Calm down corner - why?

I have been using a calm down corner for the last two years. Of course the name 'calm down corner' can mean that kids only use it to calm down. But that's not how I frame it or how my kids view it. 
It's a place where students can go to think, relax, regulate emotions, have a break, use a strategy to get back in the green zone and more! A safe place, where students can go whenever they need to. 

When I started looking into the zones of regulation a lot more, there was more and more evidence pointing towards areas like this in class. So I looked on insta and came across WholeHearted School Counseling resources.  

Her resources are amazing - with bundles, activities, classroom displays and more to help unpack emotions, coping skills, mindfulness and more! If you are looking to get into any of this then her resources are where it is at!

I have also subscribed to Calm Space Collective - a termly subscription of fidgets, mindfulness and calming manipulatives that students can use in a space like this. I have a box of fidgets and things they can use as a strategy when in the calm down corner. There are other things like fluffy pillows and even a blanket that can be used too. I don't have a picture of my space but will update this post with one once I have taken one. 

I also use these resources in my class to unpack the zones of regulation which I have tied into all of this learning. I use my zones lanyard help everyday when on duty and then the zones of regulation pack at the beginning of the journey into emotions and the zones. 

Regulation lanyard help

NZ$0.00

Regulation lanyard help

This regulation freebie will provide a reminder for students and teachers to talk through their zone and emotions. There is a cover sheet, emotion explanation and then a card for each zone. These provide questions for teachers to scaffold the conversation and also some sentence starters for students to use when answering. Great for teacher on duty or just a visual reminder on a teacher lanyard.

For the same size as mine, I printed 6 to a page.

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