As educators and administrators, we all have our lesson plans and strategic plans. But oftentimes, reality challenges our plans. This is certainly one of those times. During COVID we find ourselves operating in a condition that we did not think we were signing up for, but as always we must meet the challenge. Silently, many […]
Mental Health in Education Blog
Self Care: Putting the Mask on Yourself First
Masks have become a part of our lives. Masks are viewed as protection and wearing a mask is an act of self-care. But the mere existence of the mask also reminds us of the tremendous stress and uncertainty with which we have been living. Self-care is as important now as ever.
Motivational Strategies in the Classroom (Live or Virtual)
The right motivators can help to engage students When students are failing to complete work, falling behind, and even failing to show up for class, it can be challenging to figure out what’s wrong and how to turn things around. COVID has magnified the problem: absenteeism rates have doubled (now averaging 10 percent) since the […]
Mental Wellness Culture in Schools: Why and How
Creating a positive school culture that supports mental wellness is a topic that’s getting increasing attention in recent years. It’s an idea that makes sense: when students feel supported and safe, they show up, they can focus on learning, and they’re more engaged.
The State of Student Mental Health in NJ School Districts
As schools adopt new teaching models and attempt to address learning loss, we all face a major obstacle: growing student mental health issues that interfere with learning. Understanding the challenges is the first step to overcoming them. That’s why we recently surveyed New Jersey school districts to quantify the scope of student mental health issues. […]
Virtual Counseling Tips for School-Based Mental Health Counselors
With many students learning remotely this fall (or spending limited time in the classroom), it’s now much more difficult (even impossible) to deliver mental health counseling at school. Last spring, many were disappointed in the results from virtual counseling. Here are some tips to help students get the most benefit from virtual counseling this time […]