A Space for Mindfulness and Emotional Regulation In The Classroom

By: Zoey Bros

In the olden days, unfavorable behavior resulted in time-outs, the hallway, or the principal’s office. As time has passed, schools have changed, including the way teachers respond to less than desired behavior in the classroom. In college, I remember during student teaching the popular shift was to the Responsive Classroom model. If you are familiar, this followed the “take a break” response.  If students were struggling they were asked to “take a break” in a designated area of the classroom. I don’t know about you, but in my eyes, it still always seemed to be just like a time-out but changing up the wording. You know? 

When I started my first teaching job I came across Leