Therapy Thursday – January 4 – Geography & Math Made Easy

Author: Ashley Pullin

Does it seem like student empathy is on the decline in the classroom? While this is not a new issue for teachers to deal with, it does seem to be amplified due to how much technology/social media students have at their disposal. In turn, this has a great impact on how they interact with their peers and teachers. Having access to their phones during the day has students living in an instant gratification world. In the classroom, they must put forth effort in order to attain good grades and many struggle to find the motivation to do so. This can lead to teachers feeling like there is a disconnect between them and their students.

Students feel the need to constantly be entertained, and when they are not, they lose interest. When students lose interest, teachers then struggle to motivate them to complete assignments. All these challenges are on top of the many responsibilities that educators carry daily, adding more stress and anxiety to an already stressful job.

How do we bridge that gap to connect with our students who are growing up in a technology-based world but also make sure we are not depleting ourselves in the process?

1️⃣ Time block: Set a specific time or amount of time aside to work on your lessons for the upcoming week. Try to find something that will “hook” students into the lesson, whether that be a short video clip, turning the lesson into a game, etc.

2️⃣ Take time to reflect on what worked to actively engage your students and what didn’t. It is simply a matter of finding what gets them excited.

3️⃣ If you can’t beat them, join them. They are already using technology, so figure out how you can implement for technology into the classroom. Freshen up old resources with digital designs. Find useful, educational IG or TikTok Videos to grab their attention. Click here for more ideas.

3️⃣ Get feedback from your students. Ask them what would get them invested. Some of their responses might surprise you.

While these are not new issues that are faced in the classroom it is important that teachers focus on what they can control and change.

As teachers, we are often overworked and pulled in too many directions. We often put others before ourselves and it is hard to learn to take care of ourselves. Addressing mental health is part of self-care for our minds, bodies, and souls. Remember, if your cup is empty, you can’t fill someone else’s cup. Here are 27 FREE COUNSELING OPTIONS FOR

TEACHERS https://www.weareteachers.com/free-counseling-for-teachers/