Weekly Report

Teacher Trouble

Topics for this week include student mental health, challenges for teachers, and restorative discipline practices.

Jeremy Jorgensen

Jul 21, 2023 — 3 min read

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Today my kids return from two weeks of summer camp. I know it's only been two weeks but they always seem so much older when they get back home. I look forward to hearing all about it.

Have a great weekend!

In today’s newsletter…

NYC schools will require breathing exercises for students to promote mental health.
Teacher challenges can be solved by increasing salaries and providing a strong curriculum.
Restorative practices can reduce racial disparities and improve academic performance.

The News

Here are some articles that grabbed my attention.

Just Breathe - New York City schools will require breathing exercises for students in the next academic year to promote mental health. The policy highlights the growing emphasis schools are placing on mental health in response to the uptick in teenage suicide attempts and the increase in students seeking mental health services during the pandemic. While mindfulness practices have been incorporated in schools across the country for more than a decade, some advocates worry that the breathing program may not be the most effective way to treat mental health.
Teacher Trouble - The teaching profession is in trouble, from higher turnover to declining interest among college students. Something needs to be done. Some potential solutions include increasing early- and mid-career teacher salaries, paying teachers more in shortage areas, turning the first year in the classroom into an apprenticeship, providing teachers with a strong curriculum, and reducing unnecessary teacher licensure rules. How would you solve the growing challenges facing the teaching profession?
School Discipline - Restorative practices are ways of dealing with student misbehavior that can reduce racial disparities in discipline and improve academic performance and school climate. When implemented correctly restorative practices can be good for all students. A study found that exposure to these practices improved academic achievement and reduced suspension rates and duration. However, not all students have equal access to these practices.
Resource - Figjam: A Comprehensive Guide to Collaborative Whiteboard Tool for Education

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Growth

Personal Development and Wellness Resources

Cheap Self-Care - Here’s a list of ten self-care activities that are inexpensive or green and can help improve mental well-being. The list centers around mindfulness and sensory experiences.
Daily Practices - Maybe we shouldn’t let our goals define us, and focus on building a set of daily practices and habits. Growth then becomes our way of being.
Heal Your Mind - Bibliotherapy is the theory that literature can help ease the pain of existence. Finding the right book at the right time can make a big difference in people’s mental and emotional health.