Teacher Lauren Whitbread shares tips for easing school anxiety
SA Foundation teacher Lauren Whitbread explains how she helps young new students overcome their anxiety at school.
SA News
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There is no such thing as ‘over-communication’ according to Foundation teacher Lauren Whitbread, who said it’s the only way to combat the anxiety felt by both young students and their parents.
In her second year teaching Foundation at Paringa Park Primary School, Ms Whitbread said it’s important to make the transition into school as seamless as possible for everyone involved.
“Starting school is a very scary time for the kids and their families. I always say to all my parents, come and talk to me whenever, I’m very open and approachable, always up for a chat if you need anything.” she said.
“We post something daily (in a private forum) about what’s happening in the classroom to keep everyone informed. Just like the kids who can be quite anxious about this big change in their young life, parents can be anxious too and I think it’s important to allay those fears.”
Ms Whitbread was nominated in Australia’s Best Teachers campaign by parent Kate Gillings who wrote: “So grateful for Lauren who guided our son through his first year of education. Lauren was nurturing and always made her classroom a safe and happy space. Her communication with parents showed she deeply cares for each child.”
As the oldest sibling, Ms Whitbread has a natural inclination to teach and often helped her younger siblings with schoolwork.
“I’ve always loved helping other people learn. I’m affectionately known as a ‘mother hen’ among my friends and I’ve always loved teaching and imparting knowledge. This is the job that I was destined to do,” she said.
Ms Whitbread’s teaching philosophy is based on the belief that the first year of school is critical for laying the foundation for a child’s entire educational journey. She emphasises the importance of teaching not only academics but also essential social and emotional skills.
“It’s just beautiful watching them learn and seeing the progress they make from the start of the year to the end. Just to think, a few months ago they didn’t know any of the letters and now they can look at a sentence and tell me what those words are. Knowing how much of an impact you’re having on them is just amazing,” she said.
“We’re teaching them not only how to go to school but how to be human beings. It’s about how we take turns, how we speak to others, and how we manage our emotions. It’s quite hard to manage 20-plus little people and all their emotions, but it’s a fundamental part of the job,” she explained.
FROM PR DETOUR TO DEDICATED TEACHER
Reception teacher Chloe Adams can say with resounding certainty that she is in the right career – even though she momentarily veneered off track an university.
“Teaching was always something that I wanted to do, and then right when it came time to head off to uni, I went and did a year into another course.”
After some soul searching, Chloe corrected her career path, ditching Public Relations and transferring into a teaching degree where she felt she should have been all along.
“I always knew that I would love to work with children. The impact that my own teachers had on me throughout my own schooling journey was a really positive one, and so teaching as a career was really appealing to me,” she said.
Far-forward, and Chloe, 27, has never looked back.
“This is 100 per cent the career path that I love and I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
She is particularly fond of the challenge that comes working with the youngest school students at Wallaroo Mines Primary School.
“The impact that you can have on a student’s life is quite incredible and I have very high expectations of myself.
“Schools can be very complex environments so I have to make sure all the students are getting what they need from me to move their learning forward. There’s just so many decision to be made throughout the day to keep everybody on track.”
Parent Tammee Schweiger has praised Chloe as a dedicated teacher who is especially patient with young children trying to find their way in a formal school system.
“Chloe is an absolutely amazing teacher. She goes above and beyond for each and every one of her students. She’s kind, caring and has all the patience in the world. She has been teaching my son this past year and he loves her.”
Wallaroo Mines Primary School is located about two hours’ drive out of Adelaide, and it is one of the largest in the area with 11 students in Chloe’s class. Another group of children will join the class in the middle of the year when they come of age, which makes it all the more tricky.
“We now have two intakes so new students can start when they’re school age. They’re coming into a class which is already established, but they have the other students as role models to support them with their transition to school.”
The school in the port town has seen a steady increase of students in recent years, which Chloe puts down to the relationships staff have fostered in the community.
