As our elementary students return to school in person, in an entirely new way, many emotions will arise in them. Alarm. Frustration. Concern. Excitement.

And this will be reflected in what we, as adults, may also be experiencing. For our teachers, in addition to what they themselves will be experiencing emotionally, they are being called to be the compassionate leaders who guide our students to a place where they can learn together.

This will be a challenging dance. Our teachers are true agents of change. They are providers and leaders, and this period of history will highlight their vital role in the emotional health of our children.

So, how can we support them so they can support our children’s learning? As parents and school administrators, we can relax about “learning” and trust that it will come. At this time, schools will need to shift focus and concentrate on emotional fundamentals before academics. Teachers teach people, not subjects. And when they can focus on supporting well-being first, learning will have the opportunity to take root.

Let's take a closer look at the 3 R's of emotional fundamentals:

Relationship

What our students need from us is… ourselves. They need to know we are there for them and that they matter. It’s less about what we say and more about how we make them feel in our presence: welcomed, accepted, and seen.

During this emotionally turbulent time, we will need to make conscious invitations to build relationships so our students feel connected to us. This could mean special greeting rituals at the start of each day and more playful activities in which we join together. These attachment practices can help our students feel connected to us, which can also reduce their anxiety.

Rhythm

Children crave rhythm.

Routines, rituals, and consistent structures help children feel safe. They can rely on them and trust them. However, most children are experiencing exactly the opposite right now. As they return to school, they may have little or no idea what the “new normal” will look like. We can create a sense of safety by quickly establishing new routines that our students can rely on and use for orientation. This will help set a rhythm to their days and offer a sense of predictability in these unpredictable times.

Release

Our students’ emotions will be stirred. And we know that when emotions are stirred, they need somewhere to direct them. Finding healthy ways to proactively channel this emotional energy for our students can help prevent dangerous or disruptive outbursts. Integrating daily outlets for release can be especially helpful in allowing students to vent frustration before it turns into aggressive explosions.

These outlets can also help students reflect on and express their feelings in ways that do not make them feel inhibited. The beauty of this practice is that we do not even have to know specifically what is happening in a child’s life. We are simply facilitating a way for emotion to be expressed and released indirectly and naturally, whether through music, physical movement, storytelling and narration, writing, poetry, drama, art, or even simply being outdoors. All of these outlets are powerful because they help us approach our feelings and experience a sense of release and emotional rest.

Returning to school right now will not be easy. We will need to be creative and think innovatively. We may have to stretch muscles we never knew we had. But it may be helpful to remember that this is not a time to focus on outcomes and performance, or on advancing or catching up. Shifting our attention to matters of the heart will help our students feel safe. This is what will set the stage for learning to occur, when children are ready.

In the meantime, let us be patient with our students and with ourselves. We are all in this together.