DESIGNING THE CLASSROOM CALM SPACE; SUGGESTIONS FROM THE LITERATURE, AN INTERIOR DESIGNER, AND ...

DESIGNING THE CLASSROOM CALM SPACE; SUGGESTIONS FROM THE LITERATURE, AN INTERIOR DESIGNER, AND ANXIOUS YOUTH
Sandra Terneus, Tennessee Tech University, United States of America
(Presented at the International Conference on Humanities, Social and Education Sciences (IHSES) which took place on April 16-19, 2024, in San Francisco, CA, USA (www.2024.ihses...) and at the International Conference on Life Sciences, Engineering and Technology (ILSET) (www.2024.ilset...) (www.2024.ictel...) organized by the International Society for Technology, Education and Science (ISTES) www.istes.org).
Some individuals experience excessive worry and overwhelming levels of anxiety which they are unable to control, and therefore, rarely feel calm and in control. With the literature on school victimization and school shootings, the school environment may resemble a cycle of distress which can escalate one’s genetic predisposition to anxiety and progress anxious as well as other mental health disorders. In the classroom, anxious behaviors may be demonstrated by frequent physiological complaints such as headaches and abdominal discomforts which consequently impairs concentration and attention to classroom instruction as well as test and evaluative performances. These youth usually are socially withdrawn which deters healthy interpersonal development, dwell in fear of mistakes, and thus, persist in second guessing and procrastination (Ehmke, 2023, April 14; Killu, et al., 2016). To help alleviate anxiety-producing responses in the classroom, school teachers dedicate space in the classroom such as a Calm Space in which students who suffer emotional deregulation ranging from panic to anger can be separated temporarily from their peers in order to refocus and redirect. Having space in the classroom dedicated to emotional regulation can allow students to process their thoughts and feelings with privacy. This presentation will provide information on designing a classroom’s Calm Space as suggested by anxious students, an interior designer, and from the literature. References Ehmke, R. (2023, April 14). How does anxiety affect kids in school? What it looks like, and why it's often mistaken for something else. Childmind. childmind.org/... children/ Killu, K., Marc, R., & Crundwell, A. (2016). Students with Anxiety in the Classroom: Educational Accommodations and Interventions. Beyond Behavior, 25, 30-40.