Regulation Station
It's common for students to experience strong emotions during the school day, which can impact their ability to learn. Giving them a few minutes to decompress can be more effective than trying to push through a lesson.
Providing a designated area where students can take 1-5 minutes to regain control can reassure them and prevent the teacher from being taken from the whole class. Some students may need to know they have an "out" if they feel emotionally overwhelmed. In contrast, others may benefit from a healthy timeout in a calming corner or a “regulation station.” Creating such an area in the classroom can benefit all students by supplying age-appropriate options and choices. For instance, a box, table, or shelf of fidget spinners, breathing techniques, sensory bottles, and coloring books can help students identify and regulate their emotions, allowing them to focus on the lesson.
Schwind JK, McCay E, Beanlands H, Schindel Martin L, Martin J, Binder M. Mindfulness practice as a teaching-learning strategy in higher education: A qualitative exploratory pilot study. Nurse Educ Today. 2017 Mar;50:92-96. doi: 10.1016/j.nedt.2016.12.017. Epub 2016 Dec 22. PMID: 28038370.
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