Stress
On the first day of class I explain that we all have stresses when dealing with life and school. I become transparent and share my own experience with life and school and how I over came it. I let my students know that if they ever need help to come to me and if I can not help I will find someone who can. I also express that if they feel they can not approach me they may pursue another avenue, but to at least give me the opportunity to help before doing so.
I like April's example of relating to students her success of dealing with stress. As students are overwhelmed with school and life demands, the instructor example before them is sometimes overlooked. Sharing of our challanges as students and of our successes is a helpful tool that can prove very helpful.
I do the exact same thing. First day, I let them know that I did it and know it will not be easy but they have to look at the bigger picture and whether they are okay with where they are now.
It is important to call student when absent. I find students will talk or text more in a private setting than in school environment. I make a note to reach out to them after an awareness is made, often involving other staff by making them aware of any issue with student.
And it has the benefit of humanizing the instructor.
I definitely agree in calling students when absent, especially in the clinical setting as our program dictates. Missing one 8 hour clinical rotation is like missing 2 days of lecture in the classroom.
Dennis, do students have an opportunity to make up clinicals?
When students fail a class or have to repeat a session I try and give them positive feedback. It's OK to repeat. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other and you will eventually get there. Failure only exists for those who have never tried.
Elizabeth, what do you mean by "failure only exists for those who have never tried"?
We also have the same practice. If a student is absent on the first day, the instructor calls. If the student is out 2 days, the Program Director and Student Services calls the student.
I agree as well that it is important to call the student when they are absent.Sometimes the instructor may be able to help the student to come to school instead of being absent.
During my first course, I also discuss stress and lead a discussion on stress management tools. Students join the discussion by generating ideas and expounding on tips that work well for them.
We have stress in everyday lfe. The question is how as a student. How to manage the stress
Often time the student feel as if they are the only one that feels stressed and the instructor can not relate. When the student have been told that you (the instructor) have experienced some of the same kind of stressful situation, they begin to realize that it not all about them but, we all have stress in our lives one time or the other. I always remind my students that stress is one of the leading cause of illness and disease and some time it can cause your death. Example Hbp= stroke=scripling or death. Therefore all of us want to be around for a long time. If you can not fix the problem find a way to live with it or if you can fix it, fix it and in both cases move on with your live.
Betina, do you write down these ideas and tips? It would be interesting to have them available for future students' reference? Perhaps a link on the school's web site?
I always try to read the class on the first two days of a new start to see what kind of psychological baggage they are bringing into the classroom setting that might affect their performance as a successful student. It's not surprising that the majority have issues outside the classroom setting and the stresses of studying and test taking compounds the stresses of home, job and family. These students constantly need reassurances of success.
Melvin, what cues do you look for when you read the class? Are there any that you see as a call to action?
During my first course, I also discuss stress and lead a discussion on stress management tools. Students join the discussion by generating ideas and expounding on tips that work well for them.
Gyula, are there some basic ideas that routinely come up? Could these be codified into a hand-out to students when they first enroll?
