Teacher Creates Sweet Way To Help Kids Who Are Having A Rough Day
We all have our bad days – now more than ever. Between the pandemic and a looming world war, life can seem pretty daunting.
If you’re a kid, the weight of the world can be particularly scary. I remember when I was young and in school, sometimes there were just days when it would’ve been nice to get handled with a little extra care throughout the day.
That is why one teacher’s extra attention to her students’ welfare for the 2021-2022 school year is so heartwarming to see. A simple note that she wrote to send home to parents has gone viral, and we can see why. It is so thoughtful and caring!
The note, which urges parents to let her know if their kids need a little extra care throughout the school day, has been shared on Facebook by Jacqueline Nichole Thomas. It’s since been private, but the note read:
“If your family is experiencing difficulty at home, I would like to provide additional supports at school. I understand that you are not always able to share details and that’s okay. If your child is coming to school after a difficult night, morning, or weekend, please text me, ‘Handle with Care.’ Nothing else will be said or asked. This will let me know that your child may need extra time, patience, or help during the day.”
Thomas’s post went viral, receiving more than 4,800 reactions, 1,100 comments, and 67,000 shares – a majority of the feedback from people online being positive. Many praised the teacher for her idea to better support kids on their rough days.
The teacher who was behind the note was Rachel Harder, a fourth-grade teacher at Union Valley Elementary School in Hutchison, Kansas. Harder explained to Fox News that her idea for the note came after attending a conference on trauma. While attending the conference, Harder learned that certain police stations will alert schools if one of their students happened to be a member of a family that has had a run in with law enforcement either that day or week. This is done to ensure that the school knows how to better handle the students and make necessary adjustments for their care.
Thinking along those lines, Harder figured that the idea of care could be adapted to teachers handing their own students. She first successfully used it with the parents of one of her students who has autism, and this inspired her to expand it even further. The small gestures can be as simple as giving a student some extra time or space – things that can make a big difference in a student’s bad day.
Harder noted that many teachers can already tell if one of their students is having an off day, but said that a heads up from their parents can be extra helpful. It also helps her create a dialogue with the parents, keeping them in the loop through text messages.
Harder said to Fox News, “We know that kids need time and space and love just by the way they walk in the room. But, a heads-up from parents is wonderful if we can get that.”
What do you think of this teacher’s idea for the note? Would you want your child’s teacher to do something similar? Let us know!