This week, we are continuing our work with Brainology. As you might recall, Brainology is a website that uses engaging cartoon characters to teach academic skills. For the second part of the Brainology curriculum, the program focuses on strategies you can use when you are feeling stressed or nervous. These feelings are a natural part of life. The challenge is that there are times when we get so nervous that we are unable to focus. At these points, certain strategies can help us to calm our down.
The program describes a few different strategies. These include:
- Calm your body. In previous grades, we spent time reviewing strategies to calm your body when you are upset. These include:
- Take 3 deep breaths
- Count slowly to 10
- Think of something that makes you happy
- The program introduces a strategy called square breathing. Consider asking your child to show it to you.
These skills can work to help calm your body during a stressful academic situation as well.
- Turn a negative thought into a positive one. For example, if you are thinking “I’m going to fail this test,” focus on changing your thoughts to “I studied, I prepared, and this is my time to show what I know.” This can work for any nerve-wracking academic situation and fits with the Growth Mindset language being taught in third grade classes.
If you have a moment, please review these strategies with your child/ren. And if you are finding that they are nervous about homework or an upcoming test or presentation, you can help them use these strategies to hopefully make things a little less stressful.
Thank you for your help reinforcing this important lesson.
Sincerely,
David Starr
School Counselor, Armstrong Elementary School
PH: (508) 836-7760 Email: [email protected]