Normalcy is a feeling that everyone has been craving for a while. Since the end of 2019, the world has been trying to tackle Coronavirus and adjust to the ‘new normal’. The education industry took a hit. Schools were forced to close in order to keep staff and students safe, and there was never a clear answer on when students would be able to return to regular life.
Now that countries all over are starting to move back to how life used to be, there’s no doubt that this experience has changed all of us, including our students. Many haven’t been able to see their friends in months and their social interactions were reduced significantly. Some may have gotten used to distance learning and staying at home while preparing for their exams and assessments.
Returning to 2019’s version of “normal” might take a long time. We have to create a new sense of normalcy in order to support each other during these tough times. Here’s how the education community can support each other in creating a newer normal.
One of the best ways to move forward is to acknowledge the hardships. Many have lost family members during the pandemic and we can’t pretend that it didn’t happen. We need to stick together as a community and remind our students and staff that we are there to support them no matter what. We can only start to feel ‘normal’ again when we work through what we’ve gone through and heal.
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Reading not only allows us to gain new knowledge and expand our vocabulary, but many can help us deal with anxiety and stressful situations. Books such as ‘Hello Happy! An activity book for young people who sometimes feel sad or angry’ by Steph Clarkson and Katie Abey encourages and promotes creativity to explore negative feelings and cope with fear and anxiety.
While we still navigate rough waters, it’s vital that we try our best to stay positive. With the vaccination drive in full force, there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Support staff and students and reassure them that we’re close to the finish line. For those who feel anxious about being around other people, try to have them focus on the positive side of it – that being that they are around friends and a community that cares about them.
Students and staff need to be aware that they are in full control of keeping themselves safe. Now that they’re back on school grounds, it will be hard to avoid catching the virus, but not impossible. We have to do our best to make sure we are protecting ourselves and those around us to the best of our abilities. This would be by wearing masks, staying vigilant, sanitizing our surroundings and washing our hands.
Younger students may still have a tough time trying to wrap their heads around what is actually happening. If they have questions, do your best to be honest with them and prepare them for any possible scenario so that they aren’t blindsided. While we should stay positive, we also have to ensure that we aren’t lying to students while things are still so uncertain.
Every school has at one point tried to focus on student and staff wellbeing, but it’s important now more than ever. Everyone is dealing with the pandemic in different ways, and implementing programs that help them with their fears and concerns can help ease the mind.
Teach students and staff that they’re allowed and encouraged to indulge in self-care from time to time. Sometimes doing things for ourselves can get us through really tough days and it’s vital that we do things that make us feel even a little okay.
Encourage staff and students to stay physically active on a daily basis so that they don’t find themselves falling into a rut. Exercising can also help take the mind off stress and anxiety and provides a healthy outlet to deal with tough situations.
Educate staff and students to maintain a daily routine outside school. Keeping up a routine can help people feel like things are normal again and can help them focus on the present, rather than what might happen in the future.
It’s very easy to dismiss those who have genuine fears about Coronavirus. We’re all trying to look out for the safety of our loved ones and many will take extra precautions to stay safe outdoors. Rather than invalidating those fears or making them feel as though their fears are irrational, we can support each other and let them know that it’s okay to be cautious.
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