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This Week's Topic Relaxation Techniques for Adult Learners Adults who are returning to the classroom are often frightened. Mention testing and their blood pressure goes up. This week’s Teaching Tips offer relaxation tips that you can pass along to your students. This Week's Tips Visualize Succesful Test Taking (Monday) To help students visualize successful test taking, have them follow these steps: Before the big day arrives, sit down in a comfortable chair, feet flat on the floor and your spine straight. Take a few breaths and relax. Using your imagination, “see” yourself in the test situation. See yourself in the classroom taking a test and answering all the questions easily and quickly. Have at least three sessions like this before test day. Breathing Technique for Relaxation (Tuesday) This breathing technique, which can be done in class, while driving, or in the workplace, guarantees reduction of stress for students—and their instructors: Breath in through the nose to the count of four. Hold your breath for eight counts. Breath out through your mouth to the count of seven. Repeat this technique three times. Self-talk Technique for Relaxation (Wednesday) Students can self-talk themselves into stress or into relaxation. To help them relax, give them this technique: Play quiet, soothing music. Sit in a comfortable chair. Take several deep breaths, feeling your shoulders relax as you breathe. Say over and over to yourself words to this effect, “I know this material and I will do well on the test.” After several minutes, get up, and go about your day. Repeat the exercise several times each day. Writing Technique for Relaxing (Thursday) Students can influence their thoughts by writing. To help them, give them a copy of this week’s Download Depot and this technique: Write a positive statement about something you want to accomplish. Make your statement short and easy to remember. Write the statement on several 3 × 5 note cards. Paste the note cards everywhere you will see them—on the bathroom mirror, on the car visor, on the kitchen cabinets. Every time you see a card, read the statement aloud.
More Relaxation Techniques (Friday) For adult students who divide their time between work and school, going to class and completing assignments can be stressful. Here are several tips to help students relax: Take 10 minutes a day to turn off and turn inwards. Exercise. Even light exercise helps reduce stress. Too much energy? Dance it away. Have a soothing cup of herbal tea. Take a study break and stretch your body. |
