Welcome to tonight's #edchatie live discussion.
As usual, before we begin, please introduce yourself.
Don't forget to add in the hashtag #edchatie in all your tweets for the next hour so they can be collated at the end.
Have a look at this Séideán Sí resource. It contains reading activities and games to help with word recognition. There are also fun Irish-language songs for the children to learn https://t.co/MtCZt4RyHn#Scoilnet#FreeResources#edchatie
Fred Boss, 2nd level art teacher, currently with @NCCAie and looking forward to tonight's discussion topic of "How can we reduce anxiety and stress in schools and colleges and increase resilience?"
#edchatie
Hopefully we can come up with some answers to help you out in the next hour of the #edchatie discussion on "How can we reduce anxiety and stress in schools and colleges and increase resilience?"
Hopefully we can come up with some answers to help you out in the next hour of the #edchatie discussion on "How can we reduce anxiety and stress in schools and colleges and increase resilience?"
So, when we talk about "How can we reduce anxiety and stress in schools and colleges and increase resilience?" are we thinking, students OR teachers OR parents OR . . . (maybe all categories of people connected to education)?
#edchatie
During upbeat week in my school, teachers were requested to bring students out for a 20min walk. This was timetabled so each group of students ended up getting out once a day. I think it worked well for students and let them have a timeout from work. Us too!!! #edchatie
I argue here that we cannot teach resilience or increase the amount that kids have. All we can do is foster conditions where they realise they have innate resilience https://t.co/HbvoEu83Cw#edchatie
I'm trying to prune a thesis at the moment and so went out to do some actual pruning in the garden and get some fresh air too to reduce the headspace it was beginning to take over ;-)
It worked too!
#edchatie
CBT can work in a clinical setting/ with a trained professionals. I worry about well-meaning teachers "having a go" at psychotherapy. Most of us are complete amateurs in that area! #edchatie
I thought it was brilliant. Teachers were under no pressure to do it. Only if it suited them to miss a class. Another teacher also did yoga sessions over lunch for the week. Of course all this needs dedicated teachers to run it! More stress for them! 😂 #edchatie
I read in @kellymcgonigal 's "The Upside of Stress" that adversity is like an inverted U in terms of how it affects kids. Too much is certainly harmful, but there's such a thing as too little as well. #edchatie
I really think social media has a lot to do with student stress and anxiety in todays society. Time away from this would be massively beneficial to them. #edchatie
There have been some recent conversations around this on Twitter - looking at @jessifer. You can read the backstory in his article: https://t.co/48e2M6xP8Y. School culture needs to foster compassion. We can't always BE resilient. #edchatie
Don't agree. If it was not social media, it would be telephones, if it was not telephones it would be hanging at a shop corner. Teenagers are addicted to their peers, technology just enables it. Only solutions are high towers #rapunzel style #edchatie
My big de-stresser is leaving phone at home and getting out for a walk/run with my dogs! Better than an medication! I would def feel a change in my mood if i didn't get out for a walk. #edchatie
#edchatie I think we all have responsibility to make decisions to mind ourselves, I tried to organise after school soccer for female tchrs 3 times, but no success, we need to lead my example in a way, I think.
A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect until 4:30 PM for portions of southern Orange and Greene counties, and northern Albemarle. Heavy rain, damaging wind, and hail with this storm.
I agree therapy that is fixing medically does not belong in schools, CBT activities exercises are used far and wide in and out of medical therapy #Edchatie
Pryvit Ms Malcolm! Our class was Dobre! Dyakuyu Dmitriy & Andrii :) I loved the learning! Brought me back to university days of immersion in a foreign language & decoding!💞 Students loved learning how to write their name in Cyrillic alphabet. #EPASIreland#edchatie
I see your point but years ago (showing my age) all teens had to look at was their friends, tv and mags. Now they have all that and social media. But now with advanced tech, they are comparing themselves to the 'amazing' lives of those on instagram and FB. 1/2 #edchatie
2/2 they see the 'perfect' bodies and lives of others when lets face it its all filters and best moments. Teens are comparing themselves to this and trying to live up to it when its just not possible. Giving them stress/anxiety. #edchatie
If a school is managed properly and teachers and students are given a voice, hours allocated as they should be & more support following multiple initiatives then schools would be at normal stress levels #edchatie
#edchatie Hi, Primary SET. Debate ongoing in staffroom: Should primary pupils be told the dates of their standardised tests in advance out should they be informed on the day. Longer term stress or quick shock?
