Student Success
Care and connection in the online classroom
‘I just want to hug them.’
Here are a few practical things to try:
This is a sentence I hear often lately. Responding to children on an empathetic level, really getting into their little worlds and understanding what it’s like – this is what teachers do best. Teachers (especially primary school teachers) show this empathy and understanding through a hug, a pat on the head, a squeeze of the shoulder.
1. Take care of yourself Teachers running on empty have nothing to give. As with the rule on aeroplanes – fit your own oxygen mask before you help others – teachers need to make sure that their own needs are met before they can give to the world. This is vital for everyone but especially for teachers, as giving to others is a natural part of the role you play throughout the day.
But Covid has taken this from teachers. These special individuals feel the need to reach out to their learners, yet are limited in how they are able to do this. Teaching online makes this even more tricky. How do you empathise and respond to the emotional cues of children over an online platform such as Zoom or Google Meet? Doing so seems to take far more energy than usual, especially since, research shows, it takes a lot to process non-verbal cues. A teacher who is online is with her learners in mind but not in body is vulnerable to exhaustion since the situation creates a sense of dissonance. So how do teachers protect themselves from burnout and connect with their learners in a meaningful way during this time? 24 | Teacha! Magazine
To do this, ask yourself: what you need to fill your tank? Is it a walk in a park? A hot bath with candles? A cup of tea with a loved one? Daily self-care activities such as this ensure that you have the capacity to be there for your learners. Putting your own needs first is not selfish. It is a vital component of good teaching practice. 2. Practise active listening by paraphrasing While you should be careful not to interrupt, paraphrasing what your learners have said is an effective way to inform them that you've heard them, and have validated their perspective. It’s easier than it sounds: simply repeat what the child has said. For example, if a child says: ‘I am so stressed about the test on Monday,’ you can paraphrase by
