If you’re a teacher who is seeing students struggle to cope in class, then you’re not alone. Unfortunately, it’s typical for children to enter school with emotional and physical strain from home and the pressure of academic work, making them stressed out students.
Maximizing the potential of every student in your classroom starts with cultivating a supportive environment. Here are some effective tips to help you do just that.
How to Support Stressed Out Students
Create a supportive and inclusive classroom environment
Establish an atmosphere of comfort and acceptance within your classroom, allowing students to express their emotions freely and seek guidance when needed. Foster open dialogue amongst them by encouraging genuine conversations while being compassionate in all interactions.
You’ll want to be mindful of your language and how quickly you react to any issues. It’s important to let your students know that they don’t need to feel ashamed of their feelings or anxious about speaking up.
Implement mindfulness and relaxation techniques
Guide your students in simple mindfulness and relaxation strategies, such as deep breathing, creative visualization, and progressive muscle relaxation. These practices will assist them in calming down their anxiety levels while they are under pressure. The key is to implement them naturally, making them part of the routine of your class.
For example, start the day with a 2-3 minute mindfulness session with deep breathing exercises. This will promote an atmosphere of relaxation and help students refocus their attention. Or assign a short, fun activity that encourages students to express themselves. By incorporating these techniques into the daily routine of your classroom, you’ll be helping to create a safe atmosphere for your students.
Encourage physical activity and breaks
Physical activity is a perfect way to relieve stress. Encourage students to take breaks throughout the day to stretch, move, and play. This can help boost their mood and increase their focus. You’ll also want to provide opportunities for physical activity outside the classroom – such as field trips or sports activities – which will give them a chance to bond with one another and take a break from their regular studies.
Regardless of how you decide to add physical activity to your classroom, make sure you are providing your students with the time and space to express themselves and engage in exercises that help them feel better. It’s good for their overall well-being.
Address the root cause of stress
If a student is experiencing stress, try to understand the root cause and help them find solutions. This could involve working with the student to create a plan for managing their workload or seeking outside support from a counselor or therapist. However, it’s important to remember that you don’t have to have all the answers. Sometimes, being a listening ear is enough to help students feel better and gain perspective.
We suggest you understand each student’s needs and create a plan of action that works for them. If all it takes is a few words of encouragement, then ensure you’re providing that. But if a student’s stress levels are too high, don’t hesitate to contact their family and seek help from an outside source.
Promote positive self-talk and a growth mindset
Inspire your students to recognize their abilities and practice constructive self-talk. Educate them on the effects of a growth mindset so that they have the mental fortitude to handle difficulties and adversity. Through continued encouragement of positive thinking and strategies for developing resilience, our learners can gain control over stress levels and worries.
An effective way to do this is by demonstrating a growth mindset – for instance, praising students for trying something new and encouraging them to view complex tasks as opportunities rather than obstacles. With this approach, you’re teaching your students that their potential is limitless if they have the right mindset – a valuable lesson to take away from the classroom.
Conclusion for How to Support Stressed Out Students
Students need a healthy, safe place to learn and grow. As educators, we are responsible for providing them with the tools they need to overcome stress and anxiety. By incorporating mindfulness practices, providing physical activity, addressing the root cause of stress, and promoting a growth mindset, you’ll be helping your students to be more resilient, confident, and successful.To further support their growth and development, you can also provide an interactive typing experience through KeyboardingOnline. Our engaging and challenging typing games will keep your students motivated as they practice and master their typing skills. This will not only improve their typing proficiency but also provide a fun and enjoyable learning experience.