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How Stressed Are We Really?

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Lesson Plan

Stress Baseline Blueprint

This 45-minute session empowers all school staff to identify and share current stress levels, fostering open dialogue and co-creating proactive wellbeing strategies.

By assessing our collective stress baseline and discussing shared experiences, staff build self-awareness, mutual support, and a foundation for sustainable stress management schoolwide.

Audience

All School Staff

Time

45 minutes

Approach

Interactive polls, group activity, open discussion

Materials

Reality Check Slides, Stress Spectrum Chart, Open Staff Share Guidelines, and Takeaway Commitments Worksheet

Prep

Review & Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Welcome & Objective Setting

5 minutes

  • Greet participants and introduce the session’s purpose
  • Review objectives: identify stress levels, share experiences, plan proactive strategies
  • Explain the agenda and materials to be used

Step 2

Stress Baseline Poll

10 minutes

  • Project the first slide from Reality Check Slides
  • Ask staff to rate their current stress on a scale of 1–5 via show of hands or digital poll
  • Record and display aggregated results anonymously
  • Highlight patterns and normalize varied responses

Step 3

Stress Spectrum Activity

10 minutes

  • Distribute Stress Spectrum Chart to each participant
  • In pairs, staff mark personal stressors on the spectrum and note one recent example
  • Invite a few volunteers to briefly share their placement and insights

Step 4

Open Staff Share Discussion

10 minutes

  • Refer to Open Staff Share Guidelines
  • Facilitate a round-robin discussion: what common stress themes emerged?
  • Encourage active listening, empathy, and nonjudgmental sharing
  • Summarize key takeaways on a visible board or slide

Step 5

Takeaway Commitments

10 minutes

  • Distribute Takeaway Commitments Worksheet
  • Ask staff to write one personal and one team-based stress-management commitment
  • Invite volunteers to share their commitments aloud
  • Close the session by reiterating supports available and next steps
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Slide Deck

Reality Check: How Stressed Are We Really?

An interactive poll to assess our current stress levels across the staff.

Welcome everyone! Today we’re kicking off our session “How Stressed Are We Really?” Let’s begin by taking a quick reality check of our current stress levels.

Session Objectives

• Identify our current stress levels
• Share and normalize our experiences
• Lay foundations for proactive wellbeing strategies

Read through each objective and explain why it matters for our collective wellbeing.

Stress Baseline Poll

On a scale of 1 (Very Low) to 5 (Very High), please rate your current stress level.

• 1 = Very Low
• 2 = Low
• 3 = Moderate
• 4 = High
• 5 = Very High

Explain the poll process: show of hands or digital tool. Emphasize anonymity and honest responses.

Stress Scale 1–5

1 – Very Low Stress
2 – Low Stress
3 – Moderate Stress
4 – High Stress
5 – Very High Stress

Point to each number and read its descriptor clearly. Encourage staff to think about how they feel right at this moment.

Live Poll Results

[Results Chart Placeholder]

(Record and display the number of responses for each level)

Collect responses and display the aggregated results. Highlight that all levels are valid and it’s normal to see a range across colleagues.

Interpreting Our Results

• We see a spread of stress experiences
• No single “right” level—everyone’s baseline is unique
• Common themes give us a starting point for support

Summarize what the group results tell us: patterns, surprises, or confirmations. Reinforce that varied stress levels are expected.

Next Up: Stress Spectrum Activity

Pair up and use your Stress Spectrum Chart to mark common stressors and share one recent example.

Introduce the next interactive segment. Explain that they’ll work in pairs to map personal stressors.

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Activity

Stress Spectrum Chart

Use this chart to identify common stressors across a 1–5 spectrum and note one recent example.

1 – Very Low Stress:







2 – Low Stress:







3 – Moderate Stress:







4 – High Stress:







5 – Very High Stress:







Select one level above and describe a recent example of a stressor at that level:












When you’re finished, pair up and share one placement and example with a colleague.

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Discussion

Open Staff Share

Purpose

Create a safe, respectful space for staff to surface common stress themes, build empathy, and identify shared support strategies.

Discussion Norms

• Confidentiality: What’s shared here stays here.
• Active Listening: Give your full attention; avoid interrupting.
• Empathy & Respect: Validate each other’s experiences without judgment.
• Brevity & Clarity: Keep shares concise (1–2 minutes).
• Equal Voice: We’ll go round-robin so everyone has a turn.

Format & Flow

  1. Facilitator introduces a guiding question.
  2. Staff share one at a time in round-robin order.
  3. After everyone has shared, the group reflects on patterns.
  4. Facilitator summarizes key takeaways and transitions to commitments.

Guiding Questions

  1. What common stress themes surfaced during the Spectrum Activity?
  2. Which stressor feels most pressing right now and why?
  3. Was there a stress insight that surprised you about yourself or a colleague?
  4. What coping strategies have you found effective?

Follow-Up Prompts

• “Can you say more about that stressor?”
• “What helped you manage that challenge?”
• “Does anyone else relate or have a different perspective?”
• “How might we support each other around this theme?”

Closing Reflection

• Ask: “What’s one word that captures how you feel after this share?”
• Invite a brief go-around with volunteers.
• Thank everyone for their honesty and transition to the Takeaway Commitments Worksheet.

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Cool Down

Takeaway Commitments Worksheet

Use this worksheet to solidify your personal and team-based stress-management commitments and plan follow-up actions.

1. Personal Commitment

What is one action I will take this week to better manage my stress?







2. Team Commitment

What is one way our team can support each other’s well-being in the coming days?







3. Reflection

What key insight or realization did I gain from today’s discussion?












4. Follow-Up Plan

How will I check in with myself and/or my colleagues to ensure we honor these commitments?











Once completed, consider pairing up to share your commitments or bringing them to your next team meeting to foster accountability and support.

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