The Impact of Anxiety On Children In The Classroom
print
tell a friend
Tuesday afternoon, 1:30 p.m.
Pinny is a fourth grader in Mrs. Spitzer’s classroom. The class is doing a math lesson – its long division. Pinny loves math, so he’s giving Mrs. Spitzer his full attention.
“Now class,” Mrs. Spitzer intones, “what do we do after we subtract 7 from 9?” “Bring down the 4,” answers the entire class in unison.
O.K. I know subtract and bring down, but haw does it start again? Oy, I’m never gonna be able to do this. We have a social studies test on Thursday on 40 pages in the book. 40 pages!!! How am I gonna study 4O pages?
“On to more examples. 653 divided by 9.”
Pinny glances down at his math workbook, and is surprised to discover that he has written nothing in the spaces for the answers to numbers 1,2,3, and 4. As he glances around the classroom, he sees that everyone’s workbook is filled except his. As he quickly glances at Chaim’s workbook, which is on the desk next to his and fills in the answers, he feels so frustrated.
“What s wrong with me,” he wonders.
Test Taking Anxiety
Thursday Afternoon, 2:30 p.m.
Pinny feels nervous. He studied the material a few times with his mother the night before, but he is not sure he knows it well. He couldn’t eat breakfast or lunch properly so his stomach is rumbling and his mouth feels dry.
“Keep your eyes on your own paper” says Mrs. Spitzer firmly. “Turn your papers over and you may begin.”
Pinny turns his paper over and looks at it again and again. None of it, nothing seems familiar. “Maybe I got the wrong test, “Pinny thinks to himself. “Let me take a look at Chaim’s paper. I hope Mrs. Spitzer doesn’t notice. Nope. It’s the exact same test. I don’t get it I studied hard last night? What happened?”
And as he watches everybody else busily filling in answers on their test paper, he frantically tries to recall something, ANYTHING, from last night’s study session. Pinny sits there feeling truly helpless and wondering “what’s wrong with me?”
Following Instructions/Comprehension
Friday Morning, 11:45 a.m.
Pinny is exhausted. He barely slept the night before worrying about taking the bus to go to his grandmother’s house for Shabbos. This would be the first time he would be going there straight from school.
The Rebbe is speaking to the boys, something about bus changes.
“O.K. boys, listen up. We have new drivers on the buses, and the routes have changed slightly. I’m going to read your name and bus number. After that, I want you to pack up, and wait on line until I dismiss you.
“Berkowitz, Benoliel, Cahan, and Davis, bus number 41. Ettinger, Friedman, Ganzweig, and Gewirtz, bus number 42.”
I hope Bobby prepared my favorite chocolate cake. I hope she remembered that the cover that she usually keeps on the bed is very scratchy and itchy. I hope she changed it to the green and blue one.
Mommy thinks I’m big enough to take the bus all by myself. I hope she’s right and I don’t get…
“Pinny,” a deep voice interrupts “Everyone else is packed up, on line, and ready to go.”
“Right Rebbe, I’ll be really quick .Which bus am I going on again?” Pinny hears the rebbe audibly sigh, as he repeats the instructions for the bus.
Memory
Friday afternoon 12:10 p.m.
Pinny gets on the bus headed to Flatbush. He feels a bit queasy, but he has reviewed the route so many times with his mother that he’s pretty sure he’ll know where to go. After frantically searching through his knapsack, he realizes that he has misplaced the address.
O.K., so I’ve been to Bobby’s house before, I’ll just wing the address from memory. Is it 1427 East 37th street, or 1437 East 27th street. Which one is it? I can’t remember. Which one is it? Let me think…Let me think…. O.K. I know my friend Simcha lives around the corner from Bobby, and he lives on East 28th street, so its gotta be…Whewl Here’s the paper with the address stuck in the pocket of my folder. East 27th street here we come!
Pinny suffers from anxiety disorder NOT an inability to get his act together. Anxiety is the primary reason for disorganization of the mind and body. A lack of focus, concentration, memory, and comprehension are all symptoms.
According to the DSMIV, symptoms of anxiety include:
1. Restlessness, feeling keyed up or on edge
2. Being easily fatigued
3. Difficulty concentrating, mind going blank
4. Irritability
5. Muscle tension
6. Sleep disturbances
Children who surfer from anxiety may exhibit a few or all of these symptoms. Symptoms must be present for at least 6 months or more to be classified as Generalized Anxiety Disorder. The symptoms should not stem from a medical condition, another disorder, or the effect of a substance.
Traditionally anxiety is treated with medication and therapy (the most effective being cognitive behavioral therapy).
NOTE: Care must be taken to distinguish between anxiety and ADD, as they may each present with similar symptoms, but both pharmaceutical and therapeutic interventions will vary with each diagnosis.
Sunday afternoon, 2:45 p.m.
Pinny walks home with his best friend Chaim. As they chat about schoolwork, homework, the Rebbe, the Morah, and possibilities for supper waiting at home, Pinny is totally unaware that he has just run the equivalent of a 10-mile marathon throughout the day in his mind. No wonder he always feels so exhausted!
Note: This article does not attempt in any way to diagnose, treat, or offer instant solutions to those who suffer from anxiety. It is simply an attempt to enter the mind and heart of a child with anxiety so that we may achieve higher levels of understanding and compassion in our homes and schools.
Chaya Sarah Stark, M.S. is an educational evaluator in private practice for over 25 years. She has also served as an educational consultant to many schools, implementing curriculum, and guiding teachers as to how to deal with their students. In addition, she is a dance therapist. She can be reached at (718) 338-5910.
Special thanks to Mr. Moshe Fried, MSW for his gracious and invaluable input.
tell a friendAbout the Author: Chaya Sarah Stark, M.S. is an educational evaluator in private practice for over 25 years. She has also served as an educational consultant to many schools, implementing curriculum, and guiding teachers as to how to deal with their students. In addition, she is a dance therapist. She can be reached at (718) 338-5910.
You might also be interested in:
If you don't see your comment after publishing it, refresh the page.
Loading ...