COOL IT!COOL IT! A Student Workshop on

A - N - G - E – RBy Mr. Letson

Is it wrong to get angry?

Anger is a normal emotion Everyone gets angry

Emotions are not wrong or badWhat we do with our emotions may

be wrong or a bad choiceAllowing anger to get out of our

control is a bad choiceWe can stop this from happening and

make better choices with our anger

Examples of making bad choices with anger

Hitting, kicking, shoving or any physical contact with others when angry.

Throwing or kicking objects when angryLosing control: screaming, ranting,

raving, refusing to calm down.Using inappropriate language or gesturesUsing threatening body language or tone

of voice (including sarcasm) when angry.

What can get us really

angry in Middle School?

Pressures in Middle School

Two Types of Pressure

External (things outside of us)

Internal (things inside of us)

Both types can cause strong emotions – especially anger!

External Pressures

More studentsMore teachersMore booksMore homeworkMore choicesMore decisions

Internal PressuresWhat will kids think of me?Will I have friends?What types of friends will I choose?What clothes should I wear?How should I treat others?How do I deal with peer pressure?

Healthy Ways

Talking to parentsTalking to teachersRemaining calm

and not jumping to conclusions about something.

Unhealthy WaysKeeping problems inside and

not talking about them.Snapping at others without

information about the problemListening to rumors and

planning revenge against someone who may be innocent

How do you handle the pressure?

Reduce and Calm Your Anger with Controlled Breathing

1. Take a full, deep breath.2. Hold it in for several

seconds!3. Remind yourself to “Think!”4. Exhale fully5. Repeat several times until

calm.

Athletes do this to calm themselves and prior to competing!

T hink about calming down! I interrupt angry responsesM ove away to calm downE xit the area completely to

calm down

This skill helps to interrupt rising Anger

Call TIME!TIME! when anger is rising!

T = THINK about calming down!

The T in TIME! Reminds you to think about remaining calm.

When you start reminding yourself to remain calm down guess what happens – you usually do!

I = Interrupt Anger!The I reminds you to mentally

interrupt any angry responses that may cause you problems.

Such as stopping yourself from screaming, using inappropriate language, hitting, threatening or doing anything else when angry which will cause problems for you.

Don’t do it!

M = Move away when too angry!

• If you are not able to calm yourself down, move away from the situation if possible for several minutes until you do.

• You may not be able to do this in school – you might want to ask your teacher for a pass to get a drink of water.

E = Exit and leave the area!

• If moving away for a few minutes did not help you to calm your anger, you may have to leave for a while.

• Take a walk around the block, go for a bike ride, visit a friend, play some basketball in the driveway.

• Exiting is not an option in school, however, if you feel you are too angry to remain in class, ask to see your guidance counselor or your vice principal.

T hink about calming down! I interrupt angry responsesM ove away to calm downE xit the area completely to

calm down

So remember to call TIME!TIME! when anger is rising!