With the dramatic rise of students experiencing debilitating anxiety, every teacher is now dealing with this issue. And the reality is that most teachers have no training on how to best manage student anxiety in the classroom, whether it’s a physical classroom or a virtual one.
Mental Health in Education Blog
Conducting a Student Mental Health Needs Assessment
The movement for supporting mental health in schools is gaining ground: a NJ state assembly committee signed off on a bill that would mandate depression screenings for public school students in 7th through 12th grades (with parental consent). New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy also signed legislation that requires all New Jersey public schools to include mental health instruction in […]
PODCAST: Strategies for Funding Student Mental Health Programs
In this episode, Chris Leonard talks with Pat Hovey, a leader and innovator among NJ Directors of Special Services. Pat has worked to implement and fund successful programs for students with mental health problems in several New Jersey school districts, as well as serving as an advisor to numerous other districts. Chris and Pat discuss […]
PODCAST: Navigating Stress During the Holidays: Supporting Students & Staff
In this episode, Chris Leonard talks with Dr. Mary Rose Scalo, a former Director of Special Services in Wayne and in Parsippany. Chris and Mary Rose discuss strategies for dealing with the heightened stress experienced by students, families, and staff during the holiday season and when transitioning back to school after the break.
Behavior Problems & Better Teacher Strategies
Teaching is a tough job. You are expected to help every student learn and achieve good grades, but that’s only the beginning. You’re often in the position of acting like a parent or a counselor: teaching and modeling appropriate behavior, communication, and social skills. The problem is, your degree in education didn’t prepare you adequately […]
Recognizing Mental Health Issues in the Classroom
Every teacher has to manage mental health issues in the classroom Did you know that 20% of students aged 9 to 17 have a diagnosable mental health disorder that causes some degree of impairment? Even worse, 10% have a disorder that causes significant impairment. And by all measures, student mental health issues in the classroom […]