If the student’s academic performance is being affected, provide accommodations and put additional academic support in place.

Explore with the student various strategies to help with concentration. For example, it can help to have a journal/doodle pad where they can write the thoughts and feelings (or draw them) that are coming up for them and interfering with their ability to concentrate. Many students find that they are able to better concentrate after externalizing their thoughts/feelings for even a few minutes, and this is something that can usually be done discreetly from their desk so they don’t have to leave the classroom or disrupt the lesson.

For younger students, talk to their parent in advance of Mother’s/Father’s Day to prepare and plan for these events.

Even though a student’s parent has died, they may still want to write them a letter, or make a craft for them. (It can be brought home, left in a special place, or brought to a cemetery.) Alternatively, a craft can be made for someone else, such as their surviving parent, another relative, or a friend.

If the death was due to an illness, commemorative events, such as the Terry Fox run, may be a difficult time for your student. Encourage parents to talk with their child about if/how they’d like to participate.

If you’re planning a project or assignment that may be triggering for a student, check in with the student (and/or parent(s) for younger students) ahead of time.  

Be supportive of a student who chooses to include a family member who has died in writing or art projects (e.g., “Draw your family”). This is a healthy expression of the fact that when someone dies, our relationship with that person does not end and they remain an important part of our lives.

Even if the death occurred before you knew the student, let them know that they are welcome to talk to you about the death or their grief at any time. If they choose not to talk about it with you, respect that choice.

If you have concerns about the student, reach out to the parent(s) and share your observations. As an educator, you likely spend at least as much time with your students as their parents do. Although you may wish to spare the parent(s) from any undue or additional stress, in the long run withholding this type of information doesn’t benefit the student or parent(s).