Social Anxiety: Transitioning Back to School

There are many different emotions that students and staff feel at the start of the school year. Excitement, nerves, fear, and stress to name a few. This year, after over a year of isolating practices, students could be more likely to feel some sort of anxiety. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), people living with social anxiety experience intense fear in relation to at least one social situation where others might judge them. Awkward silences, performances, laughing, and meeting new people may all cause anxiety to students who suffer from it. 

Teachers and staff need to help identify those students who are showing symptoms and let them know there is help from doctors. Some signs of social phobia may include: 

• Speaking softly
• Avoiding eye contact with others
• Short responses in conversation

On top of normal rates of social anxiety, the pandemic has brought about potential new stressors for students. Students may be likely to feel more physically and emotionally exhausted in social settings after varying levels of isolation. According to Medical News Today, common stressors related to the pandemic include: 

• Concerns about personal health
• Financial troubles
• Loneliness
• Anxiety around obtaining food/supplies

As an educator, you have some control over your student’s experience within your classroom. Our team has five suggestions for what you can do in your classroom: 

1. Take Things Slow

In pandemic life, every aspect of our lives seems to be changing. Mandates, rules, COVID cases; they are all fluctuating and do not remain constant. Expect some changes throughout the school year and embrace this by leaving time for adjustment, both for you and your students. Students cannot avoid change and the stress that accompanies it but should learn to understand and tolerate it. 

2. Build Trust

Be honest with your students about the victories and challenges you’re witnessing in the classroom. You will want to avoid reassuring your students too much. Some students will come to rely on your reassurance, which you may not be able to give all the time. Let the student know you’re on their side and remind them of practical things we can do to keep moving forward, whether personally or academically. 

3. Practice Mindfulness

We’ve heard this word floating around on social media, but it may be time to start implementing mindfulness into your student’s lives. Studies show that teaching children mindfulness techniques at an early age can help improve attention, regulate emotions, increase compassion, and reduce stress (Mindful Schools). Mobile Ed Productions offers an assembly geared toward students of all ages that addresses and offers practical steps to embrace mindfulness and meditation in students’ lives. 

4. Set an Example

If you are embracing flexibility and looking for positives in your personal and professional life, your students will too. It will give them a chance to see the victories they didn’t see before. No matter what adjustments have to be made in the upcoming months, you can choose to be a rock for your students. By remaining calm and consistently choosing a positive outlook, you are influencing the atmosphere of your classroom and the experience of your students in your classroom. 

5. Be Direct

Communication is the most important part of teaching. You are communicating your lessons to the students and the students’ progress to their parents. Strong awareness of student experiences and your own experiences is valued, and sharing these experiences will go far in creating a safe classroom environment. Be prepared to discuss many situations you have no control over and explain what you are doing in response. It will also be important to share what you are seeing regarding anxiety and student behavior with parents, administration, and fellow teachers of the student (while protecting the student’s FERPA rights). Clear communication will enhance our ability to support our students in the best way possible. 

We hope these five steps will help you to meet students where they’re at as they enter your classroom this fall. 

Mobile Ed’s mindfulness assembly, “The Freedom Within”, is available both in-person and virtually. Our program creator has designed a fun and interactive musical presentation for your students that will teach them about rest, focus, and so much more! Our team members highly encourage this assembly this fall to help students learn healthy coping mechanisms for difficult times, both in and out of the classroom. 

Mobile Ed Productions is ready to answer your call at any moment. Call us at 800-433-7459 or contact us here.

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