Stressed Out!
from Bill Sears

We know that stress is a normal part of life, but for those working in schools, there are some unique types of stress. There are the differing economic/social backgrounds of the students, mandatory high stakes testing, increasing enrollment & larger class sizes, lack of resources/assistance in dealing with behavior, rapidly changing technology, lack of state funding and failing school budgets - just to name a few.

Medically, we know that not dealing with stress can lead to back and muscle aches, headaches, upset stomach, dreading going to work, anxiety, inability to concentrate, change in eating habits, increase weight, sleep problems, recurrent colds, and constant fatigue; depression and post-traumatic stress disorder can also develop.

While juggling the demands of the system in which we work and the individual needs of the students we serve, we tend to forget ourselves. Dealing with these factors is not easy but here’s some help from the NEA’s Health Information Network.

• Recognize you can’t do it all.
  
• Establish priorities and pace yourself.
  
• Pat yourself on the back often.
  
• Try to stretch your mind as well as your body.
  
• Stay healthy. Exercise, eat property, and get lots of rest.
  

• Download a four page Self Assessment
  
  
• Download the complete 42 page Stress Reduction Guide.

Classroom Organization

The physical environment of your classroom is extremely important to effective teaching and learning. Many first-year teachers tend to underestimate this importance. Here are some simple guidelines to help you make your classroom teacher, learner, and community friendly.

The 4 BE's of quality learning space

• BE sensitive to the messages communicated to students by the classroom environment.
  
• BE able to evaluate the effectiveness of the classroom setting.
  
• BE alert to times when physical arrangement may be causing learning problems.
  
• BE able and WILLING to modify the environment when necessary.
  

1. Personalize classroom space so that it communicates information about you and your students.
   
   
2. Display student work as well as evidence of your own accomplishments or experiences (e.g. teacher certificate, diplomas, merit awards, family photos, etc.)
   

“If we want to have peace in the world,
we have to start with the children.” Gandhi

Violence Workshop Follow-Up:
SWOEA members attended an important workshop that focussed on school violence prevention. OEA LRC Consultant, Ann Bayou shared some of the following information on this troubling trend.

Bullying the Problem
Bullying - Systematically and chronically inflicting physical hurt and / or psychological distress on one or more students.

However it is defined, bullying is not just child’s play, but a terrifying experience many American school children face every day. It can be as direct as teasing, hitting or threatening, or indirect as in exclusion, rumors or manipulation. During the past decade, bullying has become more lethal and has occurred more frequently than it had in the previous two decades.

What can schools do?
The school, or preferably the school district, can initiate a whole school campaign. This involves strong commitment and a willingness to work together on the part of everyone involved. It must involve all school personnel, other professionals as needed, students and parents.

School Violence Prevention Resources:

APA/MTV “Warning Signs” Guide

Blueprints for Violence Prevention and Safe Schools-Safe Communities

NEA Crisis Communication Guide & Toolkit

Technology Tips from SWOEA Members

• Save your work frequently - as you work at your computer and especially prior to doing something new. The more you save, the less the chance that you will lose key work when your computer bombs, locks-up and enters the twilight zone.
  
• Exit all computer programs correctly to ensure that open files are closed before you walk away from a computer. DO NOT use the on-off switch on your computer to exit a program or task; DO NOT use the reset button on your computer to exit a program.
  
• Give your computer time to perform a task. Pushing a mouse button or the ENTER key once is more than adequate and pressing it twice or three times will NOT speed anything along and will only open the door to possible problems.
  
• Keep your computer and work area clean. Dust, dirt, lint and smoke are natural enemies of all computer systems and computer disks.
  
• Have spare formatted disks available whenever you sit down to work at a computer. Make sure these disks are ready-to-go. Never depend on a single disk to hold all your current work and/or to be error free.
  
• Read all message screens that pop up during computer & program operation.
  
• Always use a surge protector on your computer.
  
• Technology is always changing and at times it may seem overwhelming. Take your time and remember that technology should be used as a tool to enhance the educational experience.