In this day and age, academics and student life can be overwhelming for school age kids. At St. Mary School, Mrs. Teri Merkle's…
Classroom Relaxation Strategies
In this day and age, academics and student life can be overwhelming for school age kids. At St. Mary School, Mrs. Teri Merkle’s third-graders are learning how to slow down and take a breath to help decrease any stress they may feel and increase their focus on tasks. Dr. Sandra Grepp, school psychologist, has been visiting the classroom once per week to practice slow breathing exercises with the third-graders.
So far, they have learned how to breathe in slowly and deeply to a count of five, hold for a count of one and then exhale slowly to a count of six. Each third-grader takes turns leading the class by counting aloud while the others focus on their breathing techniques.
Dr. Grepp began her lessons by teaching students about how their lungs work and how we breathe.
As a certified yoga instructor, she emphasized to the class that, “Breathing out longer than breathing in can help to calm us.”
She hopes to continue to build on this with the class throughout the year teaching them more strategies as they go.
Mrs. Merkle reports, “Students have shared with me how these breathing exercises have helped them cool down anger, fall asleep, calm their anxiety and relax before taking a test. They are learning that when they practice slow breathing, it will become a natural response when they need it. We are looking forward to continuing to learn breathing techniques for the remainder of the year.”
