How to Calm Down (for Students and Teachers): The Box Breath

Become the master of your mind! When you are calm, you make better decisions for yourself and your students. So when problems arise in your classroom and you feel yourself getting upset, don’t respond right away. Use one of these four strategies to calm down, then revisit the problem. You will immediately notice the difference. The third of our four strategies is the “box breath,” which provides visual scaffolding for those who have difficulty calming the brain down using present breathing alone.

Key Points

• A guided breathing technique that uses a visual scaffold to control your breathing
• This will enable you to think more clearly and calmly, and ultimately make a better decision

Additional Resources

Mindfulness for Teachers and School Leaders

Practice Over Perfection: Bringing Mindfulness to the Classroom

Teacher Self-Care 101: 4 Ways to Reclaim Your Time, Energy and Piece of Mind

Managing Challenging Student Behaviors

Establishing Powerful Presence in the Classroom