2. A mental illness
characterised by
feelings of fear
Impacts 14% of
Australians, making
it the most common
mental illness
Between 2-9% of
children have an
anxiety disorder in
Australia
3. Summary
Anxiety often
manifests through
behaviour
Behaviours can be
both positive and
negative
Avoidant behaviours
are particularly
common
All types of anxiety
tend to impact upon
social interaction.
Teaching Strategies
Explicit instruction
in self-regulation
and other
management
strategies.
May require you to
teach, or support
what has been
taught.
‘Social Stories’ can
be a helpful tool
4. Summary
Reluctance to ask
for assistance,
elevated need for
verbal reassurance,
communication
apprehension.
Higher risk of
remaining unnoticed
Lower perceived
self-competence
and temperamental
flexibility
Teaching Strategies
Communication
books
Alternative
communication
strategies eg colour
coded mood cards
Explicitly teach
recognition of
anxiety symptoms
and strategies to
communicate these
feelings
5. Summary
Anxiety disorders are
often exacerbated by a
sensory overload
The smallest smells, sights
and sounds can over-
stimulate the senses.
Children with Anxiety
disorders can be fearful of
situations which may
overload the senses.
Teaching Strategies
Introduce student to safe
sensory areas such as a
sensory room, where a
child can experience
sensory stimulation on
their own terms.
Create a seating plan for
the student, such as away
from windows, in order
create a safe sensory
environment.
Maintain a classroom
environment without
excessive sensory
stimulation, such as too
much noise.
6. Summary
Trembling,
dizziness,
sweating, muscle
tension
Comorbidity with
functional
semantic
syndromes
Panic attacks
Teaching Strategies
Safe spaces
Stress
management skills
eg meditation and
time management
Panic attack action
plan
7. Summary
Children with Anxiety
disorders often find
concentration
difficult in and
outside of the
classroom.
Children with Anxiety
disorders regularly
find remembering
even basic
instructions difficult.
Memory and
concentration are
both effected in
similar ways.
Teaching Strategies
Work with
parents/guardians to create
strategies to aid memory,
such as reminders written
in a diary.
Work one on one with
student to create a more
relaxed environment where
concentration can become
more organic and not so
forced.
Planned rest breaks, to
reduce cognitive overload,
which allow students to
employ anxiety reducing
strategies and refocus their
attention.
8. Summary
Anxiety has no
direct bearing, but
cognitive
implications may
also impact here
Decreased working
memory, fatigue,
work/school
avoidance can all
impact on literacy
and numeracy
Teaching Strategies
Explicit quality
criteria and time
frames
Explicit, accessible
instructions
Instruction on
managing anxiety
Intensive programs
for improving
foundational skills
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