Absolutely and this is filtered down to primary. Stress of teachers before standardised tests to cover curriculum and stress of students to achieve highly in them. #edchatie
In reply to
@pamelaaobrien, @AshDonohoe, @ruanemedu
This is one of the few things schools can totally control when it comes to anxiety. It starts with a consistently-enforced ban on smartphones. #edchatie
The culture around exams is toxic - and that's at all levels. I've seen so many students break under the pressure. There's far too much coverage in the media, and too many nosy questions. We need to support out students. #edchatie
In reply to
@pamelaaobrien, @AshDonohoe, @ruanemedu
I think we should talk about teachers. Thankfully we do talk quite a bit now about students’ wellbeing and there are some initiatives in place, but if teachers are stressed then that’s going to filter down massively. #edchatie
This interview with @JonHaidt uses facebook as an example but his points are just as relevant to instagram/snapchat. It's the one-to-many model of "like-hunting" that's toxic https://t.co/f1xED7a7iU#edchatie
In reply to
@AshDonohoe, @johnmayo, @ruanemedu, @JonHaidt
Absolutely! All the hype around predictions and expert advice etc. just adds fuel to the fire. It turns an exam into a national event. Students can't escape it. #edchatie
In reply to
@johnmayo, @pamelaaobrien, @AshDonohoe, @ruanemedu
Yes, and getting rid of exams will not help! It's to do with perfectionism/unrealistic expectations from home & is just as much a problem in other ed systems that assess differently #edchatie
In reply to
@AshDonohoe, @pamelaaobrien, @ruanemedu
That’s exactly it! Too much focus on the state exams imho. We’ve lost sight of the fact that they are just a set of exams ... and they don’t define who our children are (or they shouldn’t) #edchatie
In reply to
@hey_km, @johnmayo, @AshDonohoe, @ruanemedu
I think this has to do with students being unprepared for exams too though. The students I see at breaking point are very often either perfectionists or the ones who doddled along all yr and now are panicking. They need to realise work needs to be done from the start. #edchatie
In reply to
@EllenKMetcalf, @pamelaaobrien, @ruanemedu
UK report looking at Social Media and Youth Mental Health. Whilst SM is an intrinsic part of life it comes with it's negatives, Instagram being the worst.
Worth a read #edchatiehttps://t.co/4wPYsiAEwZ
Teacher wellbeing starts with effective management, as UK teacher @stoneman_claire argues here: https://t.co/CSaPy8lblq I agree that plethora of DES initiatives(many of which are daft) is stressful & demoralising for teachers #edchatie
In reply to
@ruanemedu, @EmilyDuignan, @fboss, @stoneman_claire
#edchatie There should be more promotion of trades as being good jobs, many builders earn more than academic jobs, but there is a perception that a kid must do a degree in anything, rather than what will the degree lead to...
I couldn't agree more! The well-prepared, studious kids are always the calmest even though they're most probably the ones going for the highest points/high stakes courses. #edchatie
In reply to
@AshDonohoe, @pamelaaobrien, @ruanemedu
Research shows that we have to begin with teachers. When teacher well-being is high, this has an impact not just on pupil well-being and resilience but also on academic performance. Supportive relationships are a key element #EdchatIE
So, when we talk about "How can we reduce anxiety and stress in schools and colleges and increase resilience?" are we thinking, students OR teachers OR parents OR . . . (maybe all categories of people connected to education)?
#edchatie
This happens a lot in special schools on a regular basis. Part of Personal Care PLU and the Wellbeing programme. Some students aren't ready to learn without it. #edchatie#L2LPs
Yes but they are extremely definitive of a students direction following school. Shouldn't be but it is. I think more routes need to be open to students to pursue chosen careers & a change of mindset of parents and society that college/university is the only next step! #edchatie
In reply to
@pamelaaobrien, @hey_km, @johnmayo, @ruanemedu
I don’t necessarily agree with that. Think it can be the case sometimes but particularly for LC the ridiculous focus on the exams means even those who are working away can get caught up in the hype. With nearly a month left to LC can be hard to maintain that intensity #edchatie
In reply to
@AshDonohoe, @EllenKMetcalf, @ruanemedu
Do schools and teachers play a role in this? Do we go too easy on kids further down the school, focusing on fun & "engagement" & not demanding hard work and effort from Day 1 of first year? #edchatie
In reply to
@AshDonohoe, @pamelaaobrien, @ruanemedu
I think a lot of the wellbeing initiatives that are starting to be brought in can be beneficial for both students and teachers, but only if teachers are properly trained and supported. When thrown in on top of more and more new things, they have the opposite effect. #edchatie
In reply to
@EllenKMetcalf, @ruanemedu, @fboss, @stoneman_claire
While we may have lost sight of that, so has everyone else. It's all points points points, better leaving cert, what college are you going to? Our students need to be happy at what they are doing, be that in school or life.
