Tuesday's Transition Tips for Teachers is a weekly email for teachers, administrators, parents, counselors, and vocational rehabilitation staff. "Tip" topics include quality and compliant Transition IEPs, transition assessments, drop-out prevention strategies, work-based learning, academic and life skill instruction, family involvement, working with Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation, and much, much more.Prevalence
According to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders are a common condition. More importantly for educators, nearly one-third of teens experience an anxiety disorder, resulting in poor school performance. The National Institute of Mental Health’s data confirms that anxiety occurs more often in female teens. There is no single cause for anxiety. Educators can expect one in every three students to suffer from an anxiety disorder. More sobering is that this anxiety can be well-masked by the student, but no less devastating.
What to Look Out For
Feelings of anxiousness are normal for all teens. Anxiety rises and falls in response to different situations. Students can overcome anxiety through emotional support and skill-building. An anxiety disorder is persistent. For students experiencing ongoing anxiety, the impacts can be profound and may include, and not be limited to:
- Physical complaints such as headaches and nausea
- Difficulty sleeping
- Resistance to being in unfamiliar physical spaces/avoidance
- Lack of concentration
- Poor decision-making
- Unrealistic thinking patterns, such as expecting self-perfection
- Anger/agitation
- Excessive concern about what others think
What You Can Do
- Communicate with the family. Coordination and collaboration with families ensures ongoing support, especially when the student is under medical care.
- Develop opportunities to teach the student coping and adaptation skills, such as relaxation techniques.
- Identify safe places for the student to calm down.
- Provide structure to minimize anxiety production. Before a schedule changes, rehearse transition skills with the student.
- Be understanding.
- Consider pairing the student with a peer partner.
- Collaborate with the school guidance counselor. It takes a team.
- Use accommodations
Resources
- WorryWiseKids: Identification and treatment of anxiety in the classroom.
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Supporting students with anxiety in school.
- National Association of School Psychologists: Anxiety: helping handout for school and home (downloadable file).
Bonus Tips
We're excited to offer the Transition Educators Facilitating Employment course, starting April 7, 2025! This 10-week, comprehensive online training gives educators, specialists, Pre-ETS providers, transition coordinators, and other professionals the foundation, techniques, and effective strategies necessary for successful adult vocational transition.
Course modules include:
- Developing Transition Programs within the Traditional School Environment
- The Evolution of Supported and Customized Employment
- Principles of Supported and Customized Employment
- Roles, Responsibilities, and Expectations
- Discovery and Customized Employment
- Marketing for Employment Services
- Job Development, Training, and Workplace Supports
- Assistive Technology
- Federal Programs for Businesses and People with Disabilities
- Criminal Justice Involvement
This online, self-paced course costs $250. For more information and to register, visit the CCLC Transition Educators Training webpage.