We all need to take breaks. Whether it’s to rest our mind, deescalate or gather our thoughts, breaks are an important part in our day and this applies to our students too! Creating a designated space in your classroom where students feel safe to take a break can help with classroom management and foster student independence. At the beginning of the school year, it’s important to set your expectations for the classroom break area. It’s also critical to highlight and discuss with your students that going to this area is NOT a punishment or “time out.” You can develop these expectations as a class to allow students a sense of ownership over this area. Walk students through the process of setting the timer and how to use the tools that you have made accessible to them.
Now that you have developed the expectations with your students for the classroom break area, here are a few essential items that I keep in a small baskets near this area.
Visual Timers
Having a timer in the basket helps students remain focused on their intent for using the break area. In our class, this area is not intended to be used for an extended period of time, but rather as a brief break to rest our brain or gather our thoughts. I like to use a set of sand timers from Target. I have a 1-minute, 3-minute, 5 minute, and 10-minute timer. A small, digital timer works well too.
White Board with Dry Erase Marker
A dry erase board allows students to draw pictures or write a message for how they are feeling. I add a visual sentence stem nearby to support my students’ during their break (i.e., “I feel __________ when ___________.).
Sensory Items
When picking sensory items for my basket, I consider durability of the items and how easily they can be sanitized. A few of my favorite sensory items are koosh balls, play-doh, gel-beaded sensory shapes, and sensory balls from Lakeshore. If needed, students can take these items back to their desk as well.
Feelings/Emotions Books
I also add a few books to the baskets that talk about feeling and emotions. Students can read these as they sit in the break area.
Break Area Visuals
These posters and letters provide a visual reference for students that need or request to take a quick break. The posters transition the student through a reflective process using the acronym, “BREAK” (Breathe, Reflect, Emotions, Access, and Know). Visuals are provided for each stage to help guide your students.
Not able to have a designate break area in your classroom? You can create a “break box” that students can use at their desk. In a break box, I include the visual posters, dry erase marker, timer and gel-beaded sensory shape. These items can easily and quickly be sanitized in between each use.
