Find a moment during the school day – like before a quiz or after lunch – to do a mindfulness activity with the class. Breathing exercises, like box breathing, are simple but effective. Have students breathe in for a count of three, hold for a count of three, exhale for a count of three, then hold the empty breath for a count of three.Encourage students to create a “cool-down” kit.
Ask students to bring about three items from home that can soothe them in school. It could be a piece of fabric with a soothing texture, a bar of soap with a calming fragrance , a photograph, a fidget, etc. Have them use the kit for a few minutes before a test or another demanding activity.When teaching a collectively stressed classroom or a single student who has experienced acute stress, alter your expectations accordingly.Allow movement breaks.