“The relationships that we build with students and their families means the kids can be successful in the school environment. I really think that is a key contributor to why our school, as a whole has been so successful.”
HOW THESE 4 TEACHERS GET A STUDENT’S BEST
A teacher’s true success isn’t measured at the end of each school year, it’s reflected in their students’ future achievements.
This sentiment is at the heart of Mercedes College’s celebration of four of its exceptional educators, nominated for the Australia’s Best Teachers campaign.
Principal Andre Balkwill said great teachers – such as the nominees Rachel Muncaster, Daniel Caire, Emily Rowlands and Rohan Cheong – knew their students both academically and personally.
“A great teacher not only knows the curriculum and how to teach it, they know each of their students – from an academic and personal perspective,” he said.
“They understand the need to challenge students, but to balance that with support where needed.
“This is evidenced in our nominations – two from the Junior School and two from our Senior School.
NOMINATE YOUR FAVOURITE TEACHER HERE
“All of these teachers are highly invested in their students and their learning. They get to know each student, and their family. They ensure student learning is engaging and interesting. They are available to their students for all aspects of College life.”
In its second year, Australia’s Best Teachers aims to share the positive stories in education to shine a light on the sector as it faces unprecedented shortages and pressures.
“What teachers do is complex, multifaceted and goes way beyond the hours spent in the classroom,” Mr Balkwill said.
“Teaches have a strong sense of purpose, they want to make a positive difference in the lives of young people and providing a good education is one of the best ways to do this.
“Teachers are an asset to the future of our young people and to society more broadly.
“I think the quote ‘I touch the future … I teach’ sums it up perfectly – what could be better than that?”
All four nominated teachers were praised for investing deeply in their students’ lives and learning journeys.
Ms Muncaster, known for her enthusiastic and engaging teaching style in the Junior School, pushes students out of their comfort zones while keeping the learning environment enjoyable, her nomination said. Both parents and students praise her dedication to student wellbeing.
“She supported my son to develop a positive self-image and want to come to school and be his best self. I can never thank her enough for her dedication and support.”
Mr Claire was nominated for his remarkable connection with students that extended beyond the classroom, as he dedicated his time to support both students and parents.
A standout in the Junior School, Ms Rowlands was praised for her adaptability and advocacy for her Year 4 students and for tailoring her teaching to meet diverse learning needs, ensuring every student can thrive.
Mr Cheong’s unique creativity and ability to engage students in subjects like design and media made him a standout nominee.
His welcoming nature and consistent feedback made him a favourite among students.
HOW SA TEACHER HELPS KIDS WITH AUTISM
Emma Reardon left Broken Hill to study a Bachelor of Justice and Society in Adelaide – but it was the experience of growing up in an Outback town and the teachers who inspired her that led her to move into teaching.
“It was fantastic growing up in Broken Hill,” she says. “It was a small, tight-knit community and teachers were very much a part of that. The difference they could make, the connection and the impact they had on my life was really special.”
Emma’s early career saw her working in a primary school, until a trip to Italy changed her life. “In 2014 I travelled to Reggio Emilia to do a study tour,” she says. “It’s a place that is really inspirational for early childhood educators – their philosophies and how they work with children and the community. After visiting Reggio I realised I wanted to work with the youngest children in our community.”
Emma now embraces that connection in her role as early childhood teacher at St Thomas School and Preschool in the Adelaide suburb of Goodwood. “I try to bring those values I learned at Reggio and growing up in Broken Hill to what I do now; to have that sense of connection, community and beautiful relationships with children and their families.”
Working with more than 20 preschool students has encouraged Emma to embrace flexibility and create alternative education pathways depending on an individual child’s needs. “As a teacher you are able to use your creativity in a million ways and that’s what I love,” she says.
“If a child is struggling with something, I look at how I can connect with them or spark their interest in something, whether it be space, planets, plants ... If they’re interested, they’re going to learn.”
Her passion for working one-on-one with children led Emma to gain her Graduate Certificate of Autism Studies from Griffith University in 2023. Last year also saw the launch of her own business, Inspire Joy, which specialises in working with young autistic children in the local community.
