Description

** Trigger warning: This episode includes brief mentions of addiction, alcoholism, and suicide. If these topics are difficult for you, please take care while listening or skip this episode if needed (skip to 11:17 to avoid mentions).  Your well-being is important to us.**

Athea Davis is the SEL Director / After School Mindfulness Educator at Etoile Academy Charter School. With testing season around the corner, anxiety and stress is heightened for students and staff. She shared strategies that educators and parents can walk students through who are struggling with test anxiety:

• Name it to tame it
• Hands on heart breathing
• Counting 3-5 breaths. In for 3. Out for 5.
• Take 5 Breathing (or Starfish Breathing for littles)
• Add movement: torso twist from your desk
• Shake Out!

She wrapped up our time together with a guided body scan. Teachers can easily incorporate this portion of audio into their classroom whenever they notice the need for some anxiety management.