STRESS MANAGEMENT to improve teaching performance and personal life of teachers
ERASMUS K1 PROJECT
about the course
course description
In today’s knowledge economy the importance of education has been recognized worldwide. Within the education system of any country, teachers have a vital position, as the success of educational institutions is mostly dependent on teachers, who educate the most valuable assets of the country, i.e. students; therefore the teachers’ performance and wellness should be of fundamental concern to all educational institutions. The teachers’ performance can be negatively influenced by different stress contributing factors which exist either within or outside the educational institution, that impede the performance of teachers, resulting in lower individual as well as institutional productivity. Several studies have found that the teachers’ stress is a reaction to the unwanted environmental factors. Furthermore, the performance of teachers is both tasks and non task related. The teachers’ stress negatively affects their performance, lowering the effectiveness of the interventions of individual teachers and of the educational institutions they belong to. The educational institutions should focus on teachers’ difficulties, and, instead of minimizing the negative effects of stress, should understand their problems and also provide proper support. On the other end the teachers by themselves need to learn to adjust to the demands of their teaching profession.
Together teachers, educational institutions and society as a whole can ensure the success and growth of educational institutions for the socio-economic development of a country.
Teachers are the most valued assets of any country. They impart knowledge and skills to the students, who after completion of their studies, join the different sectors of the country and start contributing towards the development of the country’s economy. The academicians working in different educational institutions are under immense pressure to meet the expectations of their clients, no matter whether these clients are students, parents, or employers. In this process of meeting the expectations of clients, the teachers are exposed to certain unwanted internal or external environmental factors, which hamper their routine abilities and result in the development of feelings of exhaustion and strain. Once teachers develop such symptoms then their performance and satisfaction level is decreased and thus the overall productivity of educational institutions suffers.
The effects of teachers ‘stress on performance have widely been recognized. But nowadays, the effects of stress in all sectors are creating a very dangerous effect on society and within the educational context indeed. Teachers are very often the ones to be blamed for.
The topic of stress management is not new. Permanent stress affects all sectors of society and it’s officially classified as a “clinical pathology”.
It starts as a feeling of emotional or physical tension. It can come from any event or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, or nervous.
Stress is your body’s reaction to a challenge or demand. In short bursts, stress can be positive, such as when it helps you avoid danger or meet a deadline. But when stress lasts for a long time, it may harm your health.
The course we propose was already experimented with several groups of teachers of different nationalities with great success and it represents our method as a team of trainers to help teachers or other target groups (entrepreneurs/school leaders/youth or adult educational organizations) to face this delicate subject.
The training is an experience at the local level, we have all the elements to organize a tailored program welcoming specific needs of groups with the scientific and psychological approach needed but, at the same time, use what our wonderful context offers and our expertise in dealing with participants representing the educational field.
Our method foresees different strategies and an outdoor education approach
We explore together with our participants what does it mean to manage stress, what are effective tool and approaches and why stress can be, on one hand, a big problem affecting all spheres or, on the other hand, a powerful tool.
According to different group needs, the practices we do can include: Morning walks to see the sunset on the beach; Yoga morning waking up; Walking tours in nature; Mindfulness and Meditation activities; Moments on the grass talking and sharing; Cooking together; Enjoying healthy lifestyles; Music and culture as tools for inclusion and wellbeing.
LEARNING GOALS:
- Understand the definition and causes of stress, especially in the school environment
- Reduce stress levels and develop the necessary abilities to manage emotions and activate the right resources to cope with demanding situations
- Take care of their own well-being and energy to be mindful teachers for mindful students
- Apply and integrate innovative methodologies at school to promote wellness, prevent stress and motivate all
- Use a variety of tools and resources in the classroom to create well-being, according to different students’ needs and contexts
Target Group
Participants can be any teacher from any Educational level working in a public or private school or educational institutions.
Participants are usually school leaders, including school directors or the people in charge of school management and coordination.
program/Training Modules
INTRO/METHOD
Like all our programs, the present one is flexible and adaptable to special requests, depending on the subject taught or on the starting level of the participant.
Furthermore, in line with the JUMP Academy method, our courses are based on a strategic balance between formal and non-formal education, indoor and outdoor education and the team takes care of a very important aspect of international mobility which is the intercultural learning which we develop with short excursions and facilitating the interaction with local partners, businesses and citizens of our territory. Each local context has its own economy so it’s always useful, in training programs, to get in contact with concrete examples (experiential learning and real based learning).
We always try to connect our learners to local teachers and students to cooperate in developing innovation and networking for future projects. If possible, inside the program, a morning is spent inside a local school, visiting, observing, and cooperating in the realization of one or more lessons. The proposed program JUMP works, in European dimension and with an international spirit, at the local level and, according to the period of the training along the year and the weather, it is possible to change some sessions and add visits and meetings, in cooperation with our network of partners including schools involved in European projects).
WEEK DAILY SCHEDULE
Saturday or Sunday:
Arrival of participants, transfer and welcome. Lodging and logistic support. Depending on the arrival time the participants are helped to have a meal or fulfill any other need.
