As elementary, secondary and college level teachers from city to suburban areas, we encounter familiesof all different educational backgrounds.  Though, the educational background, is not indicative of the success of our students' parenting skills.  We spend five days a week, September through June with our students, getting a handle, not only on their academic strengths and weaknesses, but on their parents too!  The frustration can be enormous when we realize that with some simple parenting guidelines, several problems can be remedied or simplified in the life of our students.  Some of our students just need 10 hours of sleep instead of 8 or breakfast before coming to school.  

Is this added stress due to our feelings of lack of control over the situation or simple parental guidelines needing to be in place within a particular household? The simple maintenance of communication via a class newsletter to suggest, "the kids are looking tired in class....maybe an extra hour of sleep as they adjust to back to school schedules." The more we get to know our students and parents, the more we can help them in the classroom. 

Some districts even have trained speakers, such as Love & Logic program by Dr. Jim Fay come in to speak about basic parenting and teaching using their approach.  It holds the child or teen accountable for their actions or reactions to things in their daily life.

In addition, to the parental/teaching approach, the best stress management for frustrated teachers outside of the classroom is the use of yoga.  It eases your mind, physical limitations and helps heal any aches and pains. As a teacher and parent, I realize we are usually over schedule and have time constraints, however we still need to take an hour for ourselves each day.

Christine