The are a number of things that can be integrated into the classroom to assist students in forming healthy coping behaviour and skills in managing stress and overwhelming emotions. Aiding student's development in these areas can help them thrive in the classroom, and also provide them with skills to take into their adult lives for long term wellbeing. Three practices that can be used are outlined below.
Get students moving!
Physical activity has been found to have significant benefits for increasing positive mood due to the release of 'happy hormones' during exercise.
Be You, a mental health resource by Beyond Blue (2020) discusses these benefits further and reports...
Physical exercise:
provides children and young people with an outlet for excess energy and frustration, which relieves tension
can increase levels of serotonin and endorphins, the neurotransmitters involved in regulating and improving mood
Improves motor and cognitive skills, which boosts self-esteem
The full list of benefits and more information can be found on their website HERE
We suggest providing students with opportunities to move their bodies during class, as even 15 minutes of movement can have significant benefits to mood and learning. 'The Daily Mile' is a global initiative that aims to have students run or walk a mile each day during school. It also provides support for teachers and schools that hope to introduce the initiative. More information is available on their website. https://thedailymile.co.uk/
Talking about feelings
Teachers have the opportunity to model positive behaviours and can support their students ability to identify and articulate their emotions by talking about emotions and showing that its okay to do so. It can be very frustrating when we are overwhelmed by an emotion and do not have the words or understanding to explain what it is. This may lead to meltdowns and even anger in the classroom.
Developing Minds provides suggestions on what you can do to help as a teacher. See HERE
Practice mindfulness and breathing exercises
The human body does not discriminate between stress caused by life-threatening dangers and stress experienced due to Anxiety. Both trigger the same 'fight-flight-freeze' response and the sympathetic nervous system is engaged. This causes a number of physiological processes, including increased heart rate and respiration (breathing) rate. One way to alleviate anxiety is through calming and slowing these responses. Mindful breathing exercises can signal to the body that everything is okay, and may help reverse the stress response. Meditation can also help students bring their attention to their bodies and better understand what they are feeling within them.
Morningside Centre for Teaching Social Responsibility goes over this in more detail and provides breathing techniques that can be brought into the classroom. Importantly, they also discuss that these techniques may in some cases perpetuate stress and anxiety and may not be suitable for all students. Please see their site HERE.
References
Beyond Blue. (2020). Physical activity and mental health. Be You. https://beyou.edu.au/fact-sheets/wellbeing/physical-activity-and-mental-health
Developing Minds. (2014). How Teachers can Help Kids deal with Negative Emotions in the Classroom. Developing Minds. https://developingminds.net.au/teacherhelpworriedmadsadkids
The MTM Agency. (2016). Children Fit For Life. The Daily Mile; The Daily Mile Foundation. https://thedailymile.co.uk/
Woerkom, M. V. (2020). Teaching Self-Care for Pre-K-5: Breathing. Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility. https://www.morningsidecenter.org/teachable-moment/lessons/teaching-self-care-pre-k-5-breathing
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