How can you recognize stress and burnout in students?

É crucial identificar sinais de estresse e burnout em estudantes, como alterações no sono, irritabilidade ou isolamento. Ao reconhecê-los, os professores podem oferecer suporte adequado, encorajando os alunos a compartilhar suas preocupações e fornecendo recursos para enfrentar o estresse prolongado.

A very obvious yet easy to ignore sign of burnout and high levels of stress is to be bothered by the tiniest things. Tasks or conversations that you could easily handle before get on your nerves very easily. This is because as your emotional reservoir gets empty your emotional resilience becomes smaller. So if you notice that you're grumpy very frequently and by the stuff that seemingly looks insignificant, that could be a key sign that you're reaching your limits.

Children use play to engage, learn, and cope with stress. If the child is not able to engage in play, it is a sign they are too tired, stressed, or overwhelmed with scheduled activities.

Something that Dr. Marshall Rosenberg (founder of the nonviolent communication framework) frequently said is: "Connection before correction." If someone (a student, a colleague, a loved one) shares with you their struggle, always connect with that emotion first. Don't offer advice (unless you double check that the other person wants one), do not minimize others emotions, do not tell them 'it will be OK.' Simply stay with their pain, hold that space for them. For instance, someone tells you: "I couldn't sleep last night due to my coming deadline." Then you can already: "I imagine that you're tired and stress about it, am I hearing that right?" Connect with their pain and struggle, practice empathy. :)

Ouvir atentamente e demonstrar empatia cria um ambiente onde os alunos se sentem compreendidos. Ao evitar julgamentos e mostrar interesse genuíno, os professores podem fortalecer a conexão emocional, incentivando os alunos a expressar suas emoções e enfrentar os desafios de maneira mais saudável.

Listening without judgement is key. You may recognize embellishment or storytelling while listening. Children often do this to include issues they believe will get them help. It is important to use clues in the truths or stories that children tell in order to help them thrive in their environments.

Ao promover práticas de autocuidado, os educadores podem empoderar os alunos para gerenciar o estresse. Estabelecer expectativas realistas e incentivar pausas estratégicas reforça a importância de equilibrar as necessidades físicas e emocionais, enquanto a promoção de conexões sociais destaca o suporte mútuo como parte fundamental do autocuidado.

Como modelos, os professores desempenham um papel fundamental na formação do comportamento saudável dos alunos. Compartilhar experiências pessoais, praticar a resiliência e buscar apoio quando necessário demonstram que lidar com o estresse é uma parte normal da vida, incentivando os alunos a adotarem estratégias semelhantes.

The only way I would feel 100% comfortable in a 'positive climate' would be if I know that unpleasant experiences are also welcome. I would change the term 'positive' for 'accepting/acceptance' since we usually try to hide our stress and burnout symptoms for the sake of being functional, of fitting in or the fear of getting fired/ being 'punished.' What if we could be more open about the fact that as humans we do struggle and that the expectations set upon ourselves and from institutions are frequently too high for us? A teacher, a PI or a director with whom I can openly talk about this would offer a strong sense of trust and support than having a 'positive' class. At least for me it sounds more realistic and human.

Um ambiente de aprendizado positivo pode reduzir o estresse. Estabelecer expectativas claras, oferecer feedback construtivo e cultivar um ambiente inclusivo contribuem para a criação de uma atmosfera onde os alunos se sintam apoiados e motivados, mitigando os riscos de burnout.

As a teacher, your plate is already full. It is important to create a structured plan for you and your students so expectations are known and consequences consistent. After the plan is taught, flexibility can be introduced and accepted within the structure. You can be kind and firm, structured and flexible, strong and vulnerable, but you are not responsible for every aspect of the children’s lives. Your job is to teach the curriculum, be an adult they can trust, and give them tools for success.