Grief education is a crucial component of creating a supportive environment for students navigating loss. Despite its universal nature, grief’s impact on students is often overlooked in the classroom. 

Grief education should empower both educators and students with the knowledge, language, and tools to navigate loss. Educators need guidance to support grieving students and foster meaningful conversations in the classroom, while students benefit from learning how to understand their own grief and show compassion to peers who are grieving. Providing accurate information and practical resources to both groups is essential for creating a supportive, grief-informed school environment.

Let’s explore grief education—including a variety of topics such as emotional coping, support strategies, and memorial activities—highlight current options in Minnesota, and examine recent changes in other states, like New Jersey, where new legislation has been passed to prioritize grief education in schools.

 

Recent Changes in the Grief Education World

In a move reflecting a growing national trend, New Jersey recently passed a law requiring grief education to be incorporated into health education classes for students in grades 8-12. 

This legislation highlights the importance of equipping schools with the tools to address grief and support students facing loss. The new law establishes a clear order for integrating grief education and support into the school curriculum.

 

The Benefits of Mandatory Grief Counseling & Education

While not yet mandatory in Minnesota, recent developments like New Jersey’s legislation indicate a growing national trend towards equipping schools with tools for grief support. Studies suggest that implementing mandatory grief counseling and education in schools can offer a variety of benefits and approaches to supporting grieving students.

Below are some of the key ways that grief education can positively impact students and school communities:

  • Increase awareness and empathy among students, fostering a more supportive classroom environment.
  • Better prepare educators to identify grieving students and provide appropriate support.
  • Equip students with healthy coping mechanisms for dealing with grief.

 

The Role of School Communities

School communities serve as a vital support system for grieving students, offering a safe and nurturing environment where children can process their emotions and begin to heal. School administrators, educators, and school personnel are uniquely positioned to guide students through the challenges of bereavement by providing access to resources, compassionate support, and a sense of stability. 

Organizations like the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement, New York Life Foundation, and The Coalition to Support Grieving Students have developed specialized training and resources to help school professionals respond effectively and comfortably to grief within their communities. By working together, school communities can ensure that no student faces their grief alone, and that every child has the opportunity to find hope and resilience after a loss.

 

How to Support Grieving Students in the Classroom

 

Understanding Grief:

Grief can manifest through emotional expression, withdrawal, difficulty concentrating, changes in sleep or eating patterns, and difficulty concentrating during classroom time. Students experiencing grief may feel lost or unsure of how to express their emotions. Educating yourself about these signs helps you identify students who might be grieving.

Creating a Safe Space:

  • Be aware of the student’s grief story and let them know your classroom is a safe space to get their needs met.
  • Provide flexibility on an ongoing basis.
  • Take the student’s lead regarding a desired public conversation about the grief story. Having age-appropriate conversations with grieving students is important to help them process their feelings and understand their experiences.
  • Facilitate open discussion to address students’ questions and concerns about grief and loss, encouraging meaningful conversations that support their emotional needs.

Offering Practical Support:

  • Provide flexible deadlines and excused absences for students dealing with loss.
  • Offer alternative assignments or extensions when needed. For example, allow a student to create a memory box or write a letter to the person they lost as a way to express their feelings or commemorate them.
  • Pair grieving students with supportive classmates for study groups or projects. 

Educators should also be open to answering any questions students may have about their assignments or participation during this time.

Connecting with Others:

  • Collaborate with the school counselor to develop a support plan for grieving students. Educators can also contact school counselors, social workers, or local organizations for additional support and guidance.
  • Involve parents or guardians by communicating openly about the student’s needs, and work together to support children through the grieving process.
  • Consider partnering with local grief support organizations to offer workshops or resources to students. Schools can also adopt a peer support model to help grieving students connect with others who have experienced similar losses. Connecting grieving students with supportive people who can listen and provide comfort is essential.
  • Encourage students to share their thoughts and feelings about the person they lost, and to participate in memorial activities as a way to grieve and honor their loved one.

 

Resources for School Personnel

Teachers, school administrators, and counselors play a critical role in supporting grieving students, and having access to the right resources is key. 

These resources help school personnel understand the complexities of grief, recognize the signs of bereavement, and develop effective strategies for supporting students in need. By utilizing these tools, educators and school staff can create a compassionate and responsive environment that helps grieving students feel understood and supported as they navigate their loss. 

 

Minnesota-Specific Grief Resources for Students

Fortunately, Minnesota has several resources dedicated to bereavement education and adolescent grief in the classroom. These organizations offer valuable programs, workshops, and materials specifically tailored to the needs of Minnesota students, educators, and families.

    • Park Nicollet’s Growing Through Grief provides in-school support and crisis management services to children and teens coping with the death of a loved one. The program partners with six Twin Cities-area school districts—District 191, St. Louis Park, Hopkins, Edina, Minnetonka, and Wayzata—to offer expert counseling and a safe, supportive space where students can express their emotions and strengthen their coping skills. With generous community support, Growing Through Grief is committed to ensuring that no grieving student in Minnesota has to navigate their loss alone.
    • Brighter Days Family Grief Center focuses on bringing families back together after the death or terminal diagnosis of a loved one by addressing the many psychosocial and logistical needs of each family member. Trusted by Minnesota hospitals, hospices, schools, and community partners since 2017, they provide the compassionate and comprehensive care that children, adults, and the entire family deserve.
    • Minnesota School Social Work Association (MSSWA) offers resources and training for school social workers who play a crucial role in supporting grieving students.
    • The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) has resources on social-emotional learning (SEL) which can be helpful in creating a supportive classroom environment for students facing grief.
    • The Grief Club is a dedicated healing space for children, teens, young adults, and their caregivers who are grieving the death of a loved one. Located in Chanhassen, The Grief Club offers peer support groups, individual and family counseling, and tailored programming in a warm, welcoming environment. With licensed grief therapists and trained facilitators, they provide a consistent and safe community where families can connect, share, and heal together.

    Recognizing and supporting grieving students is paramount for their well-being and academic success. Educators in Minnesota are encouraged to utilize the strategies and resources provided in this post and seek further support from organizations like The Widow Collaborative. We offer resources and support groups specifically for widows who may be navigating grief alongside their children.

     

    Key Takeaways: How to Support Grieving Students in the Classroom

     

    • Grief education equips educators with the skills to support grieving students and fosters empathy and understanding among peers.

     

    • Creating a safe, flexible classroom environment helps grieving students express emotions and manage academic challenges.

     

    • Collaboration between educators, counselors, families, and local grief organizations is essential to provide comprehensive support.

     

    • Minnesota offers valuable grief resources like Park Nicollet’s Growing Through Grief and Brighter Days Family Grief Center to assist schools and families.

     

    The Widow Collaborative Is Here to Help You Support Grieving Students & Families

    Grief education doesn’t end in the classroom—it starts with empowered, compassionate adults. 

    Whether you’re a teacher supporting a grieving student, a parent navigating loss with your child, or a school leader looking to implement meaningful change, The Widow Collaborative is here to help.

    We offer resources, community, and expert-informed guidance to support those who are grieving; and those walking alongside them.