School brings it all—a space where friendship, belonging, and community are possible. It’s also ripe for stress, frustration, conflict, and harm. You and your learners need personalized, accessible tools in rough moments. Learn how anchors can be one of these supports.
Anchors in the Classroom Explained
A before-school meeting not only starts late, but it gets a bit heated, and you can’t help but wonder why today of all days has to begin like this when you already experienced conflict at home this morning. There’s an email waiting for you in your inbox that you put off responding to yesterday. Plus, you have more than one learner you’re worried about because they don’t seem like themselves right now. As you hurry to your classroom, your heart rate may be up, perhaps you feel a little sweaty, and your thoughts could be jumping from thing-to-thing while you feel sharp inside. Prolonged stress responses can negatively affect health and relationships at school, but you might not know what you can realistically do about it in overwhelming moments. That’s where anchors can help!
Anchors are little things that can make a difference when life’s current inside (or outside yourself) is too much. Anchors in the classroom can also lend support when individuals are shutting down and need grounding.
Examples of anchors for me include a photo of my pup, the sound of a particular trusted colleague’s voice, or a favorite Mary Chapin Carpenter song. Engaging with a personalized anchor in a rough moment can bring a helpful pause when we’re stirred up inside, allowing us to be more present to self and others in the here-and-now. We still feel our feelings—whatever they are—but in a more thoughtful rather than reactive way. Tending to our own needs first using anchors isn’t just good for us. It can also prevent our dysregulation from negatively affecting learners whose nervous systems are impacted by our nervous systems just like we’re influenced by theirs.
"Anchors are little things that can make a difference when life's current inside (or outside yourself) is too much."
What Else You Need to Know About Anchors
Here are a handful of additional things you need to know about anchors.
- Anchors are li’l things individuals may choose to engage with to help themselves when energy and tension are either big or shut down. Anchors should never be forced.
- These tools in the classroom are personal items that encourage pausing and tapping into our senses in a moment (or two) so that we can feel a little bit better. Or, they can be something we imagine. From there, we make a decision about our best next step.
- Anchors are not quick-fixes that stop harm and trauma or prevent all feelings of overwhelm because they’re never a substitute for authentic connections that bring real and felt safety. Nor are they intended to be the only support a person needs.
- In fact, they don’t have to be used separately from human connection at all. Being with a trusted human while utilizing an anchor may be best. Additionally, anchors tied to important relationships are even better!
- Anchors are just one tool—unique to each person and linked to identities, histories, and experiences.
You and your learners can experiment to find what anchors work for you! Find suggestions to help you in the next sections.
"Anchors are li'l things individuals may choose to engage with to help themselves when energy and tension are either big or shut down. Anchors should never be forced."
How to Identify and Use Anchors in the Classroom
Tapping into the senses can help you identify anchors for yourself. It’s a way you can encourage your students find their own.
First, download My Anchors worksheet because it can guide you.
Next, jot down possible anchors that you can see, feel, hear, smell, and taste. Add ones that come from moving your body or mind, too.
Keep in mind that anchors aren’t necessarily regulation strategies (e.g., belly breathing or going for a walk). They’re objects (or movements) that are reminders of something personal (and positive) from one’s own experiences. For example, a photo of my pup or even a snip of her fur is personal to me and wouldn’t necessarily be helpful to anyone else. Often, these specific objects go with stories and memories that are strong enough to take us out of whatever is affecting us in a moment so we can move away from the big emotions and towards something else. A class can also have shared anchors that suppport the group!
Finally, consider times you might want to try connecting with an anchor (i.e., when you might have too much tension/energy or not enough), while recognizing that it takes practice to recognize when to try an anchor or utilize them.
You and your students may benefit from reminders to try an anchor, but always communicate this as an invitation instead of a direction to follow. Try words like these. “I wonder if this a time when trying an anchor might be helpful.” Or, “Here’s your own anchor chart. Is there one anchor you might like to try right now?” Sometimes having anchors close by or embedded in your work spaces is the best reminder!
Even with practice, it doesn’t mean an anchor will work every time because human regulation is complex. For instance, trying an anchor during what feels like a hurricane likely won’t be enough. There are times when seeking safer harbor via trusted connection is best. Releasing and settling energy with movement before trying an anchor can be beneficial as well.
Keep reading for examples of ways to encourage use of anchors in the classroom.
"Sometimes having anchors close by or embedded in your work spaces is the best reminder!"
10 Ways to Encourage Use of Anchors in the Classroom
There are oodles of ways to encourage use of anchors in the classroom. Here are a handful of my team’s favorites.
- Invite learners to make their own My Anchors worksheet using the provided download. It can become a menu of options to pick from in dysregulated moments.
- Encourage students to each bring in a pocket-size anchor to show and share. Keep it at school if desired or sketch a replica for school instead.
- Write, draw, or tell a story about one anchor.
- Offer time to create a collage of anchors on the back or inside of a class folder, using magazine photos and words.
- If your learners have desks that flip up, tape photos of anchors inside the desk lids so kids can look at and touch them when they want or need to.
- Tell students they can put photos up in their lockers that go with their anchors. Then give them time to do this! Also, share in a class meeting how students use them. For example, if they have a favorite person included in their photos, they might stop, look at the photo, and imagine what that person would say or do to help them in a rough moment.
- Give students a plastic pencil box and a piece of felt that fits the bottom. Or, offer a simple pouch or plastic baggie instead. They can collect anchors that fit in their container throughout the year. Realize that anchors can relate to school experiences (e.g., a friendship bracelet from a friend, a sticky note of encouragement from a teacher, or a photograph of project to be proud of). When your class seems discouraged or frustrated, invite them to take out their anchor boxes and discuss if the anchors helped them reset. Don’t forget to make your own!
- Songs are powerful anchors for people. Invite each learner to contribute one encouraging song to a class playlist. Play it during work time.
- Make a bulletin board showing your students’ anchors or include their headshots with speech bubbles so their words can explain how they use the anchor during the school day.
- Make a photo album of anchor moments with your kids or explain they can make their own (e.g., a memorable time we laughed out loud, a moment we helped one another, a time we really came together, a favorite game we played, a time we accomplished a goal, a moment we didn’t give up, a book we loved, and a time we helped others).
Which idea will you try?
"Songs are powerful anchors for people. Invite each learner to contribute one encouraging song to a class playlist. Play it during work time."
Your Next Steps...
1. Download My Anchors worksheet to use for yourself and with your students.
2. Read Building Trauma-Sensitive Schools to explore more trauma-sensitive strategies that can help you support your learners.
3. Schedule a leader conversation so we can discuss trauma-informed training that boosts staff skills. I can help you decrease the frequency and intensity of school crises, increase safety within school relationships, and improve regulation and readiness for teaching/learning schoolwide.
Thanks and take good care,
