In order for students to be completely successful in the classroom and in life in general they must be healthy, both physically and mentally. Imagine trying to ace a test or nail a presentation when you are overtired, dehydrated, or depressed from a breakup. It is difficult enough to do well with academics without dealing with your health too. However, what can teachers do to help their students’ well-beings. We are not with them twenty fours hours a day, seven days a week. But, if we provide a healthy learning environment with positive, healthy role models, we can get students that much closer to a healthy self.
Every school and classroom should strive to be a safe and healthy place to be. One of the hardest parts about providing this environment is the discipline problems that arise in the classroom. Having common expectations for misbehaviors is a simple way to limit these issues. However, if students do not have any say in these expectations and consequences, they will not be effective. Another common classroom dilemma is fighting students. This chapter mentioned the idea of peer mentors to help deal with this problem. I went through extensive peer mediation training in junior high, but I would have never used the system. I love the idea of a student helping students solve their problems, but a part of it does not seem logical. Some students are just not going to want to talk to another student or feel comfortable airing their problems to their peers. But if we could get past that issue, I have witnessed it working. Some of my fellow peer mediators saw success, which is what we want. Schools just have to remember to make sure they get students from every group in the school, not just the high achievers.
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