As educators, we recognize the importance of helping our students develop effective strategies to manage their emotions and maintain a positive learning environment. In this blog post, we will explore a specific calming strategy – taking deep breaths and counting them – and discuss ways to incorporate this skill into your teaching practice. Additionally, we will provide a no-prep activity, discussion questions, and related skills to further enhance your students’ social-emotional learning.

Introduction

Teaching students how to calm down when they are feeling overwhelmed or upset is an essential aspect of social-emotional learning. One effective strategy for managing emotions is taking deep breaths and counting them, as demonstrated by the character, Josh. This simple technique can have a powerful impact on students’ ability to self-regulate and maintain a positive mindset in the classroom.

No-Prep Activity

To introduce the calming strategy of taking deep breaths and counting them, try this no-prep activity with your students:

1. Ask students to sit quietly and comfortably in their seats.
2. Explain that you will be guiding them through a calming exercise in which they will take deep breaths and count them.
3. Instruct students to close their eyes and take a deep breath in through their nose, filling their lungs completely. Have them hold the breath for a moment, then exhale slowly through their mouth.
4. As they exhale, ask students to silently count “one.”
5. Repeat this process four more times, counting each breath until they reach “five.”
6. After completing the exercise, invite students to share how they feel and discuss the benefits of using this strategy when they need to calm down.

This simple activity requires no preparation or materials and can be easily incorporated into your daily routine to help students practice self-regulation and emotional management.

Discussion Questions

Use these discussion questions to engage your students in further conversation about the calming strategy of taking deep breaths and counting them:

• Why do you think taking deep breaths and counting them can help us calm down?
• Can you think of a time when you felt upset or overwhelmed and used a calming strategy? What did you do, and how did it help?
• What other calming strategies might be helpful for managing emotions?
• How can practicing calming strategies improve our overall well-being and learning experience?
• Why is it important to have a variety of calming strategies to choose from?

Related Skills

In addition to taking deep breaths and counting them, there are many other skills that can support students’ social-emotional learning and emotional management. Some related skills include:

• Mindfulness: Teaching students to be present and aware of their thoughts and feelings without judgment can help them better manage their emotions.
• Positive self-talk: Encouraging students to use affirming language when talking to themselves can boost their self-esteem and help them cope with challenging situations.
• Conflict resolution: Providing students with strategies for resolving conflicts in a respectful and constructive manner can improve their interpersonal skills and overall emotional well-being.
• Stress management: Offering students tools for managing stress, such as exercise, relaxation techniques, and time management skills, can help them maintain a healthy balance in their lives.

Next Steps

Now that you have learned about the calming strategy of taking deep breaths and counting them, along with a no-prep activity, discussion questions, and related skills, you are well-equipped to support your students’ social-emotional learning. To further enhance your teaching practice, we encourage you to explore additional resources and sample materials available at Everyday Speech. Sign up for free samples and discover more effective strategies and activities to help your students develop essential life skills.