The common signs of stress, anxiety, and trauma responses in school.
Stress can also stem from outside factors, such as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) like trauma, health issues, loss, violence, or abuse. Poverty, discrimination, and mistreatment at home are key contributors to toxic stress. Educators should be aware of these signs alongside school-related stress to offer appropriate support.
Stress Thermometer helps children better recognize and express their stress levels, promoting self-awareness and emotional management. It allows educators to identify when a child is stressed and adjust their support accordingly, preventing burnout or other issues. This tool enhances communication between children and teachers and enables more targeted assistance.
Stress Thermometer
Children’s reactions to stress levels in school:
1. Relaxed – nearly asleep
The child is so relaxed that they are almost asleep and losing attention.
2. Relaxed – not focused
The child is relaxed but not focused on the lesson, with their thoughts elsewhere.
3. Relaxed – focused
The child is calm but still focused on the task, without stress or tension.
4. Focused and active
The child is fully focused, actively engaged, and completing tasks with energy.
5. Free flow with no effort
The child is in the “zone,” working efficiently without needing to exert much effort.
6. Free flow with some effort
The child is working smoothly but needs to put in some effort to maintain concentration.
7. Spaced-out
The child is physically present but mentally absent, staring off into space and not following the lesson.
8. Feel pressured – defensiveness
The child feels pressured and responds defensively or aggressively, even when there’s no reason.
9. Over-react
The child overreacts to small issues, such as yelling or getting upset over minor problems.
10. Loss of control
The child loses control of their emotions, leading to crying, shouting, or leaving the classroom.
11. Trauma/disassociation
The child is “disconnected” from reality and does not react to what’s happening around them, as if they’re mentally absent.
12. Mental collapse
The child is so overwhelmed that they completely shut down and are unable to handle any tasks.
This tool helps with:
Emotional management – It helps students track their emotional state and develop strategies for managing stress at different levels.
Self-reflection – Students can better understand their own emotions and identify when their stress begins to increase.
Burnout prevention – Educators can monitor students’ stress levels and intervene early if they approach dangerous levels.
Communication support – It makes it easier for students to express how they feel, which can sometimes be difficult to do in words.
Targeted support – Teachers can better tailor their assistance based on individual students’ needs.