My first thought has been what can I do to help? Robeson County is one of the poorer communities within our state and Lumberton was named one of the poorest towns in the U.S. in 2013.
How can a town with that stigma recover from something like this? I keep being reminded by a quote from a man in a local paper at home about the importance of donating and helping those in need right now. He said, "It could have been us." It very well could have been Scotland County and that is a scary thought for me.
To connect this all to teaching...
- How do schools handle situations like this?
- How do you make up for the instruction missed?
- How do you meet the needs of students who are affected by a natural disaster?
- Robeson, Hoke, Moore, and Cumberland counties have not been to school since Thursday last week. Scotland county schools were closed Monday and Tuesday and operated on a two hour delay Wednesday.
- Many schools are being used as shelters.
- Many homes are still without power.
- Many communities are being told not to drink the water because of contamination.
These little people are going to be in our classrooms. Not only have they gone through a natural disaster, but you have as well. How are you going to come into the classroom and teach with the possibility of these behaviors presenting themselves?
The NASP suggests remaining calm and reassuring to your students as well as giving students the opportunity to share about disaster related events. The students need a place to voice their concerns and fear. They may feel that the classroom is a safe place to do so. Some students may choose not to voice these concerns because they may think that it will add to their parents stress. Acknowledge children's fear and let them know that their feelings are normal after this type of event.
As a school, it is necessary to identify high-risk students who may need counseling in order to better cope with their feelings and behavior after the event. Schools should also "determine the status of every child in the school, particularly those who have not returned after the disaster incident. Develop an outreach strategy for children who are displaced and living in shelters or temporary housing." The article also shared that schools should "help connect families to community resources, and maintain current contacts with disaster-related support services. Provide information to parents about available physical and behavioral healthcare services" and "anticipate the need for increased before- and after-school child care."
As future teachers, unsure of where we may teach one day, it is important for us to consider how we may handle a natural disaster within our school community. When returning to school, though instruction is important and you may be behind, remember that you are dealing with real people. These little people will have been through a lot and will need time to verbalize the events that have occurred. It is necessary that you remember that emotion can play a huge role when learning and that students who are emotionally hurting may not learn best or may act out as ways of coping with what they have experienced (NCTCS 4a). This will impact the way you teach and the instruction that you deliver upon returning to school. It is also important that you have set up a safe classroom that students feel comfortable in returning to and sharing their concerns and fears regarding the disaster (NCTCS 1a). It is also important to remember that your classroom environment should be positive and nurturing. While you have a lot going on and may have experienced the same things as your students remember that in the classroom they need you to be the nurturing, loving, adult and not the upset and worried adult that you may feel like in the moment (NCTCS 2a).
I hope none of you ever face a natural disaster, but if you ever do, I hope that this information helps you.
NASP Article
Excellent post, Leslea! I cannot imagine what those people are going through. It is just a tough situation all around. Before this post, I did not even think about how the students are missing school, and how this natural disaster could affect their behavior. It is very important that when the students get back to school that they are able to to talk through what has occurred. You are exactly right when you said that the classroom should be a safe place where they can discuss all that has happened to them and their family. This is an excellent article find, and it has definitely made me think. Great post!
ReplyDeleteLeslea,
ReplyDeleteI can hear your heart and the love and care you have for your community, the greater community of NC, and our students, who may one day face a natural disaster, too. Friend, I am so encouraged by your research and thoughts on how we can come alongside our students, and open our classroom doors post-disaster and offer a safe place for students to voice their fears and emotions. I love that you wrote, "When returning to school, though instruction is important and you may be behind, remember that you are dealing with real people. These little people will have been through a lot and will need time to verbalize the events that have occurred." Even on "normal" days at school, this is an incredible reminder to me that the kiddos I have the privilege of teaching are little people with big needs, and instruction--while a primary focus in our classrooms--is not the only need our kids have. Thank you for sharing from your heart, Leslea!! Have a wonderful rest of your week.
-Meredith
Wow, Leslea! You have really hit some great points this week! As we say often, students have to know they are safe and loved before they can learn. In the devastation after Matthew, this is ever so true. You are right...many of these communities suffer from a stigma and they have to recover from the flooding as well as other things. Again, I appreciate how you have tapped into the non-educational side of things this week because they are important as well.
ReplyDelete