Where to learn more: Resources for teachers and school leaders

If you're a teacher or school leader, this blog post is for you. 

Highly Sensitive children are deeply affected by various environmental and situational factors - positively and negatively, depending on the quality of that environment. 

They tend to be conscientious, creative, reflective and thoughtful. They will be concerned about getting things right, doing well, pleasing you, their teacher, and not getting into difficult situations with other students. 

They need gentle encouragement to take risks, awareness of their real ability (which might be greater than it seems), and a few adjustments to their environment so that they can do and be their best. This can make the difference between mediocre performance and excellence, and between languishing, or the experience of just trying to get through each school day, and thriving in the joy of knowledge, belonging and achievement. 

Here are a few resources that will help you to better understand, identify, and help the Highly Sensitive children in your care. 

1. The Highly Sensitive Child test. Use this to identify any Highly Sensitive children in your class(es). When you have an idea of who these children might be, you could share this with their parents (with a carefully-worded introduction) to see what their conclusions are. I would caution, though, that you learn a little about what High Sensitivity is, first, so that you can correctly share this opportunity with parents as a genetic adaptation, not a disorder or something to be negatively concerned about. Something to help them understand what they will already have noticed in their child. 
2. The Highly Sensitive Child website. This is a great website, with very helpful ideas about helping Highly Sensitive children to thrive. It's aimed a lot at parents, but many of these suggestions are adaptable to and important for the classroom as well. Once you've identified 1 or more Highly Sensitive children in your classroom(s), this will give you achievable ideas for helping them to thrive.
3. The Highly Sensitive Child book, by Elaine Aron. This is a good introduction to the temperament, and suggestions for how it can play out in children. It's aimed at both parents and teachers/school leaders. 

I hope that these resources will be of real use to you. I know that if there are Highly Sensitive children in your classes - and it's quite likely that there are, given that they make up 20% of the population - then knowing about it, and supporting them in a way that helps them thrive will be potentially life-changing for them. And I think you'll see positive differences in your whole class for it. 

If you're a school leader, then you definitely have Highly Sensitive children in your school. I think I can say this with confidence - it would be very unusual if a temperament which 20% of people have wasn't represented in a whole school.... unless it's a very small school! 

I offer workshops specially designed for the school context. You can choose between a shorter, introductory workshop (more of a presentation, but with helpful details and recommendations), or a slightly longer, more comprehensive and interactive workshop, with more bespoke recommendations. You'll find all the details at the link above - or see my Services page for an overview.

I would also love to hear about any discoveries or encouraging achievements you make in this process. Please share them with me by filling out a contact form here.