Facilitator’s Calm Dialogues

Warm-Up: Mindful Moment (5 minutes)

Facilitator: "Hello, everyone! Welcome back to our circle. Let’s begin by reviewing our group norms: we listen when others speak, we show respect, and what we share here stays here—confidentiality. Can someone remind us what confidentiality means?"

[Pause for student response]

Facilitator: "That’s right—everyone’s sharing stays in this room. Now, let’s center ourselves with a short breathing exercise. Sit comfortably, place your hands on your belly, and if you’d like, close your eyes or soften your gaze. I’ll guide you. When I say ‘breathe in,’ inhale slowly through your nose… [pause]… feel your belly rise. When I say ‘breathe out,’ exhale through your mouth… [pause]. Let’s do two more together: breathe in… [pause], breathe out… [pause]; breathe in… [pause], breathe out… [pause]. Great job!"

Facilitator: "Today, our goal is to create personalized coping compasses—tools you can use when you feel stressed or overwhelmed. Ready to explore some strategies?"

Explore Calm Strategies (10 minutes)

Facilitator: "A coping strategy is like a tool in your toolbox for handling stress. The first tool is deep breathing. Who can tell me why taking deep breaths might help us calm down?"

[Pause for student answers; follow-up question: “What happens in your body when you breathe deeply?”]

Facilitator: "Excellent! The second strategy is positive self-talk, which means saying kind, encouraging words to yourself. For example, you might tell yourself, ‘I’ve got this’ or ‘I can handle one step at a time.’ Can you think of a positive phrase you could say to yourself?"

[Pause; follow-up: “When might that phrase help you most?”]

Facilitator: "Fantastic. The third strategy is movement—like stretching, shaking out your arms, or taking a quick walk. Movement helps release tension in our bodies. Imagine you’re feeling tense before a big presentation. What movement could you try to feel better?"

[Pause; follow-up: “How do you think your muscles will feel after you move?”]

Facilitator: "Let’s practice one quick movement together: stand up, stretch both arms high over your head, reach toward the sky, then exhale as you lower your arms. Ready? Stretch… and lower. Feel better?"

Journal Reflection (10 minutes)

Facilitator: "Now I’ll hand out your My Calm Journey Journal. Turn to the first page and follow these prompts:

1. Describe a recent time you felt stressed—what happened and how did you feel in your body?
2. Which new strategy from today would you like to try next time? Explain why.

Take about five minutes to write."

Facilitator: "Let’s finish up our journaling. If you’re done, close your journal gently and set your pencil aside."

Build Your Compass Activity (20 minutes)

Facilitator: "Next, we’ll create your personal coping compasses using the Build Your Compass Activity Set. Each compass has four points: North, East, South, and West. On each point, write one strategy: deep breathing, positive self-talk, movement, and one more strategy you know or want to try. Decorate with colors and symbols that help you remember each strategy. Under each point, jot a short note like ‘Use this when I feel….’

Here are your supplies: colored pencils, markers, scissors, and glue. I’ll walk around to help. I might ask, “What symbol did you choose for positive self-talk? Why?” Be creative and have fun!"

Facilitator: "Okay, let’s pause. Please put your supplies down and place your compass sheet in front of you."

Reflection & Sharing (10 minutes)

Facilitator: "Turn to a partner. Take turns sharing your compass and one journal insight. Use the Coping Plan Quality Rubric to give positive, constructive feedback. You might say, ‘I love your color choices because they feel calm,’ or ask, ‘Can you tell me more about when you’d use that strategy?’ You have five minutes."

Facilitator: "Let’s come back together. Who would like to share one thing they appreciated about their partner’s compass or a new idea they heard?"

[Pause for volunteers]

Closure & Next Steps (5 minutes)

Facilitator: "You all did amazing work today! Let’s quickly name our strategies: deep breathing, positive self-talk, movement, and your extra strategy. Remember: your coping compass is your personal guide—keep it somewhere you can see."

Facilitator: "In our next session, we’ll check in on how these strategies worked for you and make any adjustments. Thank you for your focus and creativity. Have a calm and wonderful day!"

My Calm Journey Journal

In this journal, you will reflect on times when you felt stressed and plan how to use your coping strategies in the future.

1. Recall a Recent Stressful Moment

Describe a time in the past week when you felt stressed or overwhelmed. Include:

• What happened?
• How did you feel in your body (e.g., tight chest, butterflies in your stomach)?

2. Your Feelings and Thoughts

Write about the thoughts that went through your mind during that moment. Did you notice any patterns or repeated worries?

3. Choosing a New Strategy

From today’s session, pick one coping strategy (deep breathing, positive self-talk, movement, or your extra strategy) that you want to try next time. Explain:

• Why you chose this strategy.
• When or how you will use it.

Build Your Compass Activity Sheet

Use this sheet to create your personal coping compass. Follow the steps below to map each coping strategy to a compass point, add a symbol, and decorate with colors.

Directions:

1. Write each coping strategy in the table below under the compass point you choose (North, East, South, West).
2. In the “When to Use” column, describe a situation or feeling that tells you to use that strategy.
3. In the “Symbol & Color” column, draw or write a small symbol and note the color(s) you’ll use to remind you of that strategy.
4. After you finish the table, decorate the page around the compass with patterns or images that calm you.

Reflection

What symbol did you choose that felt most meaningful? Why?

How will looking at your compass help you next time you feel stressed?

Coping Plan Quality Rubric

Use this rubric during Reflection & Sharing to guide positive, constructive feedback on each student’s coping compass.

Scoring guide:

• Total possible points: 20
• 18–20 points: Exceptional understanding and personal ownership of coping plan
• 14–17 points: Strong plan with minor areas to refine
• 10–13 points: Developing plan; needs more relevance or detail
• Below 10 points: Beginning stage; requires additional support and elaboration