Calm Strategies: A Step-by-Step Framework for Educators

Inside this post:  Learn how to harness and implement effective and easy-to-use calming strategies for you and your students.

WHAT POINTS YOU TO CALM?

Imagine you're feeling stressed and worn down, you’re worried about your growing to-do list, your mind is full and your body is tried – sound familiar?! 

In situations like these, what points your body towards calm? In other words, what is your Calm Compass?

Take a minute to think about that – do you have in inner toolbox at the ready to implement calm as needed? Or, are your coping strategies in need of a little recalibration?

No worries, you’re in the right spot. Calm is my middle name (actually, it’s Elizabeth, but stick with me here).

YOUR STEP-BY-STEP FRAMEWORK FOR CALM

I have a quick CALM acronym for you to implement as needed!


C-A-L-M

Collect

Activate

Learn

Memorize


Collect: Collect strategies that work for you. Some of my personal faves: deep breathing, visualization, body relaxation, positive self-talk, meditation.

Activate: Activate your identified strategies, as needed. Different triggers/stressors elicit the need for different strategies. I use what feels right for me in the moment.

Learn: Learn yourself - what works for you and what doesn’t. My tried and true calming strategies may align with yours, maybe they overlap, or maybe they are completely different.

Memorize: the more you practice and rely on healthy coping, the quicker your body will start to memorize calm and go there more easily. Seriously!! What you practice grows stronger (you’ll hear me say this A LOT). I probably say it at least once a day to co-workers and/or students.

What you practice grows stronger.

Once we, as educators, implement these practices within our own lives - it becomes easier to pass the strategies and skills onto our students. And, just as I am here to help YOU find your own calm; I want to give you some tried and true tools that you can use with your students.  

NEXT CALM STEP (FOR STUDENTS):

Be sure to grab my FREE Grow Your Calm resource to help your students strengthen their Calm Compass.  In this resource you'll find:

  • Detailed Teacher Guide - for how to use the resources in small group and whole group settings.
  • Calm Poster - a colorful visual for the classroom or meeting area.
  • Drawing Activity - have students illustrate the difference between their worried mind and calm mind. Students can write, draw pictures and get creative to illustrate the contrast between worried mind and calm mind. Teacher can then use this activity to talk about the differences of a calm mind versus a worried mind. Two versions available. (Google Slides compatible)
  • Coloring Page - for a calm reminder. Use this coloring activity during free time or a calming time for students.

NEXT CALM STEP (FOR TEACHERS & COUNSELORS):

Take a quick moment and think how you’ll use the CALM (collect, activate, learn, memorize) today. – 

Jot down and brainstorm some quick ideas that can strengthen your calm. Start with collecting a list of strategies that work for you.

The more accurate your Calm Compass is, the better your navigation skills!