Trusting and respectful teacher-student and peer relationships will be key for the success of this lesson design. “Learning environments that focus on caring student-teacher relationships, students’ social and emotional needs, and high expectations result in students who perform better academically” (“ASCD: Making the Case for Educating the Whole Child,” 2012, p. 10).
Targeted at high school students (aged 14-18) who are experiencing increased anxiety following from COVID-19. Many students have been dealing with issues like declining mental health and exhaustion. The content on this website is informed by Ontario curriculum documents and scholarly articles.
CHALLENGES YOU MAY FACE AS AN EDUCATOR
(1) Some students may already have rules and routines to promote health, mindfulness and wellness practices at home and may find the lesson topics similar to those modeled in their homes.
(2) Families may not agree with the content due to belief around wellness and general mental health.
(3) Accommodations, like assistive technologies, as well as additional support for students who require it may be needed.
(4) There is much stigma and emotion surrounding the topic of mental health, especially in adolescent youth. Careful consideration regarding students’ feelings and experiences will need to be taken into account when selecting activities.
HOW THE CHALLENGES CAN BE ADDRESSED:
(1) Parents will receive ongoing communication (possibly through emails) from the teacher explaining the content and importance of Mental Health Awareness. Communication will highlight the impact of mental health, personal life obstacles, stress, anxiety and depression COVID-19 may have caused in students.
(2) These topics can be referred to as “whole person” or “well-being” in the learning environment to reduce the stigma associated with using the term “mental health” with adolescent students. It is important to use proper terminology for an authentic learning experience.
(3) Create back-up plans for students who may not have the same resources or have students "buddy-up" when appropriate.
THE KEY MOTIVATOR:
The overall theme of this website is to help you gain confidence with when guiding students on how to focus on learning practices of being a “whole person” or “wellness” and incorporating meditation in regards to COVID-19. At this age, many students struggle with finding balance in their lives to prioritize mental health.
ASCD. (2012). Making the Case for Educating the Whole Child. ASCD.