My students and I are currently in Crunch Mode… unfortunately, this does NOT mean that we spend the day doing stomach crunches or eating Crunch bars … although I wouldn’t mind a Crunch bar marathon Instead this is what we call the last few weeks before our high stakes testing begins. For most, this is also the time when anxiety levels are through the roof. Especially in my state (Florida) where student retention is decided based on test scores. Anxiety is horrible and can cause everything from stomach aches, sleepless nights, inability to think clearly and even hives! YES, I actually had a parent break out in hives one year due to stress. Although we can’t change the fact that our students have to test, we CAN help them deal with their anxiety. If you’re unsure where to start, here are 8 tips to get you started… 1. Practice Breathing Exercises In my school, we call our relaxation technique S.B.G. or STOP, BREATHE, and GO. When students feel frustrated during a test, they stop + close their eyes, breathe in through their nose + out through their mouth (2 times). Then they continue with the test. […]
