Created in 2014 by Newark Yoga Movement founder Debby Kaminsky, these three-minute scripts include centering and breathing, movement and relaxation. Each script strives to be universal to engage pre-k through high school students, school educators and staff. The scripts versatile format make allows a variety of uses including efficient school-wide over public address systems or convocations or smaller scale classroom by classroom. Additionally, each script gives the ability to focus on one section if constrained by time e.g., the relaxation section prior to test or the movement section to refocus energy. A 36-script Instant Calm program is used over the course of the school year with an optional creative writing component for 3rd-12th grade.
In 2014, noticing the increased stress and anxiety levels for upcoming tests, Debby worked with some NBOE schools to guide an instant calm script with all grades receiving testing. Qualitatively, students and staff enjoyed a sense of calm before hours of testing.
Newark Yoga Movement has brought self-regulating tools to 5,000+ Newark Educators and 34,000+ students since 2010. Its model enhances curriculum rather than being a new curriculum to help optimize all learning that currently goes on throughout the district. The organization offers a variety of programs for staff, students, parents and the community both during the regular school day and after school.
Standardized testing is stressful for students, educators and facilitators. Often, anxiety levels increase just by looking at testing documents to fill out. Anxiety and stress often get in the way of students performing at their best, whether in a sporting situation or a standardized test.
NBOE continues to strive to create an optimal testing environment for students so that outcomes can continue to improve. Standardized testing can be stressful and anxiety-provoking. While easy access to practice testing helps to demystify assessments, simple self-regulation techniques prior to testing can also be helpful to our students. OPPET is developing tools to help maximize quality testing experiences and results among district students. INSTANT CALM IS FOR NWEA/MAP ONLY
Instant Calm involves using a guided recording of three-minute breathing, movement, and relaxation exercises to help our students foster a bit of calm prior to taking MAP.
This program was created through our partnership with Newark Yoga Movement, a 501c3 supporting districtwide social-emotional learning initiatives being offered to students this year. (newarkyogamovement@gmail.com)
During the 22-23 school year, a recorded three-minute instant calm script (script attached) will be available to those schools and educators who wish to use it with their students prior to MAP district testing. Specifically, this recording would occur before any testing directions are given out to students.
Evaluation of Instant Calm impact to occur upon completion of three rounds of MAP testing (October 2022, January 2023, June 2023). Specific measures to be evaluated include:
Student Behavioral shifts -stress and anxiety levels, e.g., do students feel less stressed and anxious prior to testing? Is in-class behavior during testing more manageable? How does three minutes of Instant Calm make them feel?
Student Testing Outcomes there a difference between those experiencing Instant Calm vs. those classes that did not participate in the three-minute script? Did Instant Calm help create a calm environment to maximize testing outcomes?
Staff State of Mind- are proctors/educators calmer and less overwhelmed or the same?
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