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How Teachers Can Identify and Support Grieving Students

Mike Paul
3 min readMay 24, 2023

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grieving student

Understanding the Concept of Grief

Before teachers can identify and support grieving students, they must first understand what grief is. Grief is a natural response to loss. It’s the emotional suffering one feels when something or someone the individual loves is taken away. Often, the pain of loss can feel overwhelming. For children, especially, navigating through these emotions can be confusing and isolating.

Signs That a Student May Be Grieving

Emotional Signs

Children may not express their grief in the same way as adults. They might seem disinterested, upset, or unusually quiet. They might have bouts of crying, display anger, or show unusual fear or anxiety.

Behavioral Signs

Behavioral signs may include a decline in academic performance, changes in social interactions, increased absences, or even disruptive behavior in class.

The Role of Teachers in Identifying Grieving Students

Active Observation

Teachers, being on the frontline, can play a significant role in identifying grieving students. Through active observation, you can spot…

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Mike Paul
Mike Paul

Written by Mike Paul

I dad, I tech, I teach, I write. Not always in that order. INTJ. Ravenclaw. 1w9. Wannabe academic and author. https://mikepaul.com

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