3 Tips to Strengthen Teacher Resilience

Teachers do more than just teach. Students often form bonds with teachers and rely on this trust to ask for advice and guidance, especially during times of crisis. This is why teacher resilience, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, is essential for a healthy classroom.

[H3] What is teacher resilience? When an educator shows resilience, they persevere for their role and students. Educators must be equipped with tools and resources to help themselves and students during a challenging time.

The pandemic has drastically affected education. Both faculty and students have experienced isolation, uncertainty, grief, and loss during this time. While community can make people stronger, it can be difficult for a school to create a sense of community during remote learning.

To strengthen teacher resilience in your school, follow these three tips.

1. Provide Teachers with Tools to Support Grieving Students

Often, a teacher isn’t trained to handle a grieving child and may not know the best techniques. This is where grief training for educators can help. This training increases awareness and helps educators develop skills to support children through loss and adversity.

In addition to grief training for educators, grief programs are also available for all school community members, including parents and caregivers. These programs focus on resilience building and social and emotional learning. Our Good Grief Schools program has been called “a game changer for educators and students everywhere!”

2. Implement Mindful Practices

A grieving child will often act out in school. When a student expresses discouraged behavior, teachers can implement mindful practices in their in-person or virtual classroom. Try deep breathing and meditation to help quiet the stress, refocus and adjust perspective, and improve other reasoning and regulation processes.

3. Empower Students in The Classroom

The most important thing a teacher can do is empower their students in the classroom by giving them a voice. To do so, create a safe space where students can express their feelings. Teachers should listen, validate their feelings, and be honest.

Sometimes, a child will not always express grief verbally. Try other creative exercises such as art or writing.

How Good Grief Can Help Build Teacher Resilience

Our Good Grief Schools community-based program equips educators and students with tools to grow from loss and adversity. These coping strategies and communication skills can be used to create a healthy school environment. To learn more about Good Grief, contact us online.