Research Proven Back-to-School Anxiety and Coping Strategies for Students, School Staff and Family Members
Originally posted by Wonder Media.
When kiddos return to the classroom after a fun filled summer the transition can be difficult for students, teachers, and family members. When you turn on an Habits of Mind animation to start the school day you will have the students’ full attention. For example, share the 3 minute “Persisting” lesson every day for one week and you have created a mental health habit.
The second week start the day with “Managing Impulsivity” and show it every day. The third week start the day with “Thinking Flexibly” and show it every day.
In 16 weeks, you will have shared all 16 Habits of Mind and your students will have a new set of skills to help manage any stress or anxiety they might confront.
For more than 30 years, educators have used the 16 Habits of Mind, created by Dr. Art Costa and Dr. Bena Kallick of the Global Institute for Habits of Mind.
Listed below is how each of the 16 Habits of Mind Instructional Animations qualifies as a mental health resource for students in grades K-6. Linked to each instructional animation is more research information that reinforces the efficacy of each lesson.
Teaching children about persisting fosters resilience, growth mindset, self-efficacy, emotional regulation, goal-setting, and self-awareness. These skills are essential for promoting positive mental health.
Teaching children about managing impulsivity in elementary school equips them with essential mental health skills that contribute to their emotional development, social interactions, academic performance, and stress management.
Teaching children about thinking flexibly as a mental health skill supports their cognitive adaptability, problem-solving skills, resilience, stress reduction, open-mindedness, acceptance, growth mindset, creativity, and innovation.
Teaching children about questioning and problem posing as mental health skills supports their critical thinking abilities, problem-solving skills, curiosity, love for learning, resilience, growth mindset, self-confidence, autonomy, and self-awareness.
Teaching children this habit supports their mental health by cultivating a growth mindset, fostering curiosity and engagement and boosting self-confidence. These skills contribute to their overall well-being, resilience, and ability to navigate the challenges they encounter throughout their lives.
Teaching empathy in elementary school promotes positive mental health and helps foster emotional regulation, social connections, compassion, kindness, reduced bullying, improved self-esteem, stress reduction, and resilience.
Teaching children this habit supports their mental health by enhancing cognitive skills, promoting effective communication, building self-confidence, encouraging self-reflection, reducing anxiety and stress, and developing critical thinking abilities.
Teaching children about striving for accuracy supports their mental health by promoting cognitive development, building self-confidence, enhancing problem-solving skills, improving attention to detail, reducing anxiety and stress, and fostering ethical behavior.
Teaching children metacognitive skills contributes to positive mental health outcomes by enhancing self-understanding, resilience, adaptive learning strategies, and overall well-being.
Teaching children about responding with wonderment and awe as a mental health skill supports their positive emotions, curiosity, mindfulness, gratitude, perspective-taking, positive mindset, resilience, connection, and social bonds.
Teaching children about applying past knowledge to new situations as a mental health skill supports their cognitive flexibility, problem-solving skills, confidence, self-efficacy, learning from mistakes, transfer of learning, adaptability, resilience, cognitive growth, and curiosity.
By teaching children about creating, imagining, and innovating as a mental health skill, we support their self-expression, critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, resilience, stress reduction, imagination, positive emotions, and adaptability.
Teaching children about finding humor supports their mental health by promoting emotional well-being, stress reduction, resilience, social connections, positive coping strategies, a positive mindset, and self-expression.
Teaching children about gathering data through all senses are skills that are important for mental health, as they enhance self-awareness, emotional regulation, resilience, and a sense of connection to oneself and the world.
Teaching children about thinking interdependently as a mental health skill supports their collaboration skills, empathy, social competence, emotional regulation, problem-solving abilities, resilience, adaptability, sense of belonging, and community.
Teaching children this habit supports their mental health by promoting self-discovery and developing problem-solving skills. By embracing calculated risks, children learn to face challenges, adapt to new situations, and develop a positive mindset that contributes to their emotional well-being.
