Class Case Study 5

Returning to full-time teaching in a busy primary school after five years as a consultant, I am more aware than ever that the busy nature of our world, with its countless demands on children and school life, contributes to the stress and anxiety that many experience. Pressure to succeed among their peers has a powerful effect on how children behave and how they relate to each other and to different adults with whom they come into contact. I decided that I wanted to give children time to interact with each other through drama and visualisation but more importantly to sit still after the school day and reflect on events, allowing them to return to a level of peace and quiet before going home.

The Relax Kids programme provides the basis for my 45 minute session of quiet reflection, sharing the day’s successes and frustrations.
The fifteen 6 and 7 year olds in my weekly group line up excitedly in the corridor. Trailing big bags and PE kit they come into the classroom. We always begin each session sitting in a circle. I have two boxes which are placed in the centre of the circle. On the lid of one is written the word ‘HAPPY’ and on the other is written ‘UNHAPPY’. The children know that the ‘HAPPY’ box is where they will find all the now familiar resources which we use each week. But we often begin with the other box, which is empty. The lid is removed and they are given the opportunity to put in anything that has made them feel anxious or sad throughout the day. The first time I gave them the opportunity to do this, I was amazed at the way these imaginary bundles were stamped on then thrown into the box before the lid was put firmly in place. Having ‘dumped’ their problems, secured the lid and removed the box, we turn to the contents of the ‘HAPPY’ box.

We often begin with the star cards. The children help each other to read the affirmation written on their card and are happy to share each one around the circle. We sometimes choose to begin with our ‘magic’ stone. It is wrapped in shiny golden paper, fairly heavy and just about the size of their own small hands. As we pass the stone around the circle they each have time to pause for a special thought which is then passed around with the stone. They all believe that the stone is heavier when it reaches the final person in the circle as it is filled with everyone’s powerful thoughts.

The children then love to be taken on a journey following any one of the many themes which allow fantasy and imagination to take the lead. We finish the session lying on the floor listening to Marneta’s voice and one of the many stories which allows the visualisation of the session to be complete.
The children go out to their parents smiling.

If time allowed I would run a daily session. This, unfortunately, is not possible but I do try to intersperse each busy day with short bursts of positive thinking and relaxation techniques.

And what about the teacher at the end of each session? Well, I am also relaxed and sufficiently revived to tackle a final burst of preparation before leaving school.

Sally Bartlett
acting deputy head teacher
The Grange School Banbury

Class Case Study 4

We have been using Meditation cd’s to help us relax. They are a mix of music, stories and chants. They were bought from a website called www.relaxkids.com
We began with the familiar fairy tales stories so that we could ease ourselves in slowly. We lie peacefully on the floor and begin with calming breaths, we use various types of breath which we have learned through Yoga.
Some of us prefer to lie on our fronts as we find this less distracting.
We are also doing our weekly Yoga lessons that we wrote about before. Some of us are getting very limber and flexible. Our teacher often starts our class lessons with a quick yoga stretch session to wake us up, this helps us concentrate more.

Children from a Scottisch school exchanging with their friends from a Swedish school at Vastra Ramlosa.

Class Case Study 3

Helen Crompton found out about Relax Kids in Education magazine. She teaches 6-7 year olds in a community school and has been using the Wizard CD for five weeks. The children absolutely love them. She uses it immediately when they come in after the dinner break. They are very high and often come in complaining about something or other. Helen asks them to lie down on the carpet and shut their eyes and she plays one of the meditations, then asks them to come back to the register area quietly. The afternoon starts peacefully and most of the stress and the tales they were about to tell vanish and again they are relaxed and happy. The work in the afternoons is much improved.

Helen feels that the CD is wonderful for literacy as it is full of new vocabulary and ideas and the main thing is they enjoy the imaginative adventures. She feels the classroom is lovely after the CDs and the children feel calm and in a safe atmosphere to close their eyes and imagine away.

Helen adds: 'I would absolutely recommend Relax Kids to all schools everywhere and to use with all ages. The CDs have been a wonderful asset to have as a teacher, They calm the class within a very short space of time. A difference has definitely been noticed in the literacy lessons with the children's imaginations and the creativity coming on in leaps and bounds'.

Class Case Study 2

Francesca Catterson teaches a class of 10/11 year olds in Ely.  She has been using the Relax Kids CD for six weeks and the children absolutely love them and many have subsequently bought their own.  She has noted that the children's ability to relax has improved considerably and those who were previously twitchy and on the move can now sit calmly.  The children have talked more about breathing more easily and having 'calm heads'.  She finds that listening to the CDs seems to re-direct their energy - especially after break and lunchtime so channelling that energy from play into work.  The Wizards meditations have also inspired oral and written storytelling.  Children are able to concentrate for longer and have amore focused approach to school work on a regular basis. Relax Kids has helped to improve the atmosphere of her classroom beyond recognition.  'My teaching assistant and I have been delighted to see our pupils really enjoy meditation.  We are all feeling the benefits from having an atmosphere of calm and tranquility.  Relax Kids is not just for kids - they do wonders for teachers too!'

Class Case Study 1

My Name is Peter Blair and I have been using the Relax Kids books with 6-11 year olds during my PE teaching. 
I have been amazed at the range and positive comments the children have towards the passages. They always ask now if we are going to do a bit from that book when I go in for a session and want to know the title of the passage they are doing.  After the initial phase of introducing something new the children are familiar with the routine now of getting relaxed and are very sensible and open during any discussions after the passage as been read out to them.
Some of the year 6 children have tried to do it on their family and they really enjoyed it. If we do a session before PE the nervous children seem to be more willing to join in with all the activities. During discussions with the older children they have asked me for a photocopy of some of the passages so that they can use it at home or when they need it.  One particular year 6 child who does not like PE and was a persistent forgetter of kit now really enjoys PE as he knows we are going to do some work from the book sometime in the session. The year 6 children are more confident because they can relax their bodies.   

I have lent the books I have to another infant colleague who has used it before, during, and after literacy sessions and she has said that the creative writing from these sessions has been of a higher quality than is normally attained.  The children produce excellent brainstorming sessions straight after using the book. If the children have had a bad day and I use it before a session then the quality of their work and general state of mind is better.  It helps them organise their thoughts and put things in perspective for them in a non threatening way.  Children seem better focussed if they are calmer and are not so agitated.  One child who has particular behaviour difficulties is much better behaved after sessions.

The children look forward to my sessions and actively ask for it when I enter the room.  They love choosing what passage will be read out.  If their birthday is coming up then they enjoy choosing a visualisation.   The room is always calmer and quieter after sessions.  Children have been disappointed if we have not had time to do a meditation and a number of parents have asked me about what I have been doing as the children have gone home talking about it.

Here are some quotes from the children:

• "When I put my hand down I could touch the water"
•  "My carpet was white, silver and gold"
•  "I like the robot one because in your head you fell calm because you have stopped"
• "My favourite one is the one about the clouds"
• "I like the one about the place in your head that only you can go to." (this was a favourite with a lot of them)
• "When I get home I think about a passage and it stops my little sister getting on my nerves."

I only thought that this resource was going to be useful in the Cool Down section of PE sessions but I have been amazed at the effectiveness of setting the scene and creating a calmer, working environment at the beginning of sessions. I have used some music to go with the passages and this has helped with the delivery.

The number of teachers who have tried to borrow the books from me is amazing.