Join a Mailring at the
Teacher Mailring Center
http://www.teachers.net/mailrings/
Beth Bruno - Hi everyone.
Beth Bruno - I'm a nervous mother this year. My son is teaching for the first time!
Mary K&1 - Beth, what are some tricks to overcoming the back-to-school blues?
Beth Bruno - Don't let your imagination run away with you. Take one day and one student at a time. Otherwise the numbers can seem overwhelming.
Phoenix - Beth, your most recent article points out that just about every part of the education population from students to administrators experiences some form of back to school anxiety
Beth Bruno - What's the worst thing that could happen on the first day?
Mary K&1 - My worry is that I'll over sleep - I've done that before!
Phoenix - The worst thing that could happen on the first day? Unhappy, crying children with angry parents
Phoenix - And an overloaded class
Beth Bruno - I feel anxious every year until I plunge into the first day and then the anxiety evaporates.
Phoenix - Beth, hard to take one student at a time when they are assigned to you in multiples of 20!
Sandra - I think I could have identified with the back to school blues 3 weeks ago but I already have 3 weeks under my belt and I feel as if I have been in school all year but much more rested. I have to say to everyone that it will get better in a few weeks, believe it or not.
Beth Bruno - I get too busy and too fully concentrated on the teachers and the students to feel any anxiety after I get started with the actual situations that come up.
Phoenix - Sandra, it's true. Once we get back into the routine, the anxiety declines. Then it's fatigue we deal with! :-)
Phoenix - Do you think families of teachers bear the brunt of back to school blues?
Sandra - I try to have at least Saturday and Sunday to enjoy my family. Yes, they truly do take the brunt of back to school blues!
Sandra - What is the worst thing to Phoenix about student overloads? Management, discipline, paperwork, etc.??? Maybe if we narrowed it down to that we could give ideas.
Beth Bruno - When I talk about one student at a time, I mean reading about them and student by student, identifying their learning abilities and getting to know them - that takes several weeks, of course.
TJ - I wish that other teachers in my school were more optimistic about the up coming school year. It seems like there is so much negativity in my school.
Beth Bruno - It's a little like working with an orchestra at the start of rehearsals for the season.
Tag - in Connecticut we are test crazy - mastery tests in just a few weeks - tough way to start the year
meeha/ece/tx - TJ -- that pessimism makes for a long hard year.
Beth Bruno - TJ, that's such an important point. What is the source of the negativity? What is the principal doing to help diffuse and address it?
Phoenix - TJ, but is it just temporary negativity due to the anxiety related to the new school year?
Kim - Beth, what if the principal is negative?
Melly - I was told not to smile too much!
Sandra - Tag, we used to do that in Alabama. Now, we just hammer them with Stanford Achievement Tests at the end of the year. We wait all summer on the results and hope that schools don't get taken over by the state dept.
TJ - Negativity comes from the top down where I teach. This is my second year teaching, and last year it lasted throughout the year.
Deya - TJ- My school is like that for many of the teachers and it has gone on for years
Beth Bruno - Negativity from the principal? Awful - what a way to start! That principal needs help - from his or her teachers and the superintendent.
Sandra - I don't buy into that "Never smile until Thanksgiving!" philosophy! It just isn't my style.
Tag - Sandra the mastery tests have taken over the curriculum too often especially in the city schools
Djinn - Beth - I teach Kindergarten - this was our first week of school and about this time every year the little ones are crying and telling Mom they don't want to go to school.
Beth Bruno - Tag - I live in CT. I know what you mean. The whole state seems to be testing, testing, testing. That's all I hear about lately!
Deya - Canada has jumped on the testing bandwagon also.
Beth Bruno - Djinn - usually one or two crying children every year at the kindergarten level, right?
Mary K&1 - Testing is sweeping the Country - we are doing way too much of it everywhere! I suppose that this adds a lot of back-to-school blues for everyone, but the students most of all!
