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Social Emotional and Mental Health|Emotional

Tools and tips

Emotional Literacy

Emotional Literacy is at the top of the tables when it comes to teaching students about how to manage their own emotions. Many students don't have the words or ability to tell you how they are feeling so they show you instead, this is why it is important to view all 'behaviour as a means of communication'. Its up to you to figure out what a behaviour is trying to tell you. This can be achieved by giving students prompt cards or a range of emotions they are feeling some fantastic examples are included in the Toolbox.

Use bad experiences as teaching opportunities to develop positive self talk.

Use phrases like… ( if that happened to you how might you feel…what if that where yours...)to develop empathy

Emotions and stress

Many students find it difficult to regulate strong emotions and struggle to reflect on emotional outbursts. In terms of brain science this has a lot to do with overactive cortisol response, in brains that are on high alert. Once a cortisol response kicks in, it is hard to 'think' as the logical part of our brain gets shut down in favour of a more primitive response to stress. This is why it is important to give students time to calm down before trying to reason with them after an emotional outburst. It is important to try and avoid emotional outburst when possible by knowing a students triggers, reading body language signals, (teaching students about these for themselves). Humour and distraction are good tools for diverting stress responses. I often say something totally random and slightly funny like wouldn't it be easier if the school got some sheep to cut the grass, as it gets students thinking again and opens up visual centres of the brain. The Emotion Coaching paper in the toolbox is well worth a read for practical ideas of how to support students in the classroom.

The incredible 5 point scale

The scale is a simple yet effective resource for allowing students to understand their own issues better and it also gives them a prompt to be able to talk about emotions. It can lead to small steps towards clear regularly reviewed goals. I have included a scale in the Toolbox and a link to the website here.

Celebrate success

Have classroom leader-boards (get your subject involved in year group rewards) use the school reward system use a positive reporting system (template included in Toolbox). Let parents know positive outcomes by phone or postcards home.

TOOLBOX