Promoting Mental Health in the Classroom: 6 Ways to Support Your Students

It’s no secret that in today's society, our focus on mental health has been brought to the forefront. Children, too, have mental health needs that we, as educators, are in a unique position to positively impact. We have the opportunity to play an essential role in fostering emotional wellness for each child in our charge. It goes without saying that from time to time, families should be guided to mental health professionals to intervene. But by implementing the following six tips, we can help create a supportive environment that fosters the mental health of our students, helping them become confident, happy, and successful in the classroom and beyond.

A child's happiness is crucial in promoting mental health. It’s essential to create an environment that is engaging, where students feel comfortable and encouraged to participate. As educators, we can support mental health by focusing on activities that bring joy, such as music, movement, and even time outdoors.

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Surviving December in the Classroom

Ah, December. The festive season that brings about joy, cheer, and... anxiety? As teachers, we all know that December can be a challenging month with overloaded schedules and high-energy students excited for the holidays. Read on as we discuss five practical strategies to help you to survive the month of December, to keep your classroom as tranquil as possible, and to have a very happy holiday break.

Be yourself!

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It’s Great to be Grateful

With Thanksgiving fast approaching, enjoying succulent turkey leg and rich, yummy pumpkin pie are the least of our thoughts. Instead, we’re taking a moment to reflect on what we’re grateful for. Our administrator and teacher friends have shared what they’re thankful for, and the responses they gave were inspiring. We’re excited to share their thoughts with you!

At GrapeSEED, we’re grateful for family, students, and school staff at every level. We’re more than thankful for educators who are passionate about what they do and are finding joy in the small moments! Huge thanks to all administrators and teachers who’ve shared their words of gratitude with us.

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When the Honeymoon (in the Classroom) is Over

We’ve all heard the expression ‘the honeymoon period is over’, right? When applied to marriage, it means that the initial excitement of the new romance fades away, and reality of sets in. (Exactly who is responsible for putting the cap on the toothpaste tube…huh?) When applied in the classroom it means that the anticipation of the new school year is winding down and everyone’s (children AND adults) true colors start to emerge. This can mean that classroom management may need some tweaking or tightening up before diving into the many months that lie ahead. During this time, which usually hits a month or two into the new school year, buckling down a bit with visual supports, reinforcement of classroom routines, intentionally taught social skills, and effective planning is imperative.

Read on as we share a few behavior management tips that are impactful for kids, and effective for teachers!

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Embracing Parents and Families as an Asset

With the new school year now in full swing, continuing to build a community that fosters a sense of belonging is so valuable. There are lots of great ways to tackle this goal throughout the year, but one of the best ways can be through including the unique backgrounds of your students’ parents and families. When you intentionally invite their parents and families into the classroom to share things like heritage food, clothing, language, and culture, your little learners experience a very rich sense of belonging. In addition, their classmates learn to embrace diversity in all of its forms. In today’s article we will discuss the importance of using parent and family background as an asset and the benefits that come along with it.

Sharing food is a universal way to bring people together, and it can be an excellent avenue to celebrate different cultures. Invite parents to bring in dishes from their country of origin and share them with your students. This can be an opportunity for students to try new foods and to learn about backgrounds other than their own. This experience could impact student learning in a number of positive ways and could easily lead to activities like creating simple Venn diagrams and graphs when discussing different ingredients used in certain dishes or creating class cookbooks with recipes from each child’s home!

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