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Growing up in today’s digital era can be a pressure cooker for all kids, but it can be a particular strain for girls as they navigate societal expectations, media influences and peer dynamics — all under the relentless glare of the social media spotlight. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Snapchat can often promote unrealistic beauty standards, and the barrage of messages can negatively impact girls’ sense of self-worth and identity. 

While advertising and social media can have a seemingly 24/7 presence, educators can create a safe place within their school community to help counteract these potentially harmful inputs and to support all students in feeling comfortable with being their authentic selves. 

While it is certainly true that no two students are alike, the same can be said for teachers! Every classroom has its own set of expectations and routines, which can make for a difficult adjustment for everyone involved going into each new school year. To help kickstart your year, our behavior experts have put together a list of six nearly foolproof tips for starting (and keeping) your classroom on the right track.

For educators and many families, the “real” new year comes in September. The start of a fresh school year brings a mixture of emotions for students, caregivers and school staff alike — excitement, anticipation and, sometimes, stress. Setting a positive tone at the beginning can help ease the transition back to school.

In many ways, the kindergarten experience builds the foundation for a child’s future success in school and in life. Unfortunately, as we move beyond the pandemic, and our “pandemic babies” reach kindergarten age, we’re finding that the readiness for structured schooling of some of our youngest learners has been affected by limited social engagement in their earliest years of life. 

But kindergarten readiness comprises many different skills, and by working together, educators and caregivers can close gaps in children’s readiness. I had the chance to discuss this topic in-depth on the latest episode of Pearson’s podcast, “Building Bridges: Strengthening the Educator-Caregiver Relationship.”

We all know the rejuvenating effect of stepping into the warm sunshine and breathing deeply. There’s something about being outside that just makes us feel refreshed and inspired — and there’s no better time than spring for educators and students alike to take a welcome respite from the confines of the classroom (and the ubiquity of screens) to embrace outdoor education. 

The great news is that being outside doesn’t just feel good; it’s also good for us. That’s why spending time outside should be an integral part of a school’s or district’s comprehensive approach to holistic student health. 

Here are some tips for getting your class out of the classroom and taking advantage of nature’s nurturing power. 

The world today can be a tumultuous place for the younger generation, who are often bombarded with daunting visuals and discussions of global conflicts, the implications of climate change and political division in their own community. The result is that close to two-thirds of kids and teens say that things are going just fair (36%) or poorly (28%) for kids and teenagers in the U.S. today, according to the “State of Kids and Families in America 2024” report.

While news filtering strategies may work for younger children, adolescents are at a developmental stage where they need a more nuanced approach to help them process information and articulate their concerns. Today’s teens struggle with a range of everyday challenges that can include grades, peer or societal pressures, family issues and more. Some are naturally resilient and can work through these hurdles and anxieties; however, it’s not innate for everyone, and equipping teens with different ways to tackle these big feelings will support mental health and overall well-being. 

Recognizing that not all students have access to supportive role models at home, schools can proactively take the lead in providing these essential lessons, with the aim to work collaboratively and reinforce any wraparound work done by student caregivers and families. At one campus where I worked, it was the expectation that the first 10 minutes of every day was spent on a mini-lesson that spurred conversations and helped kids learn coping skills to help set them up for success.

I encourage all educators to consider how they can play a role in empowering students by incorporating SEL lessons and other activities to help them practice navigating uncertainty and overcoming obstacles. Below are some suggestions on how you can get started.

Student mental health took a hit during the pandemic — the result of school closures, disrupted routines, more time spent alone, and, in many cases, hardship in their families and communities. A recent Pew Research Center report found that nearly half of teachers say students’ anxiety and depression is a major issue at school, with that share rising to 69% and 57% for high school and middle school teachers, respectively.

Fortunately, schools are in a prime position to equip students with the tools they need to productively cope with stress and adversity. For example, helping students develop strong social-emotional learning (SEL) skills by building their personal and interpersonal capacities empowers them to recognize and manage their emotions, maintain healthy relationships and make responsible decisions — all of which can have a direct, positive impact on mental health.

As people turn to social media and AI for answers about mental health and learning disabilities, experts encourage formal clinical assessment over social self-diagnosis.