Worry Got Ya Down? Meet Dennis B and Other Helpful Attention-Getting Tools

When worries have students down, introduce them to Dennis B.

Hi and welcome back to Attentionology for K – 5 Teachers!

Worry got ya down?

There’s a question on a lot of minds, one that relates to children as well as adults.

Ask your class one morning when the day is just getting underway if worry has a hold on anyone’s heart and watch the hands fly.

You have their attention; now the key question is what can you do to help ease the distress?

Introduce students to Dennis B,  a frowning face at first –

Tell the class that Dennis B is trying his best to turn his frowning face around, to try to be worry-free.

Ask for ideas on how to help Dennis B become worry-free.

Share my poem about Dennis B, Worry-Free, with your class.

Worry-Free

Dennis B vowed that he would live his life worry-free.

Ask kids to suggest ways to help themselves and others stay worry-free.

When problems tested his resolve, Dennis B said problems can be solved.

“Look,” Dennis said with poise, “let’s find solutions, not make noise.”

“Gnashing teeth ’til jaws are sore will only make us worry more!”

“Simply put,” said Dennis B, “I feel much better worry-free.”

At the conclusion of the poem, flip Dennis B’s frowning face around to reveal him with big smile.

Large frowning and smiley faces are easy to access online or in teacher supply stores.

After you introduce Dennis B, post him with a name tag on a classroom bulletin board or wall.

Post blank sticky notes all around the new class character.

Invite students to use the replaceable notes to offer Dennis B more ideas on how to stay worry-free.

Help kids focus on staying positive with another attention-getting tool… (more…)