The week 9-16 march 2025 the JUMP ACADEMY professional training organized an Erasmus + course on Stress management with 3 Bulgarian teachers dealing with problematic students. The session aimed to provide the teachers with practical tips on managing their work and personal stress situations. The participants were asked to think about their stress triggers and adopt the 3 A’s strategy to manage stress. The sessions took place on Tuesday, and Wednesday and ended on Thursday morning with a joint session integrating Joyful English. The sessions were both interactive and engaging for the participants.
We kicked off the session on Tuesday morning by concentrating on Mindfulness and meditation, which aimed at assisting the teachers in relaxing and staying focused on the present. The natural surroundings made it soothing, enabling mental clarity and peacefulness. After the meditation, the teachers went on to produce stress balls with balloons and sand.
Finally, the participants reported that they felt more relaxed and at ease after the outdoor session.
Wednesday morning focused on understanding stress and management techniques through different strategies. Breathing techniques were introduced, such as box breathing which can calm both mind and body during stress. Furthermore, time management tips were discussed as to why prioritizing tasks and allocating time slots to each task is fundamental in stress management. Self-care and imagery were also among the techniques discussed. The time management strategies helped the teachers find a healthy balance between work and family life.
Finally, on Thursday morning, the session ended with a joint session, integrating Joyful English and Stress Management. Teachers were encouraged to incorporate interactive activities and games into their teaching and how to make classes more stimulating and enjoyable for both themselves and the students. The Polish and Bulgarian participants shared ideas and experiences and discussed challenges in teaching. This open discussion gave support and allowed the teachers to learn from the other’s strategies and ideas.
The joint session was very effective in connecting stress management with teaching methods. Teachers obtained a deeper insight into how incorporating fun into teaching can alleviate stress for both students and teachers. They were enthusiastic about applying these new strategies in both their professional and personal lives.
Author: Isabel Di Cello ( JUMP Trainer)