Djinn - Is there any way I can ease their anxiety along with their parents- they come to us and imply that we have done some awful thing to their babies. LOL
Beth Bruno - Are the crying children ones who have never been in preschool or daycare?
Tag - good point @testing but test scores published by towns in the newspapers puts pressure on us all
Djinn - Beth - most of my children have not been to pre-school or daycare. I teach in a Title One school
Beth Bruno - As teachers, how can you counteract all the emphasis on testing?
Phoenix - Djinn, then it is unusual for them not to cry?
Tag - we are told what to do for the first two weeks of school prepare students for the mastery tests
Mary K&1 - Write to our legislators? They are the ones who have created the testing nightmare!
Beth Bruno - Djinn, in that case you'll have to educate the parents about your program, the behaviors you need their support in developing - the basic behaviors related to listening, etc.
TJ - One problem I have in kinder is because of the children's anxiety, they tell their parents they are sick to their stomach, then the parents keep them home. Emotional sickness is a difficult issue for students of all ages.
Beth Bruno - Maybe legislators need to visit the schools that use portfolio assessments in order to see how much richer the information is in them.
Deya - I send a letter home on the first day and explain what they can expect in behavior in the first month- tired, crying, don't want to come to school etc. I keep it humorous and the parents seem to really like it/
Djinn - Phoenix- I usually have one or two criers - but about the end of the first or second week parents come in and say their children are crying about school at home and don't want to go. I try to explain that the child is probably really tired, anxious about what is happening at home, and needs to adjust to the routine. I have even had parents call me at school and ask me to tell the kid he has to come to school
TJ - Deya, thanks for the idea, we've been in school for two weeks, but I think that I am still going to send a similar letter.
Djinn - Deya - thanks! I didn't think of that - great idea
Deya - It works TJ- the parents are relieved that their child is just normal
Beth Bruno - how do you convince parents that they have to be firm about sending their children to school unless they're truly sick?
Sandra - A great way for primary teachers to lessen parent anxiety is to invite them to write a letter about their child. Let them know that you would like them to let you know what makes their child special. This has really helped many parents that I know.
Phoenix - I tell them that school drop outs begin as kindergarten truants
Phoenix - (Not quite that bluntly)
Deya - It's hard Beth but I usually have them in and show them the grade one curriculum. I explain that it is not like the old days- every day missed now may not be caught up as easily as before. Usually works.
Beth Bruno - Sandra, that's a nice idea - one of many to invite parent involvement from the very beginning, so they feel like they're a part of their child's education and are welcome in the school.
Beth Bruno - Deya, that's an excellent technique.
TJ - Last year I told a parent that their child had to come and we also met with the principal about poor excuses for not coming to school. Mom kept telling me that the child would complain of headaches, etc. I finally told the parent that if it continued, maybe something really was wrong and they should take their child to their doctor. (Maybe I was a bit harsh) Attendance didn't improve anyway.
Phoenix - Do you think back to school blues in adults is the same as separation anxiety for children who have difficulty coming to school, leaving their home and parents?
Deya - Another way is to make sure that the first part of the morning is fun- something that particular child would love doing- and they don't get to do it if they are absent. The child usually then changes their attitude.
Kristie/ 1st yr! - How can I possibly relax to do the best job possible for my kids and parents???
meeha/ece/tx - I have had a couple of parents that really struggled with their children to get them to school who would 'give in' and let the child stay home (at 4 or 5) and I say "If you are giving your child that much power now, what will she/he be like as a teen?" Encourage them to 'take the reins' now and be sure the child understands that some things just must be so!
Sandra - The best idea for helping a child to overcome school phobia is to allow the parent to sit in on the class until lunch (day 1) then gradually decrease this dependence until the child is assured that school is an OK place to be. Usually this can work within a week. Some principals will allow this, although others will not. Just an idea I saw work once.
Beth Bruno - Meeha, Parents need to learn how to stand firm. sometimes it takes a teacher or other adult they respect to convince them.
