Supporting our students best
Lately, I’ve been thinking about something that keeps coming up in conversations with other teachers:
Is it fair to expect us to act as counselors when we're already juggling so much academically?
I care deeply about my students, not just their learning but also their well-being. Like many of you, I often find myself offering emotional support, listening when a student is struggling, or trying to help them navigate personal challenges.
But honestly? Some days it feels like too much.
Between lesson planning, marking, admin tasks, and keeping up with curriculum goals, adding the weight of emotional care can feel overwhelming. And yet, we keep showing up, because we care.
I'm wondering… how are you managing this? Have you found ways to support students without burning out yourself? What kind of support do you wish schools offered teachers in this area?
🍀I’d love to hear your thoughts. Let’s talk about it—openly and honestly.
I think it is fair to ask us to be part of the conversation regarding behavior. I think it is natural for most teachers to go beyond that and provide emotional support. I have found the way to manage this without burn out is to involve more people in the care of the student. I reach out to the head of pastoral and our counsellor. That being said, I see a lot of students struggling who do not share and whose well-being is not being met in school. There just does not seem to be the budget for additional counsellors.