Yes I do agree, because when the students feel comfortable with us as instructors, they began to open up more to us. With that being said some of the students are not mentally there, and yes we do have to be "mental mentors" as well.
I Totally agree, because when the students feel comfortable with you they will come to you with all of their problems. Which means that not only are we the instructors but we do become the "mental mentor" as well. Many students come in not mentally stable and in order to keep order in the class we have to deal with the mental issues and sometimes walk students through that trying time.
yes, i do. I feel students need to be mentally healthy in order to achieve. sometimes all we as educators need to do is a little "doctoring" of the student's mental attitude towards school and assignments and the light goes on and they move down the "success" road rather than the "failure" road. I always try to instill in my students the absolute value of having an education and the need to move forward every day.
Yes, I do agree with this statement. We must realize that our students are facing challenges outside of the classroom. These challenges could have an impact on their success at school. By acknowledging this and helping the student through these challenges, we are in fact helping the student to succeed and reach their goals.
Scott,
"Miracle" is an interesting choice of terms. I never felt that I was performing miracles when I had successful students.
Jeffrey Schillinger
I agree. We have to help the students be in a good state of mind, so that they will be successful with school. As an instructor I want my students to succeed!
I agree, handling a group of 20 to 30 individual personalities for 6 hours a day, and to have them actually learn something is nothing short of a miracle.
Karin,
Rapport is the big difference maker! Thanks for pointing it out.
Jeffrey Schillinger
Absolutely! If students mind's are overwhelmed with the financial, emotional, relationship, parents, children, friends, partners, and work related stress then adding projects, homework, groupwork and attending classes can just become too much for some to handle. In checking in with students on a regular basis, giving the students resources such as instructors they trust, program directors and student services personnel to speak with will significantly reduce the negative "mental health" issues that we deal with on a regular basis. Again, knowing your students and having that rapport with them gives you the head's up when something really is going on with them that may need to be addressed immediately.
We are as we hear the stories of the students past present and future experiences. We are also in the position of listening, presenting an empathetic view and being there to support, console and motivate the students into achieving their goals, no matter what the odds are.
With some student's this is true but not all of them. The ones who have come from a background where there has not been much success seem to be the ones who need the most mentoring.
They simply do not believe in themselves and it is our job to try and put that belief back inside them.
I agree, because we have to take on so many different roles in order to be accessable to our students who themselves may or may not be mentally stable in thier lives.
Absolutely agree with your comment. While being teachers we are also counselors and advisors and social workers, etc. We relate with the students and hear their most intimate issues at times. We practice active listening and provide constructive guidance quite often (on a day to day basis).
If we define "mental health" as the mindset necessary to become successful, yes. After a few terms in the classroom it became standard practice for me to tell my students I had two goals: (1) for them to master course content; (2) for them to understand and adopt a professional mindset. Instructors do as much "life coaching" as they do educating. Yeah, we are in more than one business.
I absolutely agree. I teach at a two year school and many of our students come with a lot of baggage. If we can't work with them to figure out how to help them overcome certain obsticles, such as poor attendance or short attention span, our students will not succeed.
Absolutely agree. I am a program director/instructor of graphic design. We are the "artsy" ones. Most people who are truly passionate about this profession have been drawn to it because they think differently. They are very tuned into their feelings and introspective. Speaking from personal experience, what makes us think differently is also what often gets in the way of being successful. Whether it is depression or focusing problems, it is important that we, as educators, know, understand and address these problems so we can help the student get the necessary assistance to succeed. Of course this has to be approached carefully to ensure that the student is receptive to addressing these very personal problems.
I agree because a student's state of mind can greatly influence their educational outcome. As role models for our students we need to let them know that yes the road is difficult but not impossible to travel towards their goals. If students are frustrated or unsure of how they are going to reach their goals, we as educators should step in and provide support to them. So yes, I believe we are in more than one business.
I agree whole heartedly. a stagnate person or someone who is not learning, not growing is a person who is not healthy or happy. I belive that the human condition needs to learn, grow, move forward to be truly happy and healthy. Any instructor that has seen the "light come on" as a person realizes that they have just learned a new concept, idea or method of doing anything will agree that learning does effect our mental health in a very positive way.
I definitely agree. When your students trust you they tell you a lot. It is important for them to get the most out of class and if they are preoccupied with outside stuff they can't focus. I would prefer they get it out with me rather than hold it in and get overwhelmed.
I want to say "No", but I must agree. The students I work with are in need of encouragement and a gentle guide at times. Many students have worked hard to make it though school and they want to change their lives, so my job is to educate them so they reach their goals.
