Ease Returning-to-School Anxiety

    As a teacher, it has always been an adjustment to return to school after the summer break. We create plans on how to start the year, revisit what worked and what didn't work, and set up our classrooms in-between staff meetings. This time we are returning to school during a global pandemic with approximately 45 days left until the last day of school. We have been working with students online, but they have never stepped foot into our classroom. We will come up with plans to help them adjust to school life and deal with separation anxiety. Our students have been at home with their families for 365 days straight. Some students may have a hard time leaving home and staying with us, even though they know us. As teachers, we must set the stage for these students. We must set a positive tone and make going to school fun and exciting. 

    Students are going to go to school with many emotions. It is important to address their needs immediately. It is how we present ourselves that will also ease those anxious feelings. Students will not be able to see our mouths, but they will be able to see our eyes and hear the tone in our voices. It is our responsibility to help them get adjusted. We can do this by expressing our happiness and excitement to have them at school. It is a great idea to start the day with checking in on the students' social-emotional needs. Students will need to talk and share how they are feeling.  They can do this verbally, written, or in drawings. We need to validate students feelings and provide a safe space to do that. We must also continue to use our resources such as, "OMSD Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Teacher Toolkit and Delivery Plan," to support our students' needs. I plan to revisit some of the activities that I did back in August and September 2020. 

    

The first few days should be fun, and playing games are great way to do just that! We Are Teachers has a great article on fun indoor recess games to play for older students. I have pinned many ideas from Pinterest. I searched, "Social distancing classroom games for kindergarten." They are many more resources available online. What we need to understand is that our students have been home this whole time just like us, but maybe without the needed space to go play outside. Students need to play. I will play lots of games with my kindergarten students.  I will use fun games from Whole Child Counseling. They have some fun games on the teaching of exactly what 6ft of social distancing looks like for kids. Students this young do not understand how to measure 6 feet from another person. It's important to show the students what it means and why it's important.  

    Academics are crucial and students still need to learn. State testing has not been postponed and that has added pressure to all the teachers teaching 3rd grade and above. But, I ask that everyone please remember, our students are children and have also been affected by this pandemic. We need to be there for them, more now than ever. Their feelings and emotions will affect how they learn once they return to in-person learning. Let's show each of them that we care and that we have missed them terribly. Let's show grace and kindness towards them and each other. Let's bring joy and happiness to being back in school again. Remember, there are some students that miss us and need us. Let's be their happy and safe place once again.

Excited and Anxious,

Maricella Mesa