I am a first-year teacher and am slowly figuring out how to best support my amazing students. During independent work, some of my students love to engage with each other and work together, some need to be listening to something so that they can focus, some need to make noise on their own, and some prefer a silent environment. Due to this wide range of needs, when my students' needs are not being met, they find themselves stressed and unable to complete their work.
Some of my students have mentioned the need for noise-canceling headphones so that they can effectively focus, while other students can continue to focus in a way that works best for them. The fluorescent light covers will also allow for a calmer and more relaxed environment for students who find themselves overwhelmed by factors outside of their control.
When my students are in these stressful situations, they do their best to soothe themselves and are aware of some of the coping skills that help them. Some students bring stress balls to school - one student even gifted me one. They have mentioned the need for more stress balls in the classroom to support their ability to focus and relax, and to make sure that they are not losing learning time.
My students recently began to take Chess classes once a week. This is something they look forward to every week. I have noticed that this is not only helpful for their academic learning, but it also allows their minds to calm down. After their first class, they immediately asked me if they could have chess boards in the classroom.
With these resources, my students will feel safer, more supported, and more equipped to learn as much as they can.
About my class
I am a first-year teacher and am slowly figuring out how to best support my amazing students. During independent work, some of my students love to engage with each other and work together, some need to be listening to something so that they can focus, some need to make noise on their own, and some prefer a silent environment. Due to this wide range of needs, when my students' needs are not being met, they find themselves stressed and unable to complete their work.
Some of my students have mentioned the need for noise-canceling headphones so that they can effectively focus, while other students can continue to focus in a way that works best for them. The fluorescent light covers will also allow for a calmer and more relaxed environment for students who find themselves overwhelmed by factors outside of their control.
When my students are in these stressful situations, they do their best to soothe themselves and are aware of some of the coping skills that help them. Some students bring stress balls to school - one student even gifted me one. They have mentioned the need for more stress balls in the classroom to support their ability to focus and relax, and to make sure that they are not losing learning time.
My students recently began to take Chess classes once a week. This is something they look forward to every week. I have noticed that this is not only helpful for their academic learning, but it also allows their minds to calm down. After their first class, they immediately asked me if they could have chess boards in the classroom.
With these resources, my students will feel safer, more supported, and more equipped to learn as much as they can.
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