Skip to content 
“I don’t have time for this, I have too much to teach.”
“I am not qualified to be their therapist in the classroom.”
“These soft skills are not as important as academics.”
“It’s my job to teach and their job to learn.”
Sound familiar? These are just a few of the excuses we tell ourselves as educators to avoid doing the uncomfortable work of addressing mental health in our classrooms. The reality is the behaviors that get in the way of learning and make teaching difficult can be avoided by prioritizing mental health in our classrooms. This is true for all students, but it is especially true for our exceptional students. The emotions and experiences that they bring to the classroom will either be obstacles or enhancements to our teaching. If left ignored, we can focus on academics all we like, but the brains of our students will not be available to learn and the behaviors they exhibit will get in the way of teaching. If addressed, we are investing in the relationships with our students and the time spent empowering their stories will be returned as attention, trust, and respect in the classroom.
So how do we empower our students’ stories? The first step is to realize that every student enters our classroom with an invisible backpack of emotions and experiences that most teachers never take the time to learn. Some backpacks are light and easy for students to set aside for the day, and other backpacks are unbearably heavy and cannot be ignored. For some, that heavy backpack is the fear of failure or the pressure of perfectionism. For others, it is the sadness of loss or the shame of abuse. In addition to each student, every teacher carries their own invisible backpack full of stories that go unheard. By realizing this and addressing it in our classrooms, we build trust and connections between students and teachers with the simple idea that we are not alone in our emotions or experiences.
The Imagine Project is a free tool that can be integrated into what we already do each day. The Imagine Project’s mission is to create a world where every child and individual feels seen, heard, and empowered. Through our 7-step writing process, we provide essential tools for self-expression, personal growth, and emotional well-being. By fostering a culture of compassion, understanding, and inclusion, we help individuals build resilience, envision new possibilities, and find hope for a brighter future. The easiest way to begin using The Imagine Project is to visit the website: https://theimagineproject.org/. Everything you find there, from the step-by-step free journals, to the integrated lessons, to the training webinar, to the inspirational videos, all are free to download and use right now. The Imagine Project is a simple process that will support each student as they begin unpacking their own specific emotional needs.
Rather than struggling to teach students who are not available to learn, wouldn’t it be easier to take some time to get to know each other, lighten their backpacks, and foster trust and empathy? Our students deserve to have their stories heard and they deserve to be empowered so they can access learning. We, as teachers, deserve to be trusted and respected by our students so we can teach. What’s in your backpack? What is your story? What are you waiting for? Go to the website, explore the videos, learn more, and download the free journals today.
Written by Todd Daubert, Educational Consultant for The Imagine Project
