Anxiety

If you've known me for more than 72.4 seconds, you likely know that I struggle with anxiety. My brain has been fairly nasty the last few weeks and the universe has responded by dropping all kinds of resources and loving humans into my lap. Thanks, universe!

Do they still make these things?

I recently read an article about allowing kids with anxiety to sit with their discomfort and learn from it. I remember when I was in fifth grade and my math teacher made a joke about how high up the pencil sharpener was mounted on the wall. He said, "That must feel like a mountain to her!" Maybe this is why I hate math? Anyway, my mom (who is also short) stormed into the school the following week to yell at him. That was a missed opportunity for me to work through my feelings and practice some coping mechanisms. Now that I'm grown and have taught youth to work through situations like these, I wish that she had educated me instead of turning into momma bear. It's the same with teaching, we mustn't allow our students off the hook just because they're uncomfortable.

I've seen a lot of educators over the years who struggle to find the balance between pushover and tough love drill sergeant. Toward the end of my tenure in the classroom, I adopted the question, "Where is the learning here?"

          If a student just stormed out of their Literacy classroom   

          because the teacher made them angry, the learning may 

          have been in how to interact effectively with people we don't like.

          For the student who sat alone at lunch every day (and hated it - I 

          totally agree that some kids enjoy solitude), the learning was in 

          identifying their unique strengths (read: confidence).

          The kid who feels like eyes are always on them? The one who is  

          terrified to look dumb in front of their peers? The learning could 

          be in how to fail with grace and fortitude. Or it could be how to 

          engage with logic during an amygdala hijack. Or it could be 

          mindfulness. Or some combination of these things.

          You catch my drift.

So what do you do as an educator? First, remove peer spectators. Then show compassion for what they're feeling by making your student feel heard and respected. Stay calm (even if you're feeling anxious!) and speak low and slow. Once the youth is feeling more relaxed, you can tap into the rapport you've built and coach them in how to create an action plan. Remember they can be easily re-escalated during this time, so continue being compassionate, respectful, and calm. Your student might need to be referred to a counselor for more one-on-one assistance (please refrain from making diagnoses). Want more information? Check out this series of slides.

On another note, I built some raised beds on Friday, then Jeff and I moved seven tons of river rock over the next two days. Here is Kate playing with plastic eggs inside one of the boxes. Like you do.