Teaching strategies for reducing student stress

Abstract

When children and adolescents face a disaster, such as COVID pandemic, they feel vulnerable and experience anxiety and concerns related to danger and safety. They fear for their integrity and that of their loved ones. Students may experience a broad range of reactions following a disaster, including behavioral changes, emotional distress, attention difficulties, sleep disturbances, physical symptoms, anxiety and fears. These reactions can cause distress that can interfere with adaptive coping, and impact on school performance, classroom behavior, and social and emotional development of children. Educators play a key role in helping their students to manage stress, to regain calm, and to feel safe and supported: socially, emotionally, and academically. Teachers are in an excellent position to help children after disasters as they are significant adults in children’s lives; they are familiar with developmental processes; and, they are likely to notice emotional and behavioral changes, academic difficulties, and functional impairment in their students. They are critical in recognizing the signs of traumatic stress, promoting resilience and helping students to manage reactions to stress.