Series Creating Success in Middle School: Using Guided Relaxation in the Classroom

Using Guided Relaxation in the Classroom

Lesson Objective: Use guided relaxation to help students focus
All Grades / All Subjects / Mindset
3 MIN

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Discussion and Supporting Materials

Thought starters

  1. How could you start incorporating this strategy into your classroom?
  2. How often does Ms. Mechler use this strategy?
  3. What are the benefits of using this strategy?

28 Comments

  • Private message to Sheila Vardaman

This is a great example of using relaxation techniques in the classroom while teaching students strategies they can apply in different aspects of their lives. I plan to incorporate this relaxation technique in my classroom this academic school year. I also would like to use a pre-test and post-test to determine students' perceptions of the effectiveness of the technique. Great video for teachers! 

Recommended (1)
  • Private message to Eba Martinez

I really like how she did the focus breathing exercises with the children in the beginning to get them to open up and relax a little bit. I think it's important to remember that before we can engage in learning the children must first open up and be open to the learning, by making sure that they are comfortable and more relaxed in their classroom setting I feel this will provide for better learning. I also like how my allowing them the time to focus opens up their minds, and allows and prepares the students to engage in learning. As an instructor I would try to incorporate this into my classroom at least twice a day once in the beginning of the class to open the students up and engage them. I would again apply this method towards the end of class to help the children, relax before exiting the classroom and entering into the world. I like the fact that the teacher does this in the video 2 to 3 times a day, and I also like the fact that all the students know when question why they are doing this exercise, and what the benefits are. All of the methods were good to help children with anxiety, panic attacks, as well as just relax their brain and adjust to the classroom, setting, too many positive attributes from this exercise to just list one.

Recommended (1)
  • Private message to Maya Fitzpatrick

Inserting these breaks into the classroom is really exciting to see, especially starting in elementary school. Developing these relaxation skills this early gives them time to really learn, embrace, and make a habit out of these techniques. When I heard Ms. Mechler does this up to three times a day, it felt excessive at first, but when I think about how many times I have felt overwhelmed in school, three mental breaks each day is accurate. 

Recommended (1)
  • Private message to Jeremiah Chase

I think this is a great thing to start early in elementary school and continue on to secondary education. Mental health is super important and I really appreciate that this teaches students how to handle stress, anxiety, or other problems in a healthy way.

Recommended (1)
  • Private message to Victoria Schwab

The idea of helping the kids relax is a great idea. The reason behind my thinking of this is because especially in art kids brains will often shut off and create what we call an art block or any block. So when they get a block they are not able to think or process anything. So with taking a break and helping them relax and focus on their breath and get them calm can help them get them thinking. Another reason of why this is great for the kids is that they will be less stress. Because doing 50 minutes or an hour of just straight work can be very stressful. I will be using this in my classroom.

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Transcripts

  • Speaker 1: Go ahead and sit up nice and straight. You're going to listen to my voice. Close your eyes.

    Speaker 1: Go ahead and sit up nice and straight. You're going to listen to my voice. Close your eyes. Today we did a focused breathing activity, which is called a body scan. Let's start our focus at your feet. I want you to wiggle your toes. Focus on your toes. This was something that they have done before. And then all the way up to your lower back. Focus on going down your arm to your wrist and now to the palm of your hand. I help them bring their brain to a place where they're not thinking about what's going on outside their heads. They're really having to use their brain to focus on these different places of their body. Back up your right arm to your elbow and up to your shoulder. We practice probably two or three times a day. Can anybody tell me why we do that?

    Speaker 2: To be ready for the next thing.

    Speaker 3: To live in the present and focus on our breath.

    Speaker 4: Train our brains.

    Speaker 1: It's a great way to train your brain for moments of anxiety, fear, just as a way to calm the brain. It helps you to get yourself to a place where you're thinking logically. Really, you're taking your focus off of whatever that exterior thing is that's bothering you. Focus on your jaw, your mouth. I love the idea of starting the first day of school and getting those children used to the routines and procedures. It can be shortened, or it can be lengthened. And it just kind of depends on what your needs are with your students at that time. Up to your eyes. I want them to walk away with knowing that they can use this strategy in general-- when things are exciting, when they're worrying about something, or events that we're going to. See if you can see the back of your eyelids. Maybe there's something back there. So having that strategy of saying, "Ok, ok. I'm going to calm down, and I'm going to bring myself where I am right now," wherever you are, and then you're there. And out the top of your head and then you can slowly and gently open your eyes. Great focus. It's good for the teachers too.

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Anne Mechler
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