Professional Development and Community School Leaders and Administration Whole School
According to the Child Mind Institute, there has been a 17% increase in anxiety disorder diagnoses in young people. When these children show up in our classrooms, they want to be successful just like every other student but face many more challenges than their peers. Irritability, fatigue, and sleep difficulties can impact their ability to focus, have positive peer relationships, and complete assignments. But through empathy, accommodation, and collaboration with students, families, and specialists, we can help students with anxiety achieve at the highest levels.
Showing respect for and an appreciation of differences in our students is perhaps the best gift we can give them. Students who experience anxiety are bringing their best selves to school every day and having a teacher who accepts and supports them where they are can make all the difference. We can show these students they are known and supported by:
The key to making our classrooms safe, joyful, and challenging for students with anxiety is being prepared. Preparation requires knowing what events might trigger them, which means communicating with the student, their caregivers, former teachers, and specialists who have worked with them. Once we have input from all these sources, we can immediately begin to implement strategies that have proven successful with the student. Additional steps we can take are:
Some teachers believe they should wait until a student has a 504 Plan or Individualized Education Plan (IEP) to make accommodations for them. But if a student is showing signs of anxiety, empathy requires us to act in their best interest. The following accommodations can be used for any student who is showing signs of anxiety:
Responsive Classroom’s guiding principles highlight the importance of working with other adults, including students’ families. This teamwork is essential to the success of students with anxiety. Here are some ways teachers can work with families and others to support these students:
Students and families affected by anxiety are constantly confronted with the reality that the student’s challenges make it harder for them to learn in a traditional school setting. This reality underscores their need to hear positive information from teachers on a regular basis. We can encourage students and families by:
Meeting the needs of students with anxiety is as important as providing a ramp for a student in a wheelchair. Making a few accommodations can help them to navigate school life with increasing independence and success.
Written by Deanna Ross, Responsive Classroom Consulting Teacher, and Educational Consultant and Coach