"To the extent that schools can be flexible and supportive in meeting the needs of these children {of deployment}, they provide an essential lifeline to their healthy development" (Blum, 2007).
Teachers are second parents.Your students spend more hours with you, throughout the day, than at home. While these children are coping with emotions and feelings unknown and upsetting to them, it is more important than ever to build a positive relationship. You can help fill the void by showing you care, providing a strong academic environment, structure, safety, and engaging learning experiences. Take a moment to learn more about what interests the child and use the information to form a positive relationship. As educators, you cannot eliminate the stressors; however, you can create an environment in which the child looks forward to spending their day, thus reducing the effects of the stressors. The parent at home is struggling to cope with the stress of losing a spouse. This may impact their ability to positively guide and support their child. Research shows that the parents mental state can impact the child's mental state and the maltreatment of a child increases during deployment. Considering this, the role of educators of vital importance to the child's mental state and academic success.
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Below are some areas you should consider to help accommodate and positively influence your students while their parent is deployed.
Care
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Consistency
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Structure
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Safety
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The below resources provide more information and resources for creating a positive school experience during deployment.