Why is Back to School such a big deal? For anyone with an ounce of anxiety in them, this is the what-if countdown of the year! While I’m tempted to indulge my own anxiety by listing a few hundred here, I won’t indulge those of you who ride this roller coaster with me.
Anxiety symptoms:
Symptoms of anxiety are a common complaint by many anticipating the transition back to school. It is difficult to break the cycle of muscle tension, breathing difficulties, insomnia and ‘what-if’ing. I have to do this regularly, so consider me an insider. I have also spent twenty years teaching little people, and am grateful for having taught with amazing educators. One could say I’m uniquely qualified.
If you are one of the lucky ones who do not suffer from back to school anxiety and are having trouble relating, thank you for reading this.
Back to school stressors:
Back to School is a season of great anticipation, and many unknowns. As much as we prepare our programs, our teaching space, accommodations for student needs – there is so much we can not control! I can not remember the last time it did not rain on the first day of school! A friend and colleague of mine was hospitalized a few years ago, on the first day of school. Her kindergarten students met a substitute teacher that day. All too familiar are the criers and busing headaches in the kindergarten and primary hall that the first week brings. Thank goodness we can bring our optimism, hope, energy, health, gratitude, gifts and laughter, too.
Here are some tips for managing Back to School anxiety (for teachers!):
Before school starts:
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Set flexible, realistic goals for the first day and week back based on establishing trust, expectations and routines. Anxiety melts away when adults and children know what to expect, who they can count on and feel safe. Kids needing extra reassurance will benefit from social scripts or stories that model relatable characters managing anxiety, like these.
- Prepare a welcome letter to send home on the first day of school (or email ahead of time, if possible!) introducing yourself, and giving parents and caregivers an idea of what to expect this year, particularly in the coming month. Ask for written confirmation of the students’ transportation arrangements, and specify how you would like changes to be communicated. It is also a good idea to include how to reach you.
Consider if sending your own ‘Getting to know your child’ form in addition to your letter and the school’s annual update form, and possible other items going home, is beneficial. I do a fun, This is Super Special Me! (All About Me) booklet throughout the first week. Click here for free sample pages of this resource!
These are two of the pages in This is Super, Special Me! While I often put these in a booklet for the first week, I often skip ahead to ‘The way I go to school’ and fit it in fairly early on the first day. It’s good for cross-checking dismissal information with the student’s belief about how they are getting home and sorting out any discrepancies!
- Exercise every day, and breathe deeply, reminding yourself that your priorities are in order, and you’re in good company (we’re all feeling the very same way!)
- Watch this, have a laugh, and realize that on the anxiety continuum, “Hey, I’m doing great!”
The first day of school:
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Post your name and grade if you’re picking up your class from a communal area (or follow the protocol of your school)
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If students are arriving without knowing which class they are in, post the list on chart paper where it can be seen quickly and over a crowd and ensure with your colleagues that your lists are in grade order
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Wear a name tag!
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Confirm [and write down] upon arrival how each student is getting home on this, the first day of school, and the usual routine. (It’s amazing how many kids go out for ice-cream with Grandma on the first day, and start their real home-time routine on the second day!)If you’re busy getting dismissal details from parents, consider putting some Back to School stories on for the kids, and or course, have something ready to read-aloud to them yourself! More about that here.
What are you planning to read to your class on the first day of school? Here are some tried and true back to school stories I love. I have linked a free follow up activity for the top starting school separation anxiety story of all time to that post!
Back to school anxiety is like performance anxiety starting in a new job. Every year is a new group of children, parents and unknowns. Thank you for the tips
You’re absolutely right, Judith! Teachers feel the performance anxiety with every new school year, open house, interview night and performance review! We’re as alike as we are different! Thank you for stopping by to chat! ~Ida Mae aka TFRT