Heart monitors are being used in a rather unconventional way at a south suburban high school: They significantly help students with emotional problems.
“A lot of our students come to us with emotional and behavioral issues that we’re sort of trying to resolve,” said Mike Reid, a special education teacher at Hillcrest High School in Country Club Hills.
For some students, heart monitors have become commonplace, thanks to the idea of a physical education supervisor.
“I said, ‘Hey, you really don’t know me, but how would you feel if you wanted to join in on this?'” said Terri Schrishuhn, physical education supervisor at Bremen School District 228.
Jennifer Winefka, the school’s special education coordinator, immediately jumped on board the idea.
“They just rolled out this new part, teaching students about their coping skills and how that relates to their heart rate… Do you think this could be useful in one of your behavioral support programs? and I I jumped right in,” she explained, recalling the conversation.
The monitors were already used in gym class. But it’s not just physical activity that increases your heart rate. Anxiety, anger and fear too.
“When we started closing the gaps…just emotionally and like how our emotions affect our heart rate, it was a very natural transition for them,” Reid said. “Yeah, and they understood right away.”
For one student, Jermaine Brown, the passing periods have proven stressful.
“When there are a lot of people around me, when people are fighting or, you know, when I’m frustrated,” he explained.
Jermaine could see his heart rate increasing on these daily graphs, linked to the monitor.
“They know what normal is and they know when it’s not,” Reid said.
The teacher can then offer alternatives instead of just telling the student to relax.
“We are able to help them identify these things and teach them coping strategies, like taking a walk, journaling or listening to music,” Winefka said. “Maybe it’s just a moment of deep breathing in class to get their heart rate down.”
As this school year ends, Hillcrest is already planning to use the heart rate monitors again next year and is looking for ways to expand them to help more students.
“At this point…it’s just a matter of figuring out, okay…logistically, what’s the best way to incorporate it?” Schrishuhn, said.
Jermaine learned several coping skills, like breathing deeply or taking a walk. These techniques, he says, will help him this summer and, hopefully, beyond the school walls.
“When kids can step away from the curriculum and use a strategy independently, because something outside of the school day puts them in a stressful situation, that’s a game changer,” Schrishuhn said.
NBC Chicago
