Stress Reduction in the Classroom

This workshop was run by Amy Cameron, an ESOL teacher and Zainab Shaker, a refugee from Iraq and an ESOL student. Both women expressed finding that many students had high levels of stress. Stress can greatly disrupt learning and memory in the classroom. When the workshop first began we were separated into two groups and within the groups we each shared our names and something that caused us stress. There were many different kinds of stressors for the groups varying from school, work, kids, finances, and anxiety in general. Next we shared ways of coping with these stressors. Many women voiced that exercise or more specifically, walking, as a great stress reliever. Cameron then had several of us in the room read what some of her students had written about what was stressing them out. Many of the women were stressed about recently losing a job or not being able to find one. Also, many of them were afraid or ashamed of their literacy levels and the affect it had on them in their day to day lives. Cameron explained how in her class she and the students created a "Tree of Knowledge," as way of exploring stress management.

Shaker then explained what the "Tree of Knowledge" was made up of:

The Roots- What you learned from your family about stress

The Trunk- What you learned from your culture about stress

The Branches- What you taught yourself about stress

The Clouds- A stressor

We each made a mini version of the "Tree of Knowledge," for ourselves. Next Cameron explored a variety of stress reducers that she tested through experimental learning with her students at the beginning of each class and briefly experimented with us. Belly breathing was first where breathing with your stomach was the focus. Followed by guided visualization which still involved belly breathing while closing your eyes and listening to Cameron while she took you to a tropical island where you could throw your stress(in the form of a medium sized rock) into the ocean. Next we colored mandalas(which I found to be the most relaxing) and lastly she demonstrated some yoga moves that may reduce stress.

I definately left this workshop feeling more relaxed after we had just practiced a slew of potential stress reducers. Also, I felt relief after hearing all the varieties of ways these other women were affected by stressors because I think sometimes it's easy to get wrapped up in things instead of taking a minute to relax and figure out how to deal with them.