GCSEs and Year 6 SATs kicked off this week, coinciding with #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek – very apt! Examinations and deadlines result in pressure and stress for students (and teachers). Join us and other teachers this fortnight to explore how mental health impacts learning with educational researchers:
- Discuss risk factors for mental illness with Christina.
- Ask Sveta about interventions to support social and emotional cognition and self-regulation.
- Chat with Alice about how emotion understanding relates to behaviour and school outcomes.
- Speak with Cat about development of social and emotional processing during adolescence.
Post a question in ASK or drop into the live CHAT on Thursday 17th May, 8-9pm to start a discussion and share your experiences.
Questions in the Learning Zone
- Many students suffer anxiety around assessments. Obviously some is useful, but too much can be detrimental. Are there any scientific strategies that can help?
- We have a school counselor at school. At what stage do you think it is sensible to refer a student to the school counselor?
- Educating children about how to care for their physical health and wellbeing once again has an increasing profile in primary schools. Could we address mental health and wellbeing ‘maintenance’ more effectively than we currently do?
In the News
Mental Health Awareness Week – 14th-20th May, Mental Health Foundation
Why Your Brain on Stress Fails to Learn Properly – 2nd April 2018, Psychology Today
Pupil progress held back by teachers’ poor mental health – 23rd January 2018, Leeds Beckett University
The government ‘is failing a generation’ with school mental health reforms – 9th May 2018, Schools Week
School mental health problems extend to primary-age pupils amid cuts to support – 1st April 2018, The Independent
Primary school mental health counselling may help economy, study says – 26th April 2018, BBC News