Last week, in this article’s first part, we discussed the importance of actually teaching children how to get themselves into a physical state of being relaxed, explored several suggestions I hope you found useful.
Let’s continue.
Teachers can help student overcome stress by teaching them to identify the impediments they might encounter in doing a certain task.
The teacher can ask:
What’s going to get in the way of you doing this work?
He or she may have to jump-start the students thinking by suggesting such things as:
— competing events (family activities, friends call, IM-ing, new video game, etc.)
— lack of adequate place to study
— inadequate prior preparation or skills
— a negative attitude (this is not necessary, I can’t do math, I’ll never need to know this, etc).
— health factors (I’m sick; I’m tired)
Conversely, teachers have to teach students to identify the enhancers; What’s going to make it more likely that you will do this, and do this well?
(examples)
— I have confidence in my ability
— I feel competent in this skill
— I am committed to learning this because: I have the necessary resources to complete this task, such as materials, sources of information, people supports; parents, tutor, other kids
Teachers can turn distress into de-stress by using the Language of Success
The key is to de-emphasize PRAISE and emphasize SELF-APPRAISAL.
Teachers can encourage self-evaluation by [Read more…] about From Distress to De-Stress: helping anxious, worried kids (Part 2 of 2)
