What to know about neurodivergent students
You’ve heard the statistics: mental health and learning challenges are on the rise for people everywhere — and that includes college students. What can a professor do to support them? Serena Menken, parent of a neurodivergent college freshman, shares her best practical tips, encouragement, and gratitude for the professors who are watching out for her child’s mental health while still fostering a vibrant learning environment.
“Maybe you ask yourself, as I do, how to help students like my daughter thrive. I know that my daughter is both brilliant and neurodiverse; she often scores the highest grades in class, but her mental health limits her ability to focus. How do we keep finding places for kids like her to flourish in academia?”
These days, many faculty feel overwhelmed as they help this Covid-generation of students to thrive despite disruptions left and right. The responsibility weighs heavy as one works to create a classroom that feels safe and rigorous. Carmen Imes suggests actionable strategies for cultivating a trauma-informed classroom in this article from our archives. We at The Well love watching the way our community leans into this challenge, finding ways to bless students in their learning and their life skills.
“Although mental health is not my area of training, I’m sensing the need to understand my students so that I can help them succeed….What I’ve learned is changing the way I run my classes. Here are some key things to know.”
You’re Invited!
Weekly Prayer. Prayer meetings bring joy and connection for all! For more information visit The Well. We hope to see you there!
Spring Book Club — last call! The Women Scholars and Professionals Spring Book Club began this week on February 28! We are discussing Jeff Haanen's Working from the Inside Out: A Brief Guide to Inner Work That Transforms Our Outer World. You’ve missed the first session, but if you’re still interested, sign up and join us for the next meeting! We’ll be exploring how the work of inner transformation leads to external transformation, including how we engage with our work. Click through to register! There’s still time!
Grant opportunity! The Christian Scholars Foundation Legacy Grant for junior faculty. Are you an early career Christian faculty member at a pluralistic institution? You may be eligible to apply for this research grant. (Deadline is April 20.)
IVP Faculty exam copies. Professors can request a free exam or desk copy for InterVarsity Press titles adopted for classroom use up to three times a year. Your free exam or desk copy will be sent to you within four weeks. Register for a professional account to access this benefit!
Are you an InterVarsity alum? Use promo code IVCFALUMNI to get a 25% discount at ivpress.com.
Are you a Christian woman working in a STEMM field? WISH (Women in Science & Humanities) aims to encourage and support Christian women in STEMM. Check out their new website, support them by filling out their survey, and forward to your networks of women who might also be interested in participating in the WISH project.
Four More Things We Loved This Week
Why adults should read aloud to one another. (NYT, unlocked)
Check out the new InterVarsity podcast that celebrates stories of God's world-changing work in and through alumni.
“Have you eaten yet? / A warm hug in a bowl / Bringing healing with each bite / A reminder you’re not alone” — Read the rest of Rebecca Catoe’s poem at the Asian American Christian Collaborative.
We know people who swear by these pickled onions as the key to jazzing up everyday, ordinary sandwiches and tacos.