When a student experiences stress, their amygdala is triggered, effectively hijacking the rest of their brain as it attempts to respond to the perceived threat. This fight, flight, or freeze response can eclipse their capacity to process language, including soothing words spoken by their teacher. Ann DuPre Rogers, executive director of Resources for Reliance, a nonprofit that trains teachers to calm their students effectively, says, “Our thinking brain is where we process language, so if I have flipped my lid, and you talk to me, you sound like the Charlie Brown teacher.”⁣ ⁣ Teachers have the same stress response, of course, and strategies they use to calm themselves can also work for students. “Rapid resets” are simple techniques that help quiet the stress response. Initially, many students need a teacher to suggest a rapid reset, but with practice, they can learn to self-regulate.⁣ ⁣ Here are a few simple strategies for teachers seeking to manage triggered brains—starting with their ...