’s itchy. But I have to remind them that poking at it could lead to infection, making the injury much worse. Usually, my advice is ignored.

If a student is going through an issue at home, it affects how the student engages with the school. The student will come to my class and either be really quiet (when usually a chatterbox), put their head down, or disengage from the task. The student may also become more argumentative and disrespectful. This affects teaching and learning in the classroom.

Some students will ask to go see the guidance counselor or therapist. These students recognize that they’re going through something and need extra support. Usually, after a conversation with a counselor, the student has a better mindset when he returns to class. Unfortunately, many students need counselors and we only have so many at my school. This means that many students often have to wait days before they can speak to someone. Until their situation is addressed, learning is not a priority.

I try and do my part by recognizing when a student is having an issue. When I walk around the classroom, I will check in with students who seem down. I may even address issues as a class and work with students to resolve problems. Sometimes students will ask if they can take a walk to clear their heads. Other students will draw or write out their problems.

I encourage students to think about their situations. I then ask them to think about solutions. If that’s too difficult, I can the counselors involved. But I also encourage students to work through their problems on their own. Being resilient means being able to figure out the problem and work through it. More of my students need to develop resiliency. I see too many of them crumble when they’re feeling overwhelmed. When that happens, students don’t want to do anything or listen to anyone.

Schools need to do their part. My district received millions in funding due to the pandemic. Some of those funds should go towards hiring more counselors and therapists for our students. The district also needs to place less emphasis on testing and more on student mental health. Students are seen as data and not as people. This leads many students to have negative attitudes towards school.

Students should be able to be in a safe, secure school, Classrooms should be open and inviting. Differences should be welcomed. Students need ways to address their concerns in safe spaces. If more of this happens, students will learn how to develop resilience. They will learn how to handle anything life throws at them.