Author: Aghunney

Mental Health Update
Back to School

Getting Back on Track

In This Issue:
Getting Back on Track
Motivating Students from the Beginning
Eight Instant Stress Busters
Resource Corner

Summer is over and the school year has begun. This is an exciting time for the entire school community. Students are happy to reunite with their friends and many are eager to learn. Teachers and school staff are excited about seeing both new and old faces. Despite all the excitement, it can be difficult to get back into a regular routine. Tips for making a smooth transition into the new school year are outlined below.
Create a “time budget”. List everything you do in a day and how much time it takes you to do it. If the total time is more than 24, reexamine your budget.
Make a schedule. You can write this in your daily planner or put it on your PDA. It doesn’t matter what you use as long as you have a tangible way to keep track of what you have to do and when you need to do it.
Don’t neglect the little things. It’s easy to skip breakfast or forget to take your vitamins. People tend to be so focused on the all the “important” things that need to get done that they forget about the “little” things which can make a big difference in their lives.
Avoid overextending yourself. Taking on more tasks than you can handle can be stressful. If you feel like you’ve bitten off more than you can chew, prioritize and/or ask for help.
Fit in personal time. With a million things to do each day, we put ourselves on the back burner. For a better, healthier, happier you, allow yourself at least an hour a day to do something you enjoy.

Motivating Students from the Beginning

The first few weeks of school set the tone for the entire school year. Motivating students from the beginning will peak their interest and make for an exciting year of learning.
Show your enthusiasm. When students see that you have a genuine interest in what you teach, your energy and passion may motivate them.
Vary your teaching style. To keep your class interesting, explore different teaching methods.
Emphasize mastery. Testing and grading provide educators with a way of assessing how well students are learning. Although this is an essential part of school, it can also encourage students to simply memorize class material without fully understanding the content. Try giving tests and assignments which require students to combine ideas and think
critically.
Engage students in active learning. Try using innovative exercises and activities which actively engage students in learning, for example class debates or role playing.
Recognize students for their good work. Rewarding students for working hard is sure to keep them interested in learning. It is not necessary to do or say anything extravagant . A simple comment such as “That’s a good point” shows students that you are impressed by their effort. It is also good practice to avoid embarrassing students or making negative comments, as this often decreases their motivation.

Eight Instant Stress Busters

Below are some tips to help you deal with stress throughout the school year:
Practice letting go the next time you find yourself becoming annoyed or angry with something trivial. Making a conscious choice not to become angry is a great way to keep the stress level down.
2. Breathe slowly and deeply. Before reacting to a stressful situation, take three deep breaths and release them slowly. Try a relaxation technique if you have the time.
Whenever you feel overwhelmed by stress, practice speaking more slowly than usual. You'll find that you think more clearly and react more reasonably to stressful situations. You’ll also appear less anxious and more in control of any situation.
Jump-start an effective time management strategy. Choose one simple thing you have been putting off and do it immediately. Just taking care of one nagging responsibility can be energizing and can improve your attitude.
Get outdoors for a brief break. Getting a breath of fresh air can be invigorating. Don't be deterred by foul weather or a full schedule. Even taking a five minute walk outside can energize you.
Drink plenty of water and eat small, nutritious snacks. Hunger and dehydration, even before you're aware of them, can provoke aggressiveness and exacerbate feelings of anxiety and stress.
Do a quick posture check. Hold your head and shoulders upright and avoid stooping or slumping. Bad posture can lead to muscle tension, pain, and increased stress.
Plan something rewarding for the end of your stressful day, even if only a relaxing bath or half an hour with a good book. Put aside work, housekeeping or family concerns for a brief period before bedtime and allow yourself to fully relax. Remember that you need time to recharge and energize yourself. You'll be much better prepared to face another stressful day.
Tips adapted from http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=59875.

Quote of the Month: You can teach a student a lesson for a day; but if you can teach him to learn by creating curiosity, he will continue the learning process as long as he lives. -Clay P. Bedford

References
Vanderbilt Center for Teaching (2007). Motivating students. Retrieved on August 28, 2007 from http://www.vanderbilt.edu/cft/resources/teaching_resources/interactions/motivating.htm#strategies

This story can fit 150-200 words.
One benefit of using your newsletter as a promotional tool is that you can reuse content from other marketing materials, such as press releases, market studies, and reports.
While your main goal of distributing a newsletter might be to sell your product or service, the key to a successful newsletter is making it useful to your readers.
A great way to add useful content to your newsletter is to develop and write your own articles, or include a calendar of upcoming events or a special offer that promotes a new product.
You can also research articles or find “filler” articles by accessing the World Wide Web. You can write about a variety of topics but try to keep your articles short.
Much of the content you put in your newsletter can also be used for your Web site. Microsoft Publisher offers a simple way to convert your newsletter to a Web publication. So, when you’re finished writing your newsletter, convert it to a Web site and post it.

This story can fit 75-125 words.
Selecting pictures or graphics is an important part of adding content to your newsletter.
Think about your article and ask yourself if the picture supports or enhances the message you’re trying to convey. Avoid selecting images that appear to be out of context.
Microsoft Publisher includes thousands of clip art images from which you can choose and import into your newsletter. There are also several tools you can use to draw shapes and symbols.
Once you have chosen an image, place it close to the article. Be sure to place the caption of the image near the image.

This story can fit 100-150 words.
The subject matter that appears in newsletters is virtually endless. You can include stories that focus on current technologies or innovations in your field.
You may also want to note business or economic trends, or make predictions for your customers or clients.
If the newsletter is distributed internally, you might comment upon new procedures or improvements to the business. Sales figures or earnings will show how your business is growing.
Some newsletters include a column that is updated every issue, for instance, an advice column, a book review, a letter from the president, or an editorial. You can also profile new employees or top customers or vendors.

Back to School

This story can fit 150-200 words.
One benefit of using your newsletter as a promotional tool is that you can reuse content from other marketing materials, such as press releases, market studies, and reports.
While your main goal of distributing a newsletter might be to sell your product or service, the key to a successful newsletter is making it useful to your readers.
A great way to add useful content to your newsletter is to develop and write your own articles, or include a calendar of upcoming events or a special offer that promotes a new product.
You can also research articles or find “filler” articles by accessing the World Wide Web. You can write about a variety of topics but try to keep your articles short.
Much of the content you put in your newsletter can also be used for your Web site. Microsoft Publisher offers a simple way to convert your newsletter to a Web publication. So, when you’re finished writing your newsletter, convert it to a Web site and post it.

This story can fit 75-125 words.
Selecting pictures or graphics is an important part of adding content to your newsletter.
Think about your article and ask yourself if the picture supports or enhances the message you’re trying to convey. Avoid selecting images that appear to be out of context.
Microsoft Publisher includes thousands of clip art images from which you can choose and import into your newsletter. There are also several tools you can use to draw shapes and symbols.
Once you have chosen an image, place it close to the article. Be sure to place the caption of the image near the image.

This story can fit 100-150 words.
The subject matter that appears in newsletters is virtually endless. You can include stories that focus on current technologies or innovations in your field.
You may also want to note business or economic trends, or make predictions for your customers or clients.
If the newsletter is distributed internally, you might comment upon new procedures or improvements to the business. Sales figures or earnings will show how your business is growing.
Some newsletters include a column that is updated every issue, for instance, an advice column, a book review, a letter from the president, or an editorial. You can also profile new employees or top customers or vendors.

Center for School Mental Health

Volume 2 Issue 1