Author: Psychiatry

Mental Health Update

Clearing up the Clouds

The Importance of School Climate

There are several common factors that have been identified as contributing to the overall climate of a school. Characteristics of schools such as the degree of safety and respect that are present, quality of interactions between students and staff, perception of the environment, mutual goals of stakeholders, opportunities for meaningful involvement, and academic performance are all factors that influence the quality of school climate.
In a positive school climate students feel safe, valued and content in their surroundings. There are several factors related to creating and maintaining a positive school environment. ¹
A positive school climate has been associated with several factors including: ¹
▪ Decreased behavioral and emotional problems
▪ Improved school performance
▪ Improved personal relationships
▪ Increased job satisfaction for school personnel
▪ Enhanced parent and family involvement in the schools
▪ Decreased student engagement in risky behaviors such as cigarette smoking, drug use, sexual intercourse, and violence.

A positive school climate
can be promoted by:
▪ Recognizing student successes
▪ Increased community involvement in the schools
▪ Implementing character
education and extracurricular programs
▪ Demonstrating respect for all students
▪ Developing a sense of community in the school
▪ Enhancing safety at the school
▪ Initiating violence-prevention, peer mediation,
conflict resolution, and anti-bullying prevention programs.

Helpful Hints for the Classroom:

Succeed

Creating a Positive Classroom Climate²

“Use every opportunity to reinforce the desired behaviors and beliefs in your students”

There are four factors that contribute to the climate of your classroom. It is up to you to determine how to allow these factors to reinforce each other so that they are longstanding and effective.
These factors are:
Values
Environment
People
Patterns of Action
Values are the core concepts you want your students to learn.

These concepts should be demonstrated in their daily activities. Involve the children in projects that support the values that you are upholding in the classroom. Use every opportunity to reinforce the desired behaviors and beliefs in your students because when the students leave your classroom they may be presented with things that go against what you are trying to instill in them.

Environment includes the physical aspect of your classroom. How you arrange your room, decorate the walls, and have the students utilize the space should reflect the values of your classroom. To establish control in your classroom appear to be organized and prepared. If you are subject to space deficits and are forced to move from room to room, make sure that you have resources that you can bring from room to room.
The key is to be purposeful, because teaching is an unintentional act that you must reinforce all around the students.
People are important in helping to establish a positive environment for your students.
*Collaborate with your colleagues so that everybody is on the same page.
*Invite guest speakers to serve as examples for your students

Patterns of Action are our ways and expectations for interacting with each other. As the teacher, you must help the students understand what is expected of them and their peers.
Assign job responsibilities
Create classroom rules
Be consistent
As well as establishing this atmosphere in the classroom, you must demonstrate these patterns of action with your colleagues and the other people you interact with.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

“ A student never forgets an encouraging private word, when it is given with sincere respect and admiration”- William Lyon Phelps
“ A good teacher is like a candle, it consumes itself to light the way for others”- Anon.
“ While we try and teach our children all about life, they teach us what life is all about”- Anon.
“More important than the curriculum is the question of the methods of teaching and the spirit in which the teaching is given”- Bertrand Russell

References:
¹ Weiss, C.L.A., Cunningham, D.L., Lewis, C.P., Clark, M.G. (Dec.2005). Enhancing Student Connectedness to Schools. Baltimore, MD: CSMH, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine
²www.youthlearn.org/learning/planning/climate.asp
http://education.indiana.edu/cas/tt/v2i3/peaceful.html
Resources:
Steps to respect: A bully prevention program: http://www.cfchildren.org/programs/str/overview/
Health in Schools (Substance Abuse): http://www.healthinschools.org/home.asp
Ten tips for creating a caring school: http://www.edutopia.org/node/1025

1. Have a genuine interest in your students.
Greet students at the door. Learn about students' cultures. Be aware of teen slang terms. Offer praise and encouragement
frequently. Attend to students as individuals, not just to the class as a whole.
2. Communicate classroom rules clearly.
Enforce rules fairly and consistently. Consider each incident's unique circumstances while
making discipline-related decisions.
3. Be objective, not judgmental.
Try to examine issues from the students' perspective.
4. Show that you are human.
Be prepared to admit your mistakes.
5. Minimize the power differential in everyday communication.
Sitting behind a desk or standing behind a podium can send the message that you want to create some distance between
yourself and the students. Openly communicate with students. Demonstrate your willingness to help.
6. Address problem behavior directly and immediately.
Unresolved conflicts and issues often resurface. Addressing a problem early lessens the likelihood this issue will escalate.
7. Adopt a collaborative approach.
Maximize student opportunities for choices within the classroom. Consider the perspective that this is "our" classroom,
not "my" classroom. Actively solicit students' opinions.

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.

Clearing up the Clouds

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.