Deya - Beth, what do you do about parent phobia- some of our parents just could not let go last year- child was ok- they weren't
Sandra - My idea worked with a child who really had a severe case of separation anxiety. Firmness and consistency is the first cure of choice.
Beth Bruno - We had a Dad who couldn't let go one year. He kept bringing his camera as the excuse to be in the classroom. We eventually got him so busy taking pictures of special events and other kids in the school, he gradually let go that way.
Sandra - So, don't you think the idea of "weaning" that I propose, would help both child and parent??
Renee - When you teach kindergarten the children are usually always fine once the parents leave..the sooner they leave the easier it is on the children
Beth Bruno - I like the idea of inviting parents into the classroom for lots of reasons. It really helps them understand their children, learning and dynamics with other children, too.
ct/NY - Sandra, I have a really tough time weaning my kinders...it is better for them to cry a little in the beginning and let them gain their independence right away...it will happen faster.
Beth Bruno - But the parents need to participate in a structured way, as defined by the teacher.
Djinn - I tried the weaning process one year - then several of my students cried because their Moms weren't coming and staying all day. I like to ask parents to come in and help after I have managed assessments and the children get used to the routine. Usually the third week.
ct/NY - After the first quarter (or longer) I begin inviting parents in for a specific purpose. I've had a problem with parents coming in and "hanging out" which really messes up our day.
TJ - It is discouraged for us to have the parents in our own rooms, but they are more then welcome to help out other teachers. That is something that really bothers me. I am going to push to at least get the parents to come in and read to the class. They love it when parents come, and I wish they could come more often.
Beth Bruno - ct/NY-I agree - it's best to organize and define parent roles and participation once you know the kids and your needs as a teacher for this year's class.
Beth Bruno - That's odd that parents are encouraged to help other teachers but not in their child's class. What's the rationale for that?
Beth Bruno - Is the school psychologist available to handle difficult situations early in the year?
Beth Bruno - Or I should say - to help handle them?
Beth Bruno - Do you spend a day or two with the rest of the teaching staff for planning and collaboration before the kids come in?
EmmyP - My back to school anxiety is the extremely emotionally disturbed child I'm about to welcome into my 2nd grade class. I've been shown 'total body restraint' as she put 18 stitches into her last teacher when she bit her. This is going to happen in a 'regular ed.' grade 2 class.
Beth Bruno - EmmyP-does the emotionally disturbed child come with an aide?
EmmyP - Beth, yeah! 4/10th's....I guess she's ok for the rest of the 6/10's of the day!
Beth Bruno - EmmyP - be sure there is a back-up plan if the child gets out of control. you must have an emergency plan in place, for your sake, the child's sake and for the other students.
Beth Bruno - another suggestion- teachers can get quite isolated because they're so busy. Be sure you make a few friends on staff with whom you can talk about kids, get fresh ideas, commiserate...
Phoenix - peer support is very helpful, and yes we are very isolated.
TJ - This is only my second year, and I feel just as confused as last year, is this normal???
Beth Bruno - does anyone have a back-to-school bit of humor to get us smiling before we sign off?
Beth Bruno - face the new school year)
Phoenix - TJ, yes, I think that's normal! LOL! even after 25 years I'm confused!
teachny123 - TJ, this is also my second year and I am somewhat confused as well...you're not the only one!
Beth Bruno - I ask, because it always helps to see the humorous side when we get too anxious or feeling overwhelmed.
Phoenix - Thanks for the outlet for our anxieties, Beth!
TJ - Beth, teaching kinder is always humorous, today I went to pick up my students from lunch and discovered they were putting potato chips in their nose. It lead to a good lesson.
Beth Bruno - TJ, that's hilarious!
Phoenix - potato chips in noses! LOL!
Phoenix - see, now we're laughing, good way to go out. nite all!
Beth Bruno - So long 'til next time. Have a fantastic year everyone!
