The beginning of a new school year often brings a variety of new challenges and requires a period of adjustment. However, after the disruption of your school year due to the COVID-19 crisis, the return to school this summer or in the fall may bring even more new challenges, questions, and stress. You may feel apprehensive about returning, as may your students. It will be a time of adjustment for all of you. But Sunbelt Staffing is here to help ease your transition. Check out our tips to help you get prepared as you get back to school and your students.
Establish a Routine
Establishing a routine is essential for both you and your students. Easing into this routine is important and makes it easier on everyone. As a teacher or school-based professional, your day starts before you even get into the classroom and a regular routine is the best way to start. This can be as simple as a morning cup of coffee while you watch the morning news to a daily workout to jumpstart your day. Offer this advice to your students as well.
When planning your teaching day, creating a regular routine is also essential for both you and your students. Because humans are natural creatures of habit, a regular routine promotes health and wellness. According to Northwestern Medicine, daily routines can help to reduce stress while also promoting better sleep and general health. Having a regular routine in place can help to ease the transition back to a daily school session.
Be Prepared for Going Back and A New Normal
After weeks or months of non-traditional school closures due to the coronavirus, the daily classwork routine you were used to is likely to not be the same. Be prepared for the possible changes that may come as you transition back to the classroom. Some tips to do this include:
- Supply your classroom with the necessary equipment – chances are when you go back to the classroom, guidelines may have changed. Teachers and students may be required to wear masks or gloves and regular handwashing and sanitizing will be essential. Make sure your classroom has hand sanitizer, masks, and gloves as needed.
- Be prepared for questions – While the coronavirus pandemic is confusing and stressful for many adults, it may be more so for young students. They may be full of questions and being prepared to answer these questions is essential. Consult with contacts, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), on appropriate answers and consider creating informational worksheets or posters to help answer their basic questions. Offer time for them to talk about their experiences and concerns.
- Make necessary changes to your classroom – Returning to a traditional brick and mortar school may require additional changes within in the classroom. This may require changing the arrangement of desks in order to promote social distancing.
- Be ready to include remote learning – While school may return, traditional classroom teaching may be limited, resulting in an increased shift to online learning. Be prepared. Find programs or tools that will work for your students and become familiar with them. Knowing the programs inside and out will help make it easier for your students to understand. Agencies, such as Sunbelt Staffing, can also help you better understand what programs and opportunities are available for use.
Prioritize Your Personal Time
During any crisis or change to your daily life you can expect stress. However, taking care of yourself should be a priority in order to put your best self forward. You can do this by taking time each day for yourself. Find ways to decompress and destress. This can include reading a book, taking a peaceful walk or hike, regular yoga, or even a simple call with a friend or family member.
If, as a school-based professional, you are struggling to find new assignments, a staffing agency such as Sunbelt Staffing, can help. Let us reduce your stress and help you find the perfect assignment for you.
Stay Positive
As you get ready to return to school, just remember we are all in this together. This is a new and unusual time, and everyone is working to establish a new normal. Give yourself and your students time to adjust and transition slowly into your new routine and your new surroundings. With many under stay-at-home orders for weeks and months, venturing out to new places and routines can cause anxiety and stress and a slow transition can help.
As we get back to life before COVID-19, we may experience changes to our routines but keeping a positive attitude and being prepared will help reduce any associated stress. At Sunbelt Staffing, we are here to support school professionals and can also help you find new assignments for the 2020-2021 school year.
For more information on how we can help, visit Sunbelt Staffing today.