Maddie Martin             

In Virginia, the Campbell County school division is supported by the Virginia Preschool Initiative in providing preschool opportunities for at risk children living in the area. Students must be at or below the 200% poverty level or have a guardian who did not graduate high school. In these classrooms, they are incorporating the Frog Street curriculum for the first time. 

 

Frog Street equips teachers with materials to teach children strategies to regulate stress by practicing mindfulness. Students start their day by choosing a commitment to adhere to during the school day and practicing one of the six calming strategies. These strategies are reinforced throughout the school day.

 

“It’s been a push for Pre-K and even in K through five, to start the day talking about commitment and then going from there to teach our students ‘What can I do when I feel this?’” said Ashley Walsh, Director of Elementary Education in Campbell County. 

 

At risk children are prone to constant stressors in their everyday life, but are not developmentally at a point where they can manage their stress effectively. By implementing mindfulness strategies to help regulate and manage stress, students can lower cortisol levels. 

 

According to Madhumita Murgia’s Ted Ed talk, stressors tell the brain to release cortisol, which primes the body for an instant reaction. Too much cortisol impacts the part of the brain associated with learning, memories and stress control to the point of deterioration. Cortisol also impacts the parts of the brain associated with behavior regulation, social interaction and can stunt the production of new brain cells, which impacts a person’s ability to learn something new and remember information.

 

This first year of implementing Frog Street is laying the foundation for students to manage their stress. 

 

“If we do it effectively, we’re instilling those strategies in kids so when they move on, they know when this happens, [they] have options,” Walsh said.

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