Tag Archive for: planners

Supporting Teen Mental Health During the Festive Season

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The Christmas period is often portrayed as a time of joy, family, and celebration. For many teenagers though, the festive season can bring unique challenges that impact their mental health. As teachers, understanding these pressures is key to supporting students during what can be an emotionally complex time.

 

Why Christmas Can Be Stressful for Teens

While younger children may see Christmas as magical, teenagers often experience heightened stress. Academic pressures, social expectations and family dynamics can all contribute to feelings of anxiety or low mood. For some, financial strain at home or complicated family relationships means the season is far from cheerful. Others may feel isolated if they don’t share the same traditions or if they are coping with loss.

Social media adds another layer of pressure. Teens are bombarded with images of ‘perfect’ celebrations, which can lead to comparison and feelings of inadequacy. This can intensify existing mental health challenges, such as anxiety or low self-esteem.

 

Common Mental Health Challenges at Christmas

  • Anxiety: the disruption of routine during the holidays can be unsettling. Teens who thrive on structure may feel anxious about changes in schedules, social gatherings, or expectations.
  • Low Mood: shorter days and less daylight can contribute to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), while loneliness or family tensions can deepen feelings of sadness.
  • Eating Concerns: festive meals and treats can trigger stress for those struggling with body image or eating disorders. Comments about food or appearance, even well-meaning ones, can be harmful.
  • Managing Mental Health: with school closed, access to regular support networks may be limited. Teens might feel unsure where to turn if they’re struggling.

How Teachers Can Help Before the Holidays

  1. Start Conversations Early: create space for open discussions about mental health in the classroom. Normalising these conversations helps students feel less alone.
  2. Signpost Resources: remind students about the mental well-being pages in their planners. These pages are designed to empower them with practical strategies they can use during the break.
  3. Encourage Routine: suggest that students maintain some structure during the holidays—whether through exercise, hobbies, or regular sleep patterns.
  4. Promote Kindness: encourage students to focus on meaningful connections rather than material expectations. Acts of kindness can boost mood and reduce stress.

 

A Positive Message for the Season

Christmas doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful. By acknowledging the challenges and equipping teens with tools to manage their mental wellbeing, we can help them navigate the season with confidence and self-compassion.

As teachers, your role in supporting mental health is invaluable. A simple reminder to check their planner’s well-being pages or downloading an app before school breaks up, could make a big difference for a student who feels overwhelmed when they are alone.

As well as general information about managing mental health, the Mental Wellbeing pages included in Boomerang’s student planners cover worries about anxiety, low mood, eating, and self-harm. Each section gives warning signs to look out for, top tips which may help, and a web address for further advice.

 

Primary Planners

Academic Planners

Teacher Planners

 

Why Paper Teacher Planners Still Shine in a Digital World

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In today’s tech-driven classrooms, digital tools dominate lesson planning and scheduling. Yet, many educators still swear by the traditional paper planner—and for good reason. While apps and online calendars offer convenience, paper planners provide unique advantages that can’t be replicated on a screen.

 

  1. Tangible and Visual

There is something powerful about physically writing down your plans. Studies show that handwriting improves memory retention, helping teachers remember tasks and deadlines more effectively. A paper planner offers a clear, at-a-glance view of your week without the distractions of notifications or pop-ups.

 

  1. No Tech Hassles

Digital tools rely on batteries and Wi-Fi, and devices can fail at the worst times. A paper planner is always ready—no loading screens, no app crashes, and no need to worry about syncing across platforms. It’s dependable and stress-free.

 

  1. Encourages Mindful Planning

Writing by hand slows you down just enough to think through your day. This mindful approach helps teachers to prioritise tasks and reflect on what’s most important. Plus, they allow the creative freedom to doodle, colour-code, and personalise pages to make planning feel less like a chore and more like an enjoyable routine.

 

  1. Reduces Screen Fatigue

Teachers spend hours in front of screens for grading, emails, and virtual lessons. A paper planner offers a refreshing break from digital overload. It’s a tactile experience that helps reduce eye strain and mental fatigue.

