Last Tuesday, I was standing in front of my fourth graders trying to give them a pep talk before FAST testing when little Sofia raised her hand and asked, "Ms. Santos, why are your hands shaking?"

Ay, dios mío. So much for my calm, collected teacher persona.

The truth is, testing season turns even the most zen among us into stress balls. We're worried about our kids, our evaluations, our school grades, and whether we've prepared them enough. But here's what I've learned after 22 years: our kids are like emotional sponges. When we're stressed, they absorb every bit of it.

Your Stress is Contagious (And So is Your Calm)

I learned this lesson the hard way during my third year teaching. I was so wound up about state testing that I turned my usually happy classroom into a pressure cooker. My students were having meltdowns, forgetting everything they knew, and one kid actually threw up during the math section.

That's when my mentor, Mrs. Rodriguez, pulled me aside. "Maria Elena," she said, "they're not just testing what you taught them. They're testing how you made them feel about what they learned."

She was right. When we project anxiety, our kids think there's something to be anxious about. When we're calm and confident, they feel safe to show what they know.

Start With Your Own Oxygen Mask

You know how flight attendants tell you to put your oxygen mask on first? Same principle applies here. We can't regulate our students' emotions if we haven't regulated our own.

Here's my pre-testing ritual that actually works:

The Night Before: I do a brain dump. Everything I'm worried about goes on paper. Will Miguel remember his multiplication facts? Did I cover enough geometry? What if the internet crashes? Getting it out of my head and onto paper helps me sleep.

Morning Of: I get to school 20 minutes early and sit in my empty classroom with my café cubano. I remind myself that my kids are more than a test score, and so am I. This quiet time centers me before the chaos begins.

Right Before Testing: Three deep breaths. In through the nose, out through the mouth. My kids see me do this, and it signals to them that we're taking this seriously but not letting it overwhelm us.

Create Calm Anchors in Your Classroom

During testing season, I turn my classroom into a sanctuary of calm. Not with expensive decorations or fancy lighting, but with intentional choices that signal safety.

Lower Your Voice: This is magic, I swear. When I speak more softly, my kids automatically lean in and focus. It's the opposite of what we want to do when we're stressed, but it works.

Slow Down Your Movements: No rushing around, no frantic shuffling of papers. I move deliberately and calmly, even when I'm feeling anything but calm inside.

Use Calming Rituals: Before each testing session, we do our "Ready, Set, Succeed" routine. We stretch our arms up high, roll our shoulders back, and take three deep breaths together. It sounds silly, but it works.

The Power of Your Words

What we say and how we say it during testing season can make or break our kids' confidence. I've had to completely rewire my testing vocabulary over the years.

Instead of: "This test is really important." Try: "This is a chance to show off what you've learned."

Instead of: "You need to do your best." Try: "I already know you're smart. Now the test gets to find out too."

Instead of: "Don't be nervous." Try: "It's normal to have butterflies. That means your brain is getting ready to work."

Last week, I told my kids, "You know what? I'm a little nervous too, and that's okay. It just means we care." You should have seen the relief on their faces when I normalized their feelings instead of dismissing them.

When Things Go Sideways

Because let's be real, things will go sideways. The internet will crash. A kid will have a meltdown. Someone will forget their login. Your stress level will spike, and you'll feel that familiar panic creeping in.

Here's my emergency calm-down toolkit:

The Reset Breath: When I feel my stress rising, I take one long, obvious breath. My kids see it, and it reminds both them and me to pause.

The Perspective Check: I ask myself, "Will this matter in five years?" Usually, the answer is no. My relationship with these kids will matter. Their love of learning will matter. One testing glitch? Not so much.

The Backup Plan: I always have a Plan B. And a Plan C. When kids see that I'm prepared for problems, they trust that everything will be okay.

Remember Why We're Really Here

In the middle of all this testing madness, it's easy to forget that we're not test prep machines. We're teachers. We're the adults who make kids feel safe, valued, and capable.

Yesterday, Marcus (not my son, my student Marcus) came up to me after testing and said, "Ms. Santos, I wasn't scared because you looked happy."

I wasn't happy. I was terrified that the new math curriculum hadn't prepared them enough. But I looked happy because I've learned that sometimes teaching is acting, and our kids deserve an Academy Award performance.

Your Calm is Their Superpower

Here's what I want you to remember when you're standing in front of your classroom tomorrow, trying to project calm while your heart is racing: your kids don't need you to be perfect. They need you to be steady.

They need to see that you believe in them. They need to feel that you're not worried about them, because if Ms. Santos isn't worried, then everything must be okay.

Take care of yourself first, breathe deeply, and remember that you've been preparing them all year long. Not just for a test, but for life. And that's something no score can measure.

Your calm is contagious, but so is your confidence. Show them both, and watch your kids rise to meet your expectations.

We've got this, teachers. One deep breath at a time.