PROFESSIONAL LEARNING:
CLASSROOM STRATEGIES FOR ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION PREVENTION
WITH
BRONTE SPICER
TEACHER | AUTHOR
Ready to accelerate student engagement in learning, and in life?
If you are hearing or seeing this in the classroom, your students may be struggling with their mental health, and inhibiting their capacity to learn.
It’s normal for all students to feel anxious and depressed from time to time as they grow and navigate life, but if they are stuck in anxiety and depression everyday and your staff are battling disengagement, negative self-talk, challenging behaviour or low attendance, simple evidence-based somatic classroom strategies can support their mental health and open the doorway to their learning potential.
Research shows that blocking out physical sensations related to emotions increases anxiety and depression symptoms.
The latest neuroscience shows why we can't always talk or rationalise our way out of problems, and why every student must learn how to develop interoception, the capacity to feel, from an early age. Your staff will learn to develop their own interoceptive skills through experiential practice using the 'MEET. GREET. TREAT.' model so they can then teach their students how to find safety with their biggest thoughts, fears and feelings.
It's never been more important to provide explicit instruction to feel safe with intense thoughts and feelings.
Shockingly, suicide is the leading cause of death for Australians aged 15-44. Further, people with autism can experience pain, including mental and emotional pain, at a higher intensity. Somatic strategies are pivotal to create emotional safety for all students in your school, including those who have sensitivities or are neurodivergent. Your staff will walk away from this comprehensive, contemporary professional learning with direct and highly-practical therapeutic steps to teach their students to stay engaged and accelerate their academic success.
CLASSROOM STRATEGIES FOR ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION PREVENTION
A Hands-On Professional Learning Workshop with Groundbreaking Neuroscience for Staff With Bronte Spicer
If you are dedicated to supporting your students, but see signs of poor mental health, this professional learning gives your staff:
An understanding of why students are experiencing anxiety and depression and struggle to focus their attention on their learning.
Practical and playful interoceptive classroom strategies to help your students grow into resilient, emotionally intelligent and engaged learners in the classroom.
Ready to expand learning capacity in your school?
What does depression and anxiety look like in the classroom?
Your students with depression and anxiety may be:
Sensitive, lacking confidence, feeling like a failure and thinking "I'm dumb"
Perfectionistic, always needing to be right, anxious about making mistakes or people-pleasing
Overwhelmed and withdrawing from their learning, saying “I can't do it” or not attending school
Hyperactive, fidgety, agitated, anxious and unable to focus
Lethargic and shutting down, saying “What's the point?”
Disruptive, acting out and defiant in the classroom
Quiet, shy and reluctant to contribute to class discussions and engage in extra-curricular activities
Facing challenges with friendships or feeling shame and jealousy of others
How this professional learning will help you create a positively engaged classroom
In this professional learning, your staff will explore and receive:
The latest neuroscience research and insights on trauma, the brain and the body, and how this affects student engagement and learning
The three parts to a student's experience that inhibits their learning potential
MY FEELINGS ARE MY FRIENDS classroom posters to guide students how to befriend and release their overwhelming emotions
PROCESS AND LET GO Guide for staff to have step-by-step instructions to safely sit with, acknowledge and let go of uncomfortable thoughts and feelings.
About Bronte Spicer – teacher, author, educational consultant.
After twenty years of lived experience with depression, I found the missing piece to mental health.
My name is Bronte Spicer, I'm a teacher, author of It's Okay to Cry - The Gentle Way to Dissolving Depression and educational consultant for school wellbeing. I teach teachers and parents the science and somatic steps to prevent and ease anxiety, depression and overwhelm in children.
I bring my wisdom and experience from twenty years of lived experience with depression, my professional career as a classroom and special education teacher and further study in advanced mindfulness, trauma and nervous system resilience to this professional learning.
I’m an award-winner writer for Elephant Journal and host to my podcast It's Okay to Cry. To learn more you can find me on social media.
Testimonials
"Bronte recently provided a PD for our primary school staff. She was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable, providing real life scenarios and strategies on how to prevent and manage anxieties in the classroom. We practised using the steps to assist with our own anxieties and to see how easy it is to use with our students. Thank you Bronte, we can’t wait to use your resources in our classrooms!"
- Madi Floyd, Spring Gully PS, 2023
"Bronte has taught me so many incredibly practical and effective tools that have helped me and my family learn how to process their feelings in a healthy and helpful way. This work should be compulsory reading for all teachers in training and should definitely be a part of the national curriculum."
- Kylie Reavley, Green Hill Public School, 2022
"This showed me what's really going on under the surface of the students who are struggling with their mental health.
I can see it's essential for students to feel their feelings and with these techniques it's achievable for them."
- Kerrieanne Hocking, Golden Square PS, 2021