Monday morning session: 09:30 – 12:30
Meeting in the lobby of Villa Gabriella International, welcome, first briefing by the organizers, presentation of the team, logistics information, gadgets distribution and start of the program. Walking down to the city center. Outdoor team building activity “The Mission Impossible game in Soverato”. Getting to know the important places of the city, the orientation points, traditions and cultural elements, interacting with local citizens.
12:30 end of the morning activity with a debriefing and logistic info
Free time for lunch or to enjoy the beach
Organized lift from the city center to the Villa.
Monday afternoon session: 15:00 – 17:00
“Experience Calabria. A place to live, a place to love”. Presentation of JUMP and of the most important cultural elements of the region. Participants are asked to present themselves quickly and introduce their school in a creative or digital way using the internet and our screen.
Dinner organized for all the groups in a local restaurant.
Tuesday morning session: 09:30 – 12:30
Meeting on the terrace of Villa Gabriella.
First outdoor ice breaking game to get to know each other and create a good working climate.
Division in small groups and start of the indoors or outdoor sessions with the JUMP trainer.
Introduction to Module 1, Understanding stress and the association between the educational sector and stress
13:00 – 15:00 lunch break and free time
Tuesday afternoon session: 15:00 – 17:30
1st excursion to develop cultural knowledge, strengthen team building and socialization among participants.
“Walking tour to the old village of Soverato Superiore, visit to the Church of “La Pietà” of Gagini and exploring the narrow streets. Interacting with local people.
Free evening to enjoy the city center
Wednesday morning session: 09:30 – 12:30
Module 2, Dealing with stress in teaching professions. Balance between personal and professional stress
Module 3, Stress management is speaking, sharing and facing. From what is written and said to a way to face and release
13:00 – 15:00 lunch break and free time
Wednesday afternoon session:15:00 – 17:00
Module 4, Practices to deal and fight stress. Outdoor activities and socialization with stress
Free evening to enjoy the city center or rest
Thursday morning session:09:30 – 12:30
Module 5, Doing and writing about solutions. Personal and common pathways
Module 6, More practices and different pathways
13:00 – 15:00 lunch break and free time
Thursday afternoon is (usually) free time.
The staff will provide some suggestions for possible activities or excursions. For example to Catanzaro city, Capital of the region
Friday morning session: 09:30 – 11:00 (shorter morning lesson).
Module 7, Design my own learning and teaching pathway. What to Look-For in Stress Management Lessons and Schools.
11:00 free time to visit the local market which is nice and folkloristic.
On Friday – at an agreed time – usually in the afternoon – it’s organized as an excursion in a beautiful and unique old village with a final dinner. The staff enjoys it and there’s a professional guide with us.
Depending on the season the excursion starts in the morning or in the afternoon. From July to September it’s usually in the afternoon-evening for the high heat.
Saturday morning session: 09:30 – 12:00
Closing the course: Evaluation and delivery of formal certificates/Europass and admin documents.
Saturday afternoon:
Free time and last moments all the participants together for socialization.
Sunday:
Departure of participants.
The indicated times may suffer some changes depending on the season (earlier in the winter time and later in the summertime).
TRAINING MODULES:
Module 1: Understanding stress and the association between the educational sector and stress
Module 2: Dealing with stress in teaching professions. Balance between personal and professional stress
Module 3: Stress management is speaking, sharing and facing. From what is written and said to a way to face and release
Module 4: Practices to deal and fight stress. Outdoor activities and socialization with stress
Module 5: Doing and writing about solutions. Personal and common pathways
Module 6: More practices and different pathways
Module 7: Design my own learning and teaching pathway. What to Look-For in Stress Management Lessons and Schools.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of the training week teachers will have:
- Understood the definition and causes of stress, especially in the school environment
- Reduced stress levels and develop the necessary abilities to manage emotions and activate the right resources to cope with demanding situations
- Took more care of their own well-being and energy to be mindful teachers for mindful students
- Applied and integrate innovative methodologies at school to promote wellness, prevent stress and motivate all
- Used a variety of tools and resources in the classroom to create well-being, according to different students’ needs and contexts
certification details
JUMP certifies or 36 hours for 6 days course (6*6) or more if extra hours per day are needed. Or 30 hours for a 5 days course (6*5).
The course can be also extended to a 2 weeks course with the options 10 days or 12 days course if asked and agreed, depending on the project of the sending organization.
10 days are excluded the weekend (5+5), 12 days are from Monday to Saturday morning (6+6).
At the end of the training, JUMP delivers a formal certificate of attendance and the team is at disposal to fill the Europass certification document according to the EU model template and other needed documents for reporting of the sending institution.
Certification details
Our courses are in line with the Erasmus+ Quality standards for courses under Key Action 1 (learning mobility of individuals)
Costs
The cost is fully covered by the Erasmus grant. Write to info@associazionejump.it to ask for information on costs and the services provided to plan your mobility project in Soverato with JUMP.
How to apply
For info and registration about the course fill the form below or contact us to our mail.