 

  1. Personalisation and Creativity

Unlike rigid digital templates, paper planners allow full customisation. Add sticky notes, highlight key dates, or decorate with washi tape—your planner becomes uniquely yours. This creative outlet can boost motivation and make organisation fun.

  1. Privacy and Security

No passwords, no data breaches—just your plans on paper. For teachers who value confidentiality, a physical planner offers peace of mind.

 

In short: A paper teacher planner isn’t just a nostalgic choice—it’s a practical, reliable and creative tool that supports focus and flexibility in a busy teaching environment.

 

Teacher Planners

 

A Vital Time for Our Planet

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The COP27 climate summit took place in Egypt in November, with leaders from around the world coming together to discuss a plan to address the climate emergency.

This year, a historic agreement was reached to create a fund dedicated to helping vulnerable countries cope with financial losses brought about by climate change. For a long time, there has been concern that not enough help has been given by wealthy countries (that contribute the most to pollution and emissions) to poorer countries who contribute less to the climate emergency but are more adversely affected by climate change and climate-related disasters.

However, the summit was criticised for the lack of progress that has been made in cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

Is progress being made?

For nearly three decades, the United Nations has brought together almost every country from around the world to a global climate summit – a Conference of Parties (COP).

In November 2021, the UK hosted the 26th annual summit, COP26, in Glasgow, Scotland. Leading up to COP26, the UK worked with every nation to reach agreement on how to tackle climate change.

COP26 was an international summit that had a sense of urgency, and world leaders, tens of thousands of negotiators, government representatives, businesses and citizens arrived in Scotland for thirteen days of talks.

At each COP summit, every country must agree to all parts of the plan for it to be completed, and the resulting agreement of COP26 is known as the Glasgow Climate Pact. Countries that signed it are working to implement it – but many scientists and citizens felt that the Glasgow Climate Pact wasn’t ambitious enough.

What further action is needed?

Many felt that the pact failed to address the need for our planet to stay below 1.5C of warming. This minimum temperature is essential to ensure a habitable environment for humans and animals.

The pact was also criticised for not including the phasing out of coal and fossil fuels. Instead, the wording ‘phase down’ was used. Following this year’s COP27 summit, it’s clear that ‘phasing down’ has not had the impact needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Young people are taking the initiative

In October 2021, days before COP26, the 16th United Nations Climate Change Conference of Youth, COY16, took place and was one of the largest entirely youth-led global youth climate conferences in the world. The Global Youth Position Statement that was issued following COY16 represented the views of over 40,000 young people worldwide.

And while COP26 took place, Greta Thunberg and over 100,000 young people marched through Glasgow’s streets, calling for change.

How can you encourage youth involvement?

While COP26 significantly increased the public’s level of interest in the climate emergency, biodiversity loss, and other environmental issues, this year’s summit didn’t have the same sense of urgency.

Young people are demanding politicians act with more urgency to prevent a climate catastrophe. Many are joining local climate action groups to campaign for:

  • Greater commitment to phasing out fossil fuels and moving towards renewable energy.
  • More initiatives to preserve and restore natural habitats and wildlife.
  • A faster shift to a more equal and nature focused economic system.
  • A cap to global temperature rise, keeping it below 1.5C.

To assist, educate and inform about this vital subject, Boomerang has created student climate action planners. We’re working with ypte (Young Peoples Trust for the Environment) as our principal content partner, a leading UK charity set up to encourage understanding of the environment among young people.

Plan for a sustainable future

Our student planners contain a wealth of content designed to support teaching and learning. We work to stimulate student interest and help to navigate them through their school year. We also assist in the meeting of Ofsted judgement criteria. Our student diary content is reviewed and refreshed each year to ensure it remains relevant and engaging for students.

Click here to view:

The Secondary Design Planner

The Classic Planner

The Primary Planner

If you’d like to know more about our secondary planner content for 2022/2023, please get in touch on 01252 368 328

Or visit our website, where you can explore the diary content in digital format at https://boomeranged.co.uk/portfolio/secondary-design-school-planners/

Tag Archive for: planners