Creating a Take A Break Area That Changes Lives

·
take a break area ideas

Yes! A take a break area can truly change lives! I first learned about Responsive Classroom‘s principle of using a take a break area my first year of teaching. 5th grade was what I was teaching at the time, and I did not understand how big kids had a time out area in their classroom! I quickly learned this is NOT a time out area AT ALL! Let me tell you about my experiences with using a take a break area in two different schools across three grade levels and how you can make this work in YOUR classroom!

You may have heard of this called a cool down zone or chill out corner, there are several names that encompass this idea. I stick with take a break area because it is truly the student taking a break from whatever is happening to ensure they are ready and able to learn!

Purpose of Take A Break Area

responsive classroom take a break
  • give students a moment to refocus themselves
  • opportunity to calm body and mind
  • teaches self- regulation
  • acknowledges social and emotional issues interfering with academic progress – works to change that
  • provides a change to fix behavior before a consequence is given
  • allows students to correct situation without leaving the classroom
  • promotes ownership of emotions and behaviors

Setting Up A Take A Break Area

I believe that the Take A Break Area in your room should reflect your teaching style, your students’ age and their needs. I will explain by showing you what some of mine have looked like over the past few years!

classroom management

This was my take a break area my first year in 2nd grade! I had a very quiet and emotional class. It worked best for them to have this area be behind a curtain. The picture below shows what was behind the curtain.

There was:

I had a mix between if my students preferred to sit at a desk during their take a break time or on the floor so I offered both options. It is important to give students something to do in this area. There should be some kind of calming tools available to them. You can pick the fidgets based on your students and their needs! At first I had this area be behind my desk so students could not go there without permission but quickly learned them walking by my computer and desk constantly was not working for me.

take a break management 2nd grade
cool down area in classroom

The picture above shows what my take a break area looked like in my 4th and 5th grade classrooms. It was much more simple with a chair and a small table with fidgets and calming supports.

On the table was:

  • cards with feeling recognition and calm down recommendations
  • tissues
  • reflection sheets & pencil
  • stuffed animal
  • fidgets
  • play dough
  • timer

Set up an area that works for your students and you!!

Teaching The Students About Taking a Break

The most important part about teaching students what the take a break area is and how to use is it- DO NOT make it negative! It should be a very positive proactive opportunity for the students to ensure they are being their best self and are ready to learn.

I always show how to take a break with interactive modeling (explained below). The day I introduce this area, I have EVERY student take a break to practice how it feels. Often students feel nervous about going to the area for the first time and what it will be like so I try to overcome this right away. I tell them I will call their name to “practice take a break”

I also make sure that I take a break. YES I DO! I show students that everyone sometimes needs a moment to refocus their mindset or calm down. It is amazing to see their reaction when they see the teacher using the area- this really shows it is not a punishment but a tool.

We talk a lot about when they might ask to take a break such as:

  • feeling sad or angry, need to work through feelings
  • preoccupied by something going on outside of school, need to refocus
  • having trouble focusing, want to reset
  • students or situation around them are making them uncomfortable

These are just some examples- it is really powerful to let the students come up with ideas themselves so they truly understand how the take a break area can help them!

Tips & Tricks

  • Watch the time- do not let students stay in there past 5 minutes (that is the amount of time that works for me)
  • At the end of their break, ask “do you need to talk to me or are you ready to go back?” to provide an opportunity for conversation and a gentle reminder that their time is up
  • Allow students to write you or someone else a note while taking a break
  • Notice students frequent and time occurrence to make sure they are not avoiding work or a specific subject
  • Use it as a deterrent from frequent nurse visits- if students have a headache they can rest in the take a break area for 5 minutes rather than spending 20 minutes going to the nurse
  • YOU can send students to take a break!! I set a precedent that I am always looking out of my kids and their best interest so I may say ____ go take a break. They know they need to no questions ask go do it because I am trying to help them. When I am done whatever I am doing, I go and talk to them about what was going on and how they can move forward successfully. Make sure students know you are HELPING them by doing this to prevent a behavior you foresee coming that might alternatively end with you sending them to the office or calling home.

More Resources

Affiliate links were used in this blog post.