Issues, Conflict and Emotion in the Classroom:
Resources for Teachers

Although it is not generally in the job description, teachers are much more than the mere imparters of wisdom and knowledge. No matter the subject, no matter the age or educational level of the students, teachers are frequently not only sought out for emotional solace, but also expected to be a pillar of strength and stability in times of duress. It is, of course, expected that classes go on as usual, sometimes under the most trying of circumstances: from natural disasters to human inflicted violence and the list goes on. Many times for the students, this sense of normalcy, the expectation that education will go on, we will advance and we will succeed, despite the most trying of circumstances, is a stabilizing force in what may be a very rocky personal time in their life. In this, the teacher is much more than an imparter of facts and figures. That does not, however, make it easy. And if there is any magic in the process, I never found it. I did, however, find some resources to help in dealing with the issues that sooner or later confront us all in the classroom, everything from violence, to disaster, to abusive incidents, bullies and the death of both family members and fellow students. If you know of other resources that others might find helpful, please drop me an email. Regina Garson, Magic Stream Publisher

Handout

How to Help Kids Cope with Violence or Disaster -- This handout may be reproduced as needed. The information was compiled from the National Institute of Mental Health resources.

Of Special Note

Let's Move -- Across the US, childhood obesity has reached epidemic rates and, as a result, for the first time in our nation's history, our children may live shorter lives than their parents. Obesity has been recognized as a problem for decades, but efforts to address this crisis to date have been insufficient. Our First Lady, Michelle Obama has taken on a nationwide initiative to get us all moving, and instill better health habits in the next generation. The bottom line is, we need to get moving. Magic Stream fully supports this effort. Join our First Lady, our community leaders, teachers, doctors, nurses, moms and dads in a nationwide campaign to tackle the challenge of childhood obesity. Let’s Move has an ambitious but important goal: to solve the epidemic of childhood obesity within a generation. This one is going to take us all, let's join Mrs. Obama in this effort. We will all feel better for it. Regina Garson, Magic Stream Publisher.

Emotional Issues and Recovery

Children and Violence -- From the National Institute of Mental Health. -- This is a time of high concern about violent behavior by young people. As a nation, we are in a period of reflection as to what can be done to stem this tide. Helping young people avoid or overcome emotional problems in the wake of violence or disaster is one of the most important challenges a parent, teacher, or mental health professional can face. Moreover, children often face violence in their own homes. NIMH conducts and publishes research looking at violence in young people, as well as the effects of violence on young people.

A Course on Helping -- A Course on Helping is a noncredit "conversational" course available at no cost to visitors to The WonderWise Parent. It is also used as a foundation training strategy in the DearNeighbors program. This resource is a "generic" helping skills course that can apply to any context in which someone we know is suffering.

School Safety and Crisis Resources -- NASP has made these materials available free of charge to the public in order to promote the ability of children and youth to cope with traumatic or unsettling events. This site has printable brochures, which may be useful as handouts and take-home information.

Talking with Children when the Talking Gets Tough -- So what is a parent, teacher, or other caring adult to do when disasters fill the airwaves and the consciousness of their community?

I’m scared, what if the next shooting is at my school? -- Teen Talk: A survival guide for parents of teenagers.

The Depressed Child -- Children under stress, who experience loss, or who have attentional, learning or conduct disorders are at a higher risk for depression.

How Parents can Help Young People Cope with Violence or Disaster -- By Regina Garson, Magic Stream Publisher. Children may have an intensely difficult time trying to cope with a disaster or violent incident. There are steps that parents and family members can take to help them recover.

Stress Management for the Learning Disabled

When Children Experience Trauma, A Guide for Parents and Families -- This brochure was developed by the American Psychological Association as part of the ACT Against Violence project.

Coping With a Traumatic Event A traumatic event disrupts your life. There is no simple fix to make things better right away. But there are actions that can help you, your family, and your community heal.

Strategies for Teachers: Caring for Yourself While Helping Troubled Teens

Confronting Death

Children and Grief -- When a family member dies, children react differently from adults.

When Disaster Strikes

The Expressive Arts in Counseling -- By Samuel T. Gladding.
In recent times, there has been renewed interest in the use of the arts in counseling. Informed counselors and teachers can assist individuals in both coping with disaster and developing their potential through art forms that inspire, direct, and heal.

Helping Children After a Disaster.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) -- In children and adolescents.

Bully Prevention

School Bullying is Nothing New, But Psychologists Identify New Ways to Prevent It -- From APA Online. Systematic international research has shown school bullying to be a frequent and serious public health problem. But psychologists are using this research to develop bullying prevention programs that are being implemented in schools around the world.

Taking The Bully By The Horns -- By Kathy Noll and Dr. Jay Carter. On helping kids deal with bullies, self-esteem and youth violence.

Violence Prevention

ACT Against Violence: Early Violence Prevention -- Raising children to be healthy, considerate, nonviolent adults is the hope of every parent and the core of early violence prevention.

Preventing Violence in Our Schools -- Resources for teachers and parents from the University of Minnesota Extension.

Warning Signs of Youth Violence -- From the APA Help Center. One in 12 high schoolers is threatened or injured with a weapon each year. If you're between the ages of 12 and 24, you face the highest risk of being the victim of violence. At the same time, statistics show that by the early 1990's the incidence of violence caused by young people reached unparalleled levels in American society.

Other Resources

APA Online -- Psychology in daily life from the American Psychological Associatin.

Self Help Information for Students -- Online information from the University at Buffalo.

The Unabridged Student Counseling Virtual Pamphlet Collection -- Opinions expressed in a virtual pamphlet from one university do not necessarily reflect those of other universities, but there is a lot of good information in the collected resources.

One More Thing:

I know this has absolutely nothing to do with emotional wellness, or maybe it does. But one of the issues of which I have become acutely aware is the need for the current and future generations of young people in the US to reach for and achieve higher levels in math, science, engineering and technology development. To that end, NASA is directly involved in a national initiative to foster higher levels of academic achievement in these areas. I worked as editor on several teacher guides designed to provide background and lesson plans that allow you to bring higher level aerospace, engineering, technology, math, and science learnings into your own classroom. These links will lead you to other NASA educational materials as well. Regina Garson, Magic Stream Publisher.

Ares: Launch and Propulsion
This grade 5-12 teachers guide gives students a hands-on opportunity to experiment with variables that might affect the performance of a launch vehicle.

Engineering Design Challenge: Thermal Protection Systems
Grade 6-9 teachers guide. Working in teams students design, build, and test a thermal protection system of their own.

Engineering Design Challenge: Spacecraft Structures
Grade 6-9 teachers guide. Students develop basic aerospace engineering skills as they undertake the problem of designing a strong but lightweight thrust structure that can withstand the launch of a bottle rocket by means of a wooden lever.