FOR EDUCATORS

5 Keys To Keeping Students In School

Helping Students To Find Connection

Creating A Positive And Supportive School Climate

Providing Peer Support Programs

Increasing Students' Awareness Of And Access To Personal Support Services

Provide Alternative Ways For Students To Achieve Success

Students Who Feel Disconnected

How Can You Help?

  • Reach out earlier, not later.

  • Provide opportunities for students to connect early on in the year.

  • Connect students with one caring adult at school.

  • Show caring and understanding to the student whether inside or outside class.

  • Listen without judging.

  • Try to smile more to show you want to be there so your students will feel the same.

  • Connect students who are transitioning to a new school with peer leaders for help.

  • Connect student with support groups at your school.

  • Focus on student’s personal strengths and tap these during school.

  • Connect better with parents/caregivers to get to know your students better.

  • Provide after school activities.

  • Provide opportunities for them to use their strengths or talents at school.

  • Assign a peer mentor/helper to student early on if you notice them disengaging.

  • School staff need connection too—form a support network of encouraging adults to bounce ideas and strategies that seem to work best.

Students Who Struggle With Bullying

How Can You Help?

  • Clearly provide the school’s policy on bullying and how the school handles bullying situations.

  • Engage all students—not just those who are popular—when having discussion or brainstorming ideas.

  • Have trained peer listeners who can reach out to potential targets of bullying.

  • Train students to be Upstanders to any bullying they see.

  • Begin class with an emotional check-in and allow students to share concerns.

  • Have a zero-tolerance policy for bullying and make clear the consequences of bullying.

  • Clearly communicate to students what they should do if they are being bullied.

  • Implement mental health clubs and other support groups at school.

  • Connect students to at least one caring adult at school for a safe place to share their concerns.

  • Have students learn skills on how to be assertive without being disrespectful.

  • Don’t let any student sit alone at lunch or in a classroom group.

  • Provide opportunities for students to share their personal strengths or talents.

  • Reach out to parents/caregivers of students who are being bullied.

  • Have regular check-ins to follow up on how they are coping.

  • Do not attempt to have a mediation between the bully and the target.

Students Who Struggle With Emotional Issues

How Can You Help?

  • Teach Social Emotional Learning (SEL) to all students (teaching strategies to identify, regulate, and manage their emotions through healthy coping skills).

  • Discuss with other staff best ideas for how your school can more effectively reach troubled students.

  • Be sure students who are at high risk have one adult at the school who they can go to for help when needed.

  • Be trained in the best methods for approaching a student in crisis.

  • Clearly explain to students how they can access support services and who to go to for help.

  • Make students aware of the support programs/groups available at the school.

  • Have a Mental Health Club at the school for students experiencing mental health issues.

  • Have a Peer Program at the school where students are trained in how to listen to their peers and refer when needed.

  • Help students make connections at school with groups, clubs, or special projects.

  • Assign a mentor or graduation coach to those students who are at risk for dropping out.

  • Be sure your school provides professional training on the early signs of depression or anxiety and how to handle students who are in a crisis (equip all school staff, particularly teachers, with basic knowledge on responding to teens when they have mental health difficulties or have experienced trauma).

Students Who Struggle With Negative Peer Influence In Your School

How Can You Help?

  • Provide opportunities for students to get to know one another in the classroom through ice-breakers or other activities.

  • Change up where students sit to prevent cliques and exclusion.

  • Have students trained in Peer Listening to reach out to any student who seems alone.

  • Encourage clubs and groups where all students can find a place to belong.

  • Engage every student in the classroom to prevent some from feeling left out.

  • Provide personal strengths training to all students and encourage them to use their strengths when facing difficulties.

  • If some students struggle academically, encourage a peer support group where they can feel accepted and supported.

  • Provide leadership opportunities for high-risk students where they can help others.

  • Provide opportunities for students who exhibit behavior problems to help others by using their personal strengths.

  • Create a climate of caring and respect in your school and make it a theme that everyone knows about and practices.

  • Be a role model by encouraging positive peer support with staff at your school.

  • Allow students to have input in class projects, groups, or programs and promote positive peer support in the classroom.

When All Else Fails

Have Your School Support Team Help Determine The Best Approach For This Student

Find Unconventional Ways To Reach Student

Referral For Additional Outside Help And Support

Look For Alternative Program Placement

Seek Out Help In The Community

(All Hands On Deck)

Reach Out

If you have an approach or strategy that you would like to share with others, please reach out to us!

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