by Nicole States, Instructional Developer, Reinert Center
The Resources Revisited series highlights existing resources available to the SLU community that may be especially timely or useful at certain points in the academic year.
As November arrives, the semester is moving into its final stretch. Students and instructors alike are juggling deadlines, exams, and projects, and the fatigue of the term can start to show. This is a good moment to pause and think about how well-being shows up in your teaching, for your students and for yourself. Luckily, the Reinert Center has resources for you to get started.
If you are looking for ways to support students who are feeling overwhelmed, Supporting Affective Executive Functioning Skills and Addressing Student Need offer practical starting points. For students who feel anxious about participating, Reducing Student Anxiety during in class Active Learning can help you design activities that feel more manageable. For more general topics, you may also want to explore Pedagogical Strategies Supporting Student Emotional Labor Towards Learning.
It is important to remember that small gestures of connection can make a big difference. How to Get to Know Your Students, Creating a Welcoming Classroom Environment, and Active Listening to Support Inclusive Teaching can help you stay connected with your students as the term winds down. For ideas that don’t require a lot of time or preparation, check out A Little Bit Goes a Long Way in Supporting Student Well-Being, Promoting a Culture of Care, and Gratitude Expressions in Teaching.
Sometimes the hardest moments in a semester are the ones we don’t plan for. If you are thinking about how to respond when events outside the classroom affect your students, consider checking out our guide on Responding to Tragic Events. Difficult Dialogues in the College Classroom may also help you prepare for conversations that may be emotionally charged.
Instructors also need to pay attention to their own wellness and our guide on Experiencing Emotional Labor explores the emotional work that often comes with teaching. We also have resource collections of Well-Being Resources for Faculty and University Resources Supporting Community Well-Being that point to support available across campus.
As always, we invite you to explore our full catalogue of resources on the Reinert Center website. If you would like personalized support, we are happy to meet with you for a one-on-one consultation in person or via Zoom.
