I've been thinking for a couple weeks now that I needed to write another post, but I was waiting for a little inspiration. I kept putting off writing because nothing was coming to me. However, this week at Neuqua has been our "Serenity Week" and I found my motivation.
A few weeks ago, this article was shared with me: "Students in high-achieving schools are now named an 'at-risk' group, study says". The article goes into detail of how students at "high achieving schools" have been put into the same at-risk category of kids living in poverty and foster care, recent immigrants, or kids with incarcerated parents. At Neuqua we pride ourselves on how talented and high achieving many of our students are, but we often fail to think about the pressures that these same students deal with every day. A few quotes really stuck out to me...
This article really spoke to me. We so often get caught up in the content and the curriculum that we forget to think about the fact that we're still dealing with kids. These are just kids. They need time to have fun, be silly, maybe even make a dumb decision or two. They're still growing up. We have such high expectations for them - and I'm not saying that should change - but we need to remember to think about them as people sometimes, not just students. I saw this tweet a few weeks ago and I just couldn't (still can't) get it out of my head:
This week at Neuqua is one of my favorite weeks of the year, and I'd argue one of the most important. We are the only high school IN THE NATION to participate in health.moves.minds. Health.moves.minds is a week dedicated to student (and staff) physical and mental health. Each day has a different theme: Kindness, Mindfulness, Empowerment, Advocacy, and Gratitude. It's been amazing to see how many colleagues have embraced this within their classroom walls. Why is this so important to us? There has always been an emphasis on academics, and we feel like we've got that down pretty well, so now we're trying to focus more on WHO we want our students to be. What skills do they need moving forward to help them navigate life? How can you help someone when they're having a bad day? How can you help yourself when you're having a bad day? When you're having a bad day is it really that bad...what other things can you be thankful for?
Honestly, this work really inspires me. When my students leave my classroom I'm less concerned about what math skills they have, but more concerned about what kind of people I helped them become. I don't expect them to look back and think "Wow, that lesson on quadrilaterals Ms. Many did today was so awesome." This is why I love this week at Neuqua Valley. We've been given permission to take some time out from our curriculum. I wish everyone reading this could come visit and see the amazing things that are happening here. I hope our students realize how lucky they are to have teachers who care so much for them, and I'm so proud that be part of a school that has chosen to highlight mental health in such a big way.
Here are some of my highlights from the week. My goal is to incorporate fun, quick activities into my classroom. It doesn't need to be anything fancy, and I think a little goes a long way!
KINDNESS: Students and staff were challenged to do an act of kindness, share, and pass it along. You can see some highlights here from our #kindnesschallenge. I started the day by spreading some kindness to colleagues. Each student received a kindness card and was encouraged to do the same.
MINDFULNESS: During free time at the end of class, students were given the option to complete a coloring sheet instead of working on the assignment. They were given an extra day to complete the work so if they chose to color, they were not penalized.
EMPOWERMENT: Each student in my class got to decorate a puzzle piece with their "I am..." statements. I loved this one because it so easily demonstrated to students that we're all unique but we fit together well. Also this year I organized a staff workout at my gym... we had 20 teachers working out together! Such a good example of how our physical health affects our mental health, and it was so fun!!
ADVOCACY: Students and staff were encouraged to wear green to support mental health awareness. Many signed a pledge to be #stigmafree.
GRATITUDE: We haven't officially had gratitude day yet, but last year I had my students make a gratitude chain. They each wrote something(s) they are grateful for on a chain link and I kept it going all day. It was really fun to watch it grow each period. My students loved our chain so much they told me I should wear it like a scarf all day so I did (see below). I plan to do this again tomorrow as it so easily demonstrates how many things we have in our lives to be thankful for!
There's one more thing I want to mention. Most of this post has been centered around our students and all the great things we're doing for them. Don't forget, it all starts with you. As teachers, we're really good at doing things for everyone else, and often we forget to take care of ourselves. Your mental health matters too. You matter too. Take time for yourself. Say no to one more thing. Give yourself an extra hour with your family, an extra hour at the gym, an extra hour of sleep. Whatever you need, do it for yourself. Because we can't be our best selves for our students without first being our best for ourselves.
#healthmovesminds #mentalhealthmatters #YOUMATTER
"The unrelenting pressure on students in high-achieving schools comes from every direction, from overly invested parents who want A's, coaches who want wins for their own personal reputations and school administrators who feel pressured to get high standardized scores in their school..."
"Even activities that once were stress-reducers, like playing a musical instrument or sport, have become a means to an end, that end being a spot at one of the country's most competitive colleges and then on to a prestigious, high-paying career."
"When a child's sense of self-worth is dependent on what they achieve, it can lead to anxiety and depression. Anxiety can come from worrying about keeping up with or outshining peers, while depression can be caused by a failure to achieve." - The Washington Post
This article really spoke to me. We so often get caught up in the content and the curriculum that we forget to think about the fact that we're still dealing with kids. These are just kids. They need time to have fun, be silly, maybe even make a dumb decision or two. They're still growing up. We have such high expectations for them - and I'm not saying that should change - but we need to remember to think about them as people sometimes, not just students. I saw this tweet a few weeks ago and I just couldn't (still can't) get it out of my head:
This week at Neuqua is one of my favorite weeks of the year, and I'd argue one of the most important. We are the only high school IN THE NATION to participate in health.moves.minds. Health.moves.minds is a week dedicated to student (and staff) physical and mental health. Each day has a different theme: Kindness, Mindfulness, Empowerment, Advocacy, and Gratitude. It's been amazing to see how many colleagues have embraced this within their classroom walls. Why is this so important to us? There has always been an emphasis on academics, and we feel like we've got that down pretty well, so now we're trying to focus more on WHO we want our students to be. What skills do they need moving forward to help them navigate life? How can you help someone when they're having a bad day? How can you help yourself when you're having a bad day? When you're having a bad day is it really that bad...what other things can you be thankful for?
Honestly, this work really inspires me. When my students leave my classroom I'm less concerned about what math skills they have, but more concerned about what kind of people I helped them become. I don't expect them to look back and think "Wow, that lesson on quadrilaterals Ms. Many did today was so awesome." This is why I love this week at Neuqua Valley. We've been given permission to take some time out from our curriculum. I wish everyone reading this could come visit and see the amazing things that are happening here. I hope our students realize how lucky they are to have teachers who care so much for them, and I'm so proud that be part of a school that has chosen to highlight mental health in such a big way.
Here are some of my highlights from the week. My goal is to incorporate fun, quick activities into my classroom. It doesn't need to be anything fancy, and I think a little goes a long way!
KINDNESS: Students and staff were challenged to do an act of kindness, share, and pass it along. You can see some highlights here from our #kindnesschallenge. I started the day by spreading some kindness to colleagues. Each student received a kindness card and was encouraged to do the same.MINDFULNESS: During free time at the end of class, students were given the option to complete a coloring sheet instead of working on the assignment. They were given an extra day to complete the work so if they chose to color, they were not penalized.
ADVOCACY: Students and staff were encouraged to wear green to support mental health awareness. Many signed a pledge to be #stigmafree.
There's one more thing I want to mention. Most of this post has been centered around our students and all the great things we're doing for them. Don't forget, it all starts with you. As teachers, we're really good at doing things for everyone else, and often we forget to take care of ourselves. Your mental health matters too. You matter too. Take time for yourself. Say no to one more thing. Give yourself an extra hour with your family, an extra hour at the gym, an extra hour of sleep. Whatever you need, do it for yourself. Because we can't be our best selves for our students without first being our best for ourselves.
#healthmovesminds #mentalhealthmatters #YOUMATTER
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