In reply to
@pamelaaobrien, @hey_km, @johnmayo, @AshDonohoe, @ruanemedu
It would be lovely to see, but you know how things are here! At least it's happening more in HE/FE. I haven't had a LC class since 2015, and I *still* can't sleep the night before the exams start! #edchatie
In reply to
@johnmayo, @pamelaaobrien, @AshDonohoe, @ruanemedu
I think it's a combination of all. Anxiety and stress tend to have a domino effect - when 1 falls the rest follow. Ongoing channels for communication, openness, honesty can help. When everyone is singing of the same hymn sheet real change can occur. #edchatie
Maybe... but then that puts forward the question is school just about getting students through a course and a test?! I think (and hope) there needs to be more to it. #edchatie
In reply to
@EllenKMetcalf, @pamelaaobrien, @ruanemedu
Honoured to be asked to speak this evening at an event to celebrate the contribution of @KirkBer to Irish and global education. Wishing him every success in the future. #edchatie#excitedirl#africacodeweek
Rory, primary teacher. I definitely feel we should look at standardised testing. I know there is value to it...but I think it's crucial we very clearly communicate to parents and students what exactly these tests measure and more importantly what they do NOT measure. #edchatie
Apologies I’m not saying it all comes from schools at all. They get it from friends, teachers, parents, media ... can become all consuming which isn’t healthy #edchatie
In reply to
@ruanemedu, @AshDonohoe, @EllenKMetcalf
I think it is very important for every student to be involved in something for their wellbeing- SPHE CSPE or PE, thankfully these are recognized as nb subjects which were always there, if these were applied to all students #Edchatie too many let off PE, don’t partake in ex curr
In reply to
@EmilyDuignan, @EllenKMetcalf, @fboss, @stoneman_claire
No, in fact I think one of the worst phenomena of our schools is the festishisation of the "exam year". Hard work & effort can also be framed in terms of a)developing good habits and b)accruing knowledge that'll stand to them #edchatie
In reply to
@AshDonohoe, @pamelaaobrien, @ruanemedu
We're talking about "How can we reduce anxiety and stress in schools and colleges and increase resilience?" on #edchatie since 8:30pm tonight.
There's 13 minutes left of the official hour.
The transcript will be compiled tomorrow morning - so feel free to add in more tweets
Taking inspiration from @DeclanCoyleNow@colmhuirecoed have developed a whole school well being programme called the ENERGY programme. It will be led by 6th years and follow 6 themes throughout the year - a proactive approach to resilience #edchatie
Absolutely. ‘Getting involved’ and ‘getting active’ are two of the 5 a Day for Positive Mental Health outlined in the Mental Health Awareness Initiative by @JigsawYMH, supported by research #edchatie
In reply to
@ruanemedu, @EllenKMetcalf, @fboss, @stoneman_claire, @JigsawYMH
And we wonder why there is a high dropout rate from college. Students need to be guided and encouraged to enter a career that suits their strengths, be that througha college course, PLC route or apprenticeship #edchatie
In reply to
@pamelaaobrien, @AshDonohoe, @hey_km, @johnmayo, @ruanemedu
Would like to bring the chat in another direction... yes we know students and teachers are stressed but how do we encourage them to deal with it. I find students are not capable of processing and getting past stress. Be ot at home or in school. Thoughts? #edchatie
to the famous final five minutes of tonight's #edchatie discussion on "How can we reduce anxiety and stress in schools and colleges and increase resilience?"
Feel free to tweet after the official hour's up too - transcript will be compiled and published online tomorrow
Very true! Let students explore options. The rest of their life is a very long time to make a decision about when you're 17/18 and lack experience in life. #edchatie
And we wonder why there is a high dropout rate from college. Students need to be guided and encouraged to enter a career that suits their strengths, be that througha college course, PLC route or apprenticeship #edchatie
In reply to
@pamelaaobrien, @AshDonohoe, @hey_km, @johnmayo, @ruanemedu
