If you work with students who worry, you've probably heard everything from "I'm anxious to present my book report" to "I'm worried I won't make it into college," and much more. Helping students find tools to manage their worries and cope with anxiety is difficult. I created this resource to teach my gifted and talented students concrete ways to manage their brain when it is spinning out of control with worry.
 
Check out the Contents of these Mini-Lessons on Worry Tools:
✏️ Tips for Parents and Teachers
✏️ 6-7 PowerPoint slides and 1-2 worksheets included to teach each tool
✏️ 50+ student-friendly pages!
Included Tools:
My Five Questions
I Did It!
Good, Bad, and In Between
Worry Walton
What’s on the Menu?
Check Your Feelings
Worry Expert
 
Discuss the scenarios included throughout the slides to help students make connections between their own worries and useful tools.
 
Use these social-emotional learning activities in so many ways!
✅ Introduce one new worry tool every month. Remind students of this tool when anxious situations arise.
✅ Teach small groups of students who struggle to manage their worries. A weekly intervention group can help students deepen their emotional intelligence and transfer social-emotional skills to their everyday lives.
✅ Add to your morning meeting routine! Incorporate these worry tools in your social-emotional meetings as a whole class.
 
To further extend your own learning, consider reading Why Smart Kids Worry by Allison Edwards. These resources can help you apply new ideas in practical ways with your students.
 
Hear From Educators Like You!
⭐️ "I teach a gifted and talented self-contained class. This resource has given my students realistic ways to cope with their daily worries. I am seeing a great improvement in several of my students who practice using their favorite tool on a regular basis."
⭐️ “I’m always looking for ways to help my anxious students. These tools are easy to use and the included resources are perfect for teaching small groups or the whole class.”
⭐️ “I love Allison Edward’s book and these slides and worksheets helped me put the tools to work!”
 
Find Answers to Your Questions:
✋ Are these materials print or digital?
Both! Present the PowerPoint slides to teach students about the tools. Then, give students a worksheet to practice using the tools. You may even want to compile the worksheets in a small folder or binder for students to reference regularly.
✋ How long does it take to teach one worry tool?
Each mini-lesson may range from 10 minutes to 30 minutes depending on the size of your group and the length of your discussions.
✋ Do I have to teach every tool?
No. Share the resources you find most helpful. Different students may relate better to certain tools. Continue experimenting until students find better ways to manage their anxiety.
✋ How can this resource help my gifted and talented students?
Oftentimes, gifted students develop asynchronously. Their IQ may be much higher than their EQ (emotional intelligence). Because of this, it can be helpful to teach social-emotional skills in concrete ways. Introducing gifted students to these worry tools can help them experiment with new ways to manage their anxiety.