Sanity Savers - Stress Busters

Sanity Savers -> Stress Busters

Anti-Depressant Kit

My Mother-In-Law had this cute idea. She got it at a Luncheon and I made up the small ziplocks and gave them to the Staff at my school. I teach 2nd grade, and when you get to the end of the school year, this can come in very handy. Just gather all the ingredients and place in a snack size ziplock bag with the note explaining the kit.

An Anti-depressant Kit:
An Eraser, so you can make all your problems disappear.
A Penny, so you can never say, "I'm broke!"
A Marble, in case someone says, "You've lost your marbles!"
A Rubber Band, to stretch yourself beyond limits.
A String, to tie things together when everything falls apart.
A Hug & A Kiss, to remind you that someone, somewhere cares about you.

Joya Hill
2 Grade
Pioneer Elementary
Weiser, Idaho

Walk it Off

On days when everyone, including me, is restless we go for a walk. I tell the students to carefully observe as we go because when we return a list will be due. We have made lists of bulletin boards, what classes were doing, who we saw , and many more things. This ten minute walk can do wonders.

Amy Murrain
Linneus MO

Quiet, Please

I am an English teacher at an alternative high school. Many of the students I teach are SBH and there are some lessons I can't teach because the noise level is a problem. During these days I let the students know that, "today is a quiet day and no one is allowed to talk." I tell them that they have the opportunity to get 10 extra credit points for this. However, if anyone talks, one point is subtracted from everyone and this can go into negative extra credit points. It works wonderfully.

It's in the Bag

I keep a little baggie in my desk drawer that contains a few breath mints, cough drops, hand lotion, a small bottle of my favorite perfume, and a picture of my husband and my grandchildren. Any little notes that I receive from a parent or student that are positive are in there also. When I feel overwhelmed by the workload, the kids' behavior, the growing stack of papers to be graded, all of the paperwork required of me, or any of 100 other different stress starters, I can open my little kit and have a small bit of home and/or positive feedback for the taking - right in the middle of the chaos. Sometimes all I need is to be reminded that I have a life away from my classroom and that there are people who really love and appreciate me. It really helps on a "down" day.

Janice McNair
Augusta, GA

The Quiet Game

When you just need a few minutes to catch your breath and quiet the children down I have a great game that works with K-1 students. All the children have to sit as quietly as possible. One child walks around the room and chooses the quietest child. Then that child gets to choose another quiet child. It really works!!!

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