“I have a role within this community in supporting our children but also I felt it was knowledge I could share on a wider level,” she says. “I finished my degree last year and now I am starting my Masters in Autism. To offer families and children the most contemporary and up-to-date research is something they deserve. Early intervention is key and I will always advocate and promote investing in their early years.”
Ask Emma what brings her the most joy about being a teacher and she points to “the million little moments that no one would ever know about”.
“It might be a little one giving you a hug because you were there for them when they needed you, it might be a lovely email from a parent to say how you’ve impacted their child; sometimes it’s just a smile from the children.”
Being nominated as Australia’s best teacher provides Emma with another platform upon which to advocate for Australia’s youngest citizens. “If this results in me being able to advocate further for people to understand how significant early childhood, social justice and improving outcomes for the wider community is, then that’s fantastic.”
HOW SA TEACHER CAME BACK AFTER HAVING A STROKE
Despite facing an uphill battle as a student grappling with dyslexia, Helen Young defied the odds, pursued higher education, and has now amassed over three decades as a teacher.
However, her resilience was put to the ultimate test nine years ago when she experienced a life-altering event – a stroke at the age of 45.
Ms Young, a Year 2 teacher at the time at St Martin’s Catholic Primary School in Greenacres had a right-sided embolic stroke, which resulted in her losing temporary control of the left side of her body.
“I remember the day I had the stroke, I felt like I was letting down my students. It was a trying time, but I just let go at that point because there was nothing else I could do,” she said.
Her determination, coupled with unwavering support from her family and colleagues, saw her through the darkest days of her recovery marked by physical and cognitive challenges. “I had to learn how to speak properly, which I could, but it was slurred,” she said. “And I had to deal with brain fatigue, which was exhausting.”
Despite the odds stacked against her, Ms Young, who had also worked as music teacher, returned to her passion – teaching – just three months after her stroke, in a different capacity.
The language section of Ms Young’s brain was damaged by the stroke and she was then diagnosed with an Auditory Processing Disorder, which meant she couldn’t sing in tune, hear harmony or even enjoy music.
“This also heightened the sensory processing load on my brain, which meant while I had normal cognition, my role at school changed where I would work with teachers and students in a coaching role.”
Starting with half a day a week, she gradually increased her workload, refusing to let her circumstances define her.
“For me teaching is a calling. It gave me hope, which is what kept me moving forward. I
continued to challenge myself and finished my Graduate Certificate in Religious Education,
which I thought I would never be able to do. I then made the biggest leap of my life in
education and decided to become nationally accredited as Lead Teacher.
“Post-stroke it took many years, and many small steps to learn how to cope with brain fatigue,
know when I need a break, be persistent in new learning, resilient when things don’t go
well, be open about my brain injury and not let that limit me either. My disabilities and experiences give me an insight into students who find learning hard and giving them that compassion.”
Her journey back to the classroom was not just about personal triumph; it was a testament to the support of her school community.
“I was so lucky because I had a brilliant leadership team that let me heal at my own pace,” she said. “And the staff were great. I think because we have such a tight community here that we care for each other.”
Ms Young has been recognised as part of this year’s Australia’s Best Teachers campaign.
The Advertiser has joined forces with corporate partners Officeworks, Teachers Mutual Bank, and Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools to launch Australia’s Best Teachers campaign Sunday, to celebrate the nation’s best educators. It is part of a concerted push to drive greater respect and recognition for teachers.
Today, as a Leader of Learning, Ms Young plays a pivotal role in shaping the lives of around 700 students at the school and supporting her fellow educators.
“We are a multicultural school with 53 different cultural backgrounds,” said school principal Christine Comas.
“Helen has achieved more than what we would expect for a leader of learning. She keeps pushing herself through her dedication and belief that she has to make a difference for the students in our school.”
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Originally published as Teacher Lauren Whitbread shares tips for easing school anxiety
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