Middle Years 

I am counting down. I am grateful, and I am optimistic. After many weeks of patiently completing 'a different type of schooling', I am excited to be counting down the return to school, which will be in just over two weeks as I write this article. 

It is exciting for several reasons, and most importantly that we need to get everyone back into the classroom learning face-to-face. Time away from school has allowed us to consider what really matters, and education is about people, young people and our relationships with them. 

 

Schools are where great teachers are driven to learn about their students and to engage them through this knowledge in the individual and collective pursuit of wisdom, knowledge and experience. To learn how to contribute to each individual student’s unique growth and path into this life and their future.

 

We come to class to learn, and we come to class to learn together. When we do get back into the classroom will have a much greater appreciation of each other, of our friendships, and an appreciation of how each of us learns differently and how we can support one another as learners. Our role as teachers is to recognise the strengths and talents of each of our students and to nurture these strengths, and to help each student grow into capable, thoughtful, articulate, kind people who can contribute abundantly to our wider community.

We need to have a covid- safe schooling environment, and that means everyone practising the covid protocols, inside and outside the classroom. This will take some adjustment for all of us and we now have an better understanding of why we need to continue to socially distance, use hand sanitisers, wash hands, cough into our elbow, and stay home when we are sick. We will do some things differently.

Dr Lea Waters, Director of the Centre of Positive Psychology at the University of Melbourne, said in uncertain times we need to think about and take steps to create a positive future. She said we need to nurture our dreams for our lives when the crisis has passed.

  1. Use Hope - this pulls us into the future and helps us cope better with the present circumstances. It helps to rise above the current challenges and gives you the motivation to move forwards. Hope allows us to adjust, reduces anxiety and increases motivation.
  2. It is important to continue to plan and dream for the future, as this is important for our emotional well-being.
  3. Think small to start with. Make plans with your friends, planned to go to a movie, anticipation is the reward.
  4. Consider making changes. Use this time to reflect on changes it like to make in your own life, what would be beneficial? Maybe your second benefits of getting back to basics, Whatever the shift, be grateful.
  5. Silver lining - Even the worst situations bring some unexpected blessings. “Because the whole world is going through this together,” Dr. Waters said, “I believe the silver lining is the collective compassion, kindness, sense of connection and common humanity we are feeling towards each other.”

Article: https://www.guideposts.org/better-living/positive-living/positive-thinking/5-ways-to-keep-hopes-and-dreams-alive

 

Julia Winter Cooke