Let’s give a cheer for a winning school year. The new school year is fast approaching. It is commonly characterized as exciting yet overwhelming, anxiety-provoking, and scary for both students and staff (parents too). Generally speaking, here are five tips to help you have a winning school year. Who doesn’t want to WIN?
Dr. Gwen’s 5 Tips:
1. Show You Care – I take John C. Maxwell’s quote, “Students don’t care what you know until they know that you care,“ to heart. As a result, it is at the forefront of everything I say and do with kids. One of the most important things you can do is make sure that every student that enters your room feels seen, heard, accepted, and validated. Spend the first few days getting to know your kids before you start with all the demands and expectations. It’s important to set the tone as a helper and supporter.
2. Be A Role Model – Modeling is one of the most effective, efficient ways to teach students. Children learn by observing. Therefore, make sure you show expressions of appreciation for effort, productive struggle, cooperation, positive character traits, and gratitude on a daily basis. Additionally, model self-care strategies like taking “brain breaks”, deep breathing, and asking for help. Everything is relative so, little things matter too! Find ways to accentuate the positive to minimize the negative.
3. Set Clear, Concise, and Consistent Expectations and Routines – One of the best things that you can do is set clear, concise, and consistent expectations for classroom behavior and routines. Consequently, this makes it easy to be objective and minimize opinions or judgment calls. It will also allow students to regulate their behavior. As a result, they will spend more time on task and optimize academic learning. The classroom becomes a more safe, secure, and stressless learning environment.
4. Talk LESS – The use of nonverbal communication is extremely underrated (in my humble opinion). Nonverbal communication is a great way to gain and hold students’ attention, which is often difficult to sustain and not as effective as talking. This is especially true in high stress environments. It is okay to “pause” and gives students time to absorb and reflect on the acquisition of new learning and skills. The students with attention and focusing issues and who struggle with anxiety will thank you instead of tuning you out.
5. Have FUN – Yes, school is for learning, but the social aspect of school is important too! Kids are still struggling to find their voice in the aftermath of Covid 19. This year, make a commitment to helping kids interact socially by making learning cooperative, engaging and fun. This is the ultimate way to give a cheer for a winning school year.
Wishing you peace, love, joy, and happiness in this school year.
All the best ~ Dr. Gwen
Email me at drgwen@drgwenscounselorcafe.com or call (912) 401-7115 to inquire about staff development training, parent meetings and other speaking engagements.
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