Focus on...Classroom Management Part Three: Cool Down and Reflect



Thanks so much for stopping by for the third part of my series on Classroom Management! If you missed my first two blog posts in this series, feel free to check out Part One: The Wheel of Choice and Part Two: I-Statements and Apologies. Today's focus is Part Three: Cool Down and Reflect.



As someone who is always on the go myself, I can totally relate to my students when it comes to sometimes not wanting to take a break. It seems like kids just want to go, go, go, and while this is great in many ways, sometimes it is important to teach kids to stop and think every once in a while about their actions. Teaching children to take a break to reflect allows them to think about how their actions impact themselves and others, and it encourages them to consider alternative behavior choices that might have a better outcome in the future.



To teach students to take a break to think about their actions, I really like to implement a Cool Down Spot in my classroom. This spot, which doesn't actually have to be a permanent location (a bucket of cool down tools works great, too!), gives students a safe place to take a break and simply think. I try to make this spot a safe zone, which means students are not "in trouble" when they come here, and they can do so by their own choice, although I do sometimes give students the option of going to the Cool Down Spot when I can see that they need a little help in regulating their behavior.

I like to keep a timer with my Cool Down Tools as well as some hand fidgets and stress reliever balls. When students visit the Cool Down Spot, they follow the procedures below, which we practice at the beginning of the year.


Here is one of our most-used Cool Down Tools...The Feelings Chart. Students are encouraged to think about how they feel about the choice they made. Sometimes having the visual really helps students to identify exactly which emotion they are feeling, and it helps them branch out from the typical answer of feeling "sad."


Here is an example of a reflection sheet I keep at the Cool Down Spot. I keep a few different versions in the Tool Box so that students can choose to write or draw depending on their level.



When students feel they are finished reflecting, they are welcome to return to their spot with the rest of the class. Sometimes, I will chat briefly with a student to help them in processing their reflection, but other times, I don't always do this. I think the most important idea to remember is that this is not a punishment, but rather, a learning experience.



If you would like to download my Cool Down Spot Tools and Reflection Sheets for your own classroom use, click the image above to head to my TeachersPayTeachers store for the FREEBIE. Thanks so much for popping in, and I hope that these resources can be helpful to you as I know they have really made a difference in my own classroom!

If you found this blog series helpful and would like to learn more classroom management tips, check out the posts below!

   

Teacher Tools and Sparkly Jewels Giveaway!

This week I had the joy of realizing that I have reached two exciting milestones as a Teacher Author, and I am so thrilled to share my good news with you all! So, in honor of reaching over 1000 followers on Instagram and 7000 on TeachersPayTeachers, I decided it was time for a celebration!


Since teaching and playing dress up with pretty jewelry are two of my favorite things, the Winner of my Teacher Tools and Sparkly Jewels Giveaway will win $50 Gift Cards to both TeachersPayTeachers and Stella & Dot! 


This Teacher Tools and Sparkly Jewels Giveaway will end at 12:00am on March 26th. Please use the Rafflecopter link below to enter to win. Good Luck and Happy Teaching!

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2016 French Lick Teacher Blogger Retreat

This past weekend I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the Spring Teacher Blogger Retreat at the beautiful French Lick Resort in French Lick, Indiana. The weekend was a total blast, and I had so much fun connecting with other fabulous teachers, learning from some fantastic round table discussions, and celebrating what is best about teaching with about 200 amazing teachers from around the country! Here are some of the highlights of the trip!


We started the day with a wonderful luncheon, then we shared some fantastic teaching tools during the teacher tool swap! I received some really fun jeweled push pins, paper clips, binder clips, and markers! We then headed into our Round Table discussions, and it was great to learn from other spectacular teachers, bloggers, and teacher-authors. I learned how to "fit it all in" with the fantastic Greg Smedley from The Kindergarten Smorgasboard. I also learned some new games to play in the classroom from the fabulous Mrs. Wheeler from Mrs. Wheeler's First Grade. Finally, I got to listen to some wonderful ideas about Collaborative Blogging from Brittany of Tickled Pink in Primary and Keri of Enchanted Kindergarden, who blog together on Elementary Entourage.


Here is a picture of our group on the beautiful, but soggy, grounds of the French Lick Resort!


Here are some of the wonderful items I received in the Teacher Tool Swap and in my swag bag! I absolutely love the Astrobrights paper, the stunning notecards from Krista Wallden's Creative Clips, and the Motivational cards from Erin Condren. Plus, I won a gift card from Erin Condren in one of the door prize raffles, and I am soooo super-excited to order my very first LifePlanner!


After the sessions were finished, we all had free time for dinner, then we met back up for a Fabulous 80's Themed Bash! It was so fun to see everyone's costumes, and the surprise of the night was a flash dance! It was great! Plus, I secretly love wearing a high side ponytail, a big bow headband, and neon colors!


The next morning we had a delicious breakfast at the resort's buffet, then we met up for one last group photo in our adorable shirts!

As soon as I got home, my sweet Elliotte could not wait to go through my goodies with me! We tried out the Kwik Stix paints, and I have to say, they are A-MAZ-ING! I have already ordered a second set from Amazon because my sweet girlies just didn't want me to take them to school! They are so fun, easy to use, and totally mess free--even when used by a crazy-daisy 20 month old!


I left the meet-up feeling totally re-energized and excited about finishing up this school year with a positive attitude! I was so glad that I attended, and I cannot wait to participate in years to come! I am so appreciative of the efforts that Holly of Mrs. Ehle's Kindergarten Connections put forth to organize this fantastic event! Plus, with all the new friends I've made, I am now super-excited to go to this year's Teachers Pay Teachers Conference in Orlando! Hope to see some of you there!


Here are some of the fantastic sponsors who allowed us to have such an outstanding event:
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