Tag Archive for: teacher

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

 

World Kindness Day

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World Kindness Day – Thursday 13 November
Every year on 13 November, people around the globe pause to celebrate World Kindness Day — a day dedicated to the simple yet powerful act of being kind. This day offers a unique opportunity to foster empathy, strengthen relationships, and build a culture where kindness is not just encouraged, but expected.

Why Kindness Matters

Kindness isn’t just about being nice — it’s about showing respect, understanding, and care for others.
In schools, encouraging kindness can lead to a safer, more supportive, and academically productive atmosphere. It reduces bullying, builds stronger relationships through empathy and respect, and improves students’ overall well-being and motivation.

Impact on the school climate

  • Reducing negative behaviours: kindness leads to a significant reduction in bullying and creates a safer, more inclusive environment where students feel valued.
  • Promoting positive relationships: it encourages empathy and respect among students, teachers, and staff, leading to a more connected and supportive community.
  • Improving students’ well-being: schools with a culture of kindness see a decrease in symptoms of anxiety and depression and an increase in feelings of positivity, happiness, and self-worth.
  • Increasing safety and engagement: a supportive environment fosters greater student engagement and motivation, making students more interested in learning and more likely to attend school.
  • Boosting academic performance: research shows a strong link between positive social behaviour like kindness and higher academic achievement.

Impact on individuals

  • Building emotional intelligence: kindness helps students understand different perspectives, develop self-acceptance, and build social and emotional skills.
  • Instilling responsibility: acts of kindness empower students to recognize that their actions can make a positive impact, encouraging them to be proactive contributors.
  • Enhancing self-esteem: when students are treated with kindness and encouraged to act kindly, their self-esteem and sense of self-worth increase.

Impact on the school as an institution

Attracting staff and families: a school known for its kind and nurturing environment can improve its reputation, potentially leading to higher enrolment and staff retention rates.
Creating a stronger community: it builds a more cohesive school community where everyone feels welcomed and supported.

Make Kindness Continuous

World Kindness Day is more than just a a date in your student or teacher planner — it’s a reminder that every day holds the potential for compassion and making school a positive place to be.

 

Photo by Adam Nemeroff on Unsplash

Lockdown Leavers’ Hoodies – 5 reasons why your school really needs a school hoodie in 2020

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School hoodies are a wonderful way to keep school memories alive, particularly in 2020 – the year of lockdown and COVID-19 – This is the first time any of us have experienced a pandemic of this nature in our lifetimes. 

What will your students remember?

Learning in bubbles, home school, no bonfire night, no school trips, no leavers’ assembly, the constant chant of ‘wash your hands’ and socially distanced playtimes. It’s fair to say that leavers in 2020 and 2021 will have very different memories of their final year at school than any other year this decade.

Schools, along with every other business need to adapt. With normal fundraising events having to be cancelled or ‘Zoomed’, there needs to be a brand new way of running these events with some serious thinking outside the box. 

One thing’s for sure though and that is that the school hoodies of 2020 and 2021 can go ahead unhinged and actually will become one of the most important ways of capturing COVID-19 school memories.

There are 5 reasons why your school needs a school hoodie in 2020 and 2021. Here they are:

1] “I Was A Lockdown Student”

COVID-19 is a global pandemic that hasn’t been seen since the Spanish Flu in 1918. This will most definitely be something to tell their children and grandchildren about. Personalise your school hoodie in 2020 and 2021 to show that your students went to school during lockdown. 

Here are some ways you can personalise your school hoodies during COVID-19

  • ‘Lockdown Leavers’
  • ‘Class of 2020/2021 ‘Lockdown Students’
  • ‘Socially Distanced Class of 2020/2021’

 

2] Baby It’s Cold Inside

One of the ways schools have had to adapt to avoid the spreading of the virus, is to keep windows and doors open to keep the fresh air flowing and any germs at bay. This means that classrooms are cold! It’s difficult to learn when you’re cold. Give your students a team hoodie to pop on. (Or a sweatshirt) Keep spirits and learning high.

 

3] No Zoom Meeting Required, Design Online Now In Your Lunch Break 🙂

Jump online and build your own school hoodie using our Leavers Hoodie Builder. We have some super on-trend colours for the base of the hoodie, more colours for the embroidery and lots of room for personalisation. Whether you want a standard hoodie, a zip up hoodie or a sweatshirt, it’s so easy and quick to order yours with full personalisation right now.

4] Hoodie Sales Can Replace Bake Sale Profits

With school fundraising events being forced to cancel or adapt to digital formats, one particular fundraising event which normally happens throughout the school calendar, is the Bake Sale! It may not bring in a huge amount of profit but the pounds throughout the year certainly add up and this is one event that can not be replicated online. 

Counteract the loss of bake sale revenue by selling hoodies to every student. It won’t replace the taste of a gooey brownie but a bright cool hoodie to wear in school every day may just top even that!

5] We’re In This Together

Our schools are now ordering hoodies for all their students during term time rather than just for their leavers at the end of the school year. Being in the middle of a pandemic requires a level of camaraderie and change. 

The ‘We’re in this together’ spirit can really lift us. Everything is different right now. Being taken to school with mum and dad wearing a mask. Leaving school in a one way system and walking out to face lots of masked parents standing socially distanced apart can feel daunting. 

Rules have changed. The classrooms are cold? Let the kids wear their school hoodies in as bright a colour as you can muster. It’s only November? Pop the christmas tree up and fill it with as many baubles that will fit! Let’s keep spirits high and get by with as much camaraderie as we can.

10 Ways You Know You’re a Teacher on Summer Holidays

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Most UK teachers will have broken up from school by the end of the week – woohoo! In celebration of your well-earned time off, we’ve put together a list of 10 different ways that you know you’re a teacher on summer holidays.

Will you agree with our list? Read on to find out…

You know you’re a teacher on summer holidays when:

1) You have to dress incognito, Clark Kent-style just in case you’re spotted by pupils.

you-know-youre-a-teacher-on-summer-holidays

2) The urge to tuck in chairs when at restaurants and cafes is strong.

you-know-youre-a-teacher-on-summer-holidays-chair

3) You no longer care what day of the week it is!

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4) Switching off isn’t easy. You can hardly sleep at night because you find yourself thinking about classes, lessons, school corridors – you name it.

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5) Yet despite the lack of sleep, it still takes a good couple of weeks for you to convince your body clock not to wake you up at 6am…

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6) You’re reminded by anyone and everyone just how lucky you are to have such long holidays. Have they tried being a teacher?!

you-know-youre-a-teacher-on-summer-holidays-teacher

7) You secretly enjoy making your non-teacher friends jealous with your weekday holiday pictures.

you-know-youre-a-teacher-on-summer-holidays-teacher-summer

8) Your teacher friends understand that in between the summer photos, you’re actually preparing and planning for the new school year.

you-know-youre-a-teacher-on-summer-holidays-plan

9) Summer sales are hard to resist. So. Much. Stationery.

you-know-youre-a-teacher-on-summer-holidays-stationery

10) Aww we know you miss teaching really :p

you-know-youre-a-teacher-on-summer-holidays-nemo

So did we miss anything? Let us know via Twitter!

The Boomerang Team.