Differentiation
As stress is a very individual experience, the following strategies may not work for every child so it is important that teachers are aware of each individual students' triggers and what strategy will work best for them. Some students may need to go out and kick a ball, others will prefer to sit and read a book so you will need a toolbox of strategies and here is just a few.
Circle Time
A
group listening exercise that gives all children equal rights and opportunities
to be heard. Rules must be established (no put-downs; no interruptions; talk
only while holding “the ball”; a person has the right to ‘pass’). Students take
turns finishing sentences questioning: what makes them stressed, “I feel
stressed when…”; how they feel when stressed, “When I’m stressed I feel/want
to…”; how they cope with stress, “If I’m stressed, it makes me feel better to…”
Worry DollsTraditional Guatemalan toys that are small, colourful little people that a person places under their pillow after telling the doll something that is bothering them.
Overnight, the worry dolls worry in place of the person leaving them to sleep peacefully. |
I am Feeling ChartThe 5-point scale is an intervention strategy which teaches students social understanding and self-regulation. The chart represents a range of five emotions: great; ok; irritated; angry; ready to explode. It may be implemented as a whole class with a chart for access to all or represented on individual desks.
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Sensory Room
Sensory rooms are great outlets for students who on a regular basis, need a "time out". When a student becomes stressed this can be a place where they relax and calm themselves down.
Making Stress BallsA great craft activity! Use a simple un-cooked playdough recipe to fill deflated balloons. These are then tied off and faces drawn on with a permanent marker to represent an emotion.
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BooksThe Panicosaurus by Kay Al-Ghani
Lori Lite series: · Angry Octopus: Children control anger · Sea Otter Cove: Relaxation breathing for kids · Affirmation Weaver: Children build self-esteem · Bubble Riding: Children improve creativity with visualization techniques · A Boy and a Turtle: Children learn visualization techniques · The Goodnight Caterpillar: Kids reduce anger and stress · A Boy and a Bear · The Affirmation Web |
Bowl of RiceA bowl of rice can be used for some students to calm down and relax by running their hands through the grains. The movement and sounds can soothe a worrying mind. However, this technique will not work for all students and you may end up with rice everywhere.
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123 PanicasaurousSayings can be taught and used as an automatic response when students are feeling overwhelmed or stressed. Teaching students to recite words in their heads or out loud until they are able to calm down can help them to get over the initial shock or bad feelings after an incident.
Whilst students recite the saying they must employ proper breathing techniques. This must be explicitly taught to them. As they finish the word they breathe out all the bad energy. '123Panicasaurous' links directly to the book 'The Panicasaurous' by Kay Al-Ghani |
BubblesBubbles are a great way to calm some students. Through blowing bubbles and either popping them or watching them float around the room, the student is concentrating on their breathing which is a known stress relief technique.
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Calming CaddyFilled with different sensory objects for students to calm down when they are feeling anxious or stressed. These caddies should include a range of different tactile materials such as play dough, colouring in kits, bubbles etc. Students choose the object that best calms them down in the certain situation.
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Worksheets A worksheet for when students come in after play and are stressed about 'issues' that have happened outside. This is a good to keep as a record, for giving some 'cool down' time, getting all sides of the story and also allowing teaching to continue uninterrupted, until the teacher is ready to deal with it.
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Music/ Youtube
This music can be used in whole class situations or for individuals as it can foster a calming affect in students.
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The calming voice in this video would be suited for students who need stress relief. Best listened to in a quiet room or corner with headphones on.
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This is a fun and catchy song that can be used in the classroom on a daily basis for students who have trouble with explaining their emotions.
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Relaxation Flip BooksThese laminated flip books use different images to target a certain part of the body for relaxation purposes. The cards focus on areas such as the jaw, shoulders, back and arms. The images on the cards are used to remind the child what relaxation techniques need to be employed in order to help calm the student down when they are stressed.
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Calm down corner (renamed to suit class or theme)An area of the room where students can go to get away from a situation and “cool down”. The corner may contain comfortable cushions or a bean bag, relaxing music through headphones, calming colours and several colourful and happy pictures displayed.
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Stamp Out Stress Day
Implemented as a whole school or whole class approach, Stamp Out Stress Day is a day that recognises the effect of stress and the implication for student life. Whether a whole day or for a large portion of the day, students have the opportunity to freely be involved in a variety of stress-relief activities such as: meditation; bubble-blowing; African drumming; finger painting. Perfect for just before or after big exams such as NAPLAN. Stamp Out Stress Day can also be used to include members of the community and bring forward the issue of stress in society.