Classroom Strategies to Support Student's Self-Care and Renewal - Page 1 of 13

Classroom Strategies to Support Student's Self-Care and Renewal

What each of us generally call teaching is a very complex and ever-changing combination of skills and processes. These include many steps along the way. Everyday, teachers:

• select and present subject matter,
• guide students in skill development,
• set up practice and reinforcement situations,
• increase or extend awareness,
• influence attitudes and beliefs,
• motivate students (or tap into the students' motivation) to enhance learning,
• challenge students to tackle new and perhaps difficult learning tasks, and
• positively support and reward students' learning efforts.

Before teaching can occur, teachers must also do other things to create the environment in which teaching and learning can take place. Typical classroom management tasks include all of the following:

• meeting various school requirements,
• keeping paperwork in order,
• adhering to class schedules,
• meeting deadlines,
• maintaining discipline,
• creating and maintaining the social environment off the classroom, and
• mediating and resolving conflicts.

Each of the tasks described above provide teachers with many opportunities to help students learn about self-care and build resilience. It isn't necessary and sometimes not even possible or appropriate to set aside a time or a class for teaching 'self-care and resilience.' If you believe that it is important for students to learn and practice self-care, you can find many opportunities to introduce this topic into your teaching and classroom management strategies.

The suggestions on the next page outline key objectives for you to build into your everyday classroom activities.