Keeping stress at a manageable level
It is my belief that stress can never be eliminated. However, I have found that introducing humor into most situations will help to keep it at a manageable level. You never want to make light of a student's problem, but presenting a humorous story of your own may divert their focus from the stressor and allow them to refocus on their lessons. Thus keeping their stressor in the background instead of in the foreground.
Loren, that, I feel, is a source of the problem of allowing students to address stress in learning. I wonder if students ever learn, except by example, of how to deal with stress in a way that reduces the burden that stress has in their lives. It would be adventatious to let faculty who feel comfortable discussing coping mechanisms do that as part of some lessons. I understand that we have a lot of pressure to get the curriculum to students, in as many ways as we can. If we can provide some instruction in reducing stress, perhaps that short classroom discussion might be what a student needs to understand. as well, it may allow the student the option of feeling comfortable to let someone know that the student is not dealing with stress in a manner that is positive.
I feel we should work coping skills imn as of right now they are not taught but the staff is looking into them. I mentioned them as my own feelings on the subject
Are coping skills presented to students in an organized way at your school? If not, how do the students learn them? Should they be taught as part of the curriculum?
I have to agree with John there is no way to avoid it but we all have to deal with it. I think learning coping skills is very valuable. The situations that I have faced my first defense is humor while I figure out the best way to deal with the situation. The students I have enrolled for the most part are young and just starting out in life. I try to pass my expierience's on whenever I can. I also try to talk to all my students at least once a week to let them know I am here if they need me
While other people may be better prepared to assist students to deal with stress, it's important to remember the role we play in creating stress or escalating a stressful situation. How we interact with students can have a profound impact on their lives.
Thats a really good point. Stress to me is a part of life. Everyone has it in one form or another. I feel that other people that the student is involved with can assist in them handling the stress better.
