10 Proven Techniques for Teachers to Spot and Ease Student Anxiety Daily
The chatter about anxiety in schools is getting louder as more and more elementary teachers are noticing signs of anxiousness in their young students. How do you tackle anxiety in students and support kids with mental health challenges in your classroom? How can we assist students in managing challenging feelings? GEMS Public School took a peek at some of the info and chatted with our team’s teachers about tackling the rising mental health issues among school kids. Some practical advice and emotional learning exercises can assist you in supporting students dealing with anxiety. What Causes Anxiety in School Students? A bunch of stuff can make kids feel anxious in class, like what’s happening at home or what’s happening at school. Change: Shifting gears, new teacher, new crew, new scene. From personal experience, a person who’s anxious usually likes having a set routine and knowing what to expect. Stepping into a fresh classroom with new faces and a different vibe can make kids feel a bit panicky and scared because they might feel out of their comfort zone. Everything turns fresh and feels a bit off-kilter. Fear of failure: Some kids always feel like they’ve got to be on their A-game. They’re stressed about messing up, they’re anxious about not being able to handle stuff, and they’re fretting about what their friends might think if they’re seen as not as good as the rest. Peer relations: Making new pals and keeping up with old ones can be a bit much for some kids. Meeting new people can be pretty intimidating, just like working with a bunch of strangers. Peer pressure can also play a role. Kids can get anxious, too, when they’re doubting themselves around friends or stressing about fitting in. What Does Anxiety Look Like in School Kids? For sure, start by checking your students’ IEPs to see if anxiety might be a concern. But teachers are usually the first to spot changes in kids’ mental health, so it might not be reflected in their plan, or they might not even have one. Kids can show their anxiety in lots of different ways, and it might also tie in with other stuff like acting out, sensory issues, learning struggles, cultural differences, and home problems. You might spot a few hints here and there. Change in behavior: Acting out of character, pulling a stunt, backing down, getting upset, or getting angry. Overcompensating with humor and/or sarcasm: Sometimes, wearing a mask or focusing on something else can show how we’re trying to hide our worries or insecurity. Becoming defensive: Some kids might get defensive when asked about their feelings because they either didn’t feel like talking or didn’t know what to say. Hypersensitivity: Getting really sensitive to what’s going on, having fights with pals, getting emotional out of the blue, getting mad or upset when they can’t figure something out, crying, getting frustrated, and feeling down in the dumps. Fidgeting and being unsettled: Sitting still can be a real challenge for a kid who’s feeling anxious. They might squirm in their seats, tap on stuff, fiddle with things, chew on things, and feel more at ease moving around or swaying. Complaining of illness: Kids feeling anxious might get a queasy stomach, a headache, or feel dizzy and shaky. Keeping tabs on your students’ moods by having them do a daily check-in or self-reflection can be super helpful What Are The 10 Proven Techniques for Teachers to Spot and Ease Student Anxiety Daily? Now that you’ve got the background, here are some handy tips for teachers helping anxious kids in their classrooms. What strategies can educators employ when a student’s anxiety is impacting their school or classroom experiences? There are plenty of strategies to handle worry and anxiety in the classroom and at school. Figuring out what’s best for each kid is key. Sometimes you’ve got to try a few things, but the best way to begin is to ask the kiddo what helps them chill out and feel cozy. Here are some suggestions: 1. Talk to the child Let’s not push students who are feeling anxious to talk about their emotions if they’re not ready. Let them know you’re there to talk if they need it, or give them space to chat with friends, counselors, or someone they trust. 2. Talk to their parents or caregiver. This seems pretty clear, doesn’t it? But this isn’t just about waking up parents to a potential issue. Being a teacher means really getting what kids are all about, and their parents or caregivers are the best people to help you with that. Real talk, being straight-up and honest in class talks is super important for a kiddo’s success. Ask them some questions, share your observations, and make sure they understand you’re here to support their kid, not to complicate things 3. Have a code word or special signal. This is something a kid can have on hand when they’re feeling anxious or worried. It’s probably just between you, the kid, and their buddies. 4. Encourage movement and being active. Exercise can help you burn off energy and the adrenaline that comes from stress. Kids bouncing off the walls during playtime, rocking back and forth, swaying, or swinging their legs under a chair, or just letting loose with some singing and dancing can help them blow off steam. Doing the same thing over and over can also help chill out a kid who’s feeling anxious 5. Give kids some time to draw, paint, color, mold playdough, and get creative with their hands Kinesthetic activities can help a kid chill out and get their focus back if they’re feeling worried or anxious. Adding this to their studies will really help them out. 6. Allow kids to listen to music. Researchers have shown that music can be really soothing, especially when it’s soft and peaceful. Letting kids rock headphones while they’re busy can stir up some debate, but it might just help some of them zone in.
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