Anxiety in the classroom can be a sleeping giant because one
can never tell how another person copes with a situation. In a typical school
setting, it may be common to have stressors from all aspects of life. There are
always pressures to perform better, especially when it comes to academics. Along
with the desire to exceed expectations, anxiety can overtake some students. I
feel that is a way of building character. However, in a special education
setting anxiety can have a different toll on certain students. In the classroom
I work in, each of our students have a different IEP and all have certain
“triggers.” Some may be roused by loud noises, smells, or certain activities.
Any given day is different, and certain behaviors can offset other children’s
behaviors. One student gets extremely agitated when my student consistently
presses his name on his device. The student will disengage and look frantically
around the class while pulling his hair until we can redirect the student with
the device. This is just an example and a part of these stressors, and can be
chalked up to ‘boys will be boys.’ On the one hand, though, anxiety in students
who are in special education can ultimately lead to more complicated scenarios.
We possess a
great sense of classroom management, which I plan to model my teaching style
after in regards to student placement. I plan to make sure I do my best to be
aware of my student’s anxiety triggers and develop strategies to prevent them
at any means possible. We use soothing, “cool” down music after any activity
that is energetic along with always having headphones available for the students
who dislike loud noises. Lastly, calming oils for smelling are sometimes a
solution. One student in my class has a medley of oils to smell due to the
heights his anxiety can reach.
From time to time
we all face anxiety, and it is important to address it as soon as you can. If
your students are facing anxiety, it is important to make them feel safe and
secure. Along with the reassurance that that they are not doing anything wrong,
and that you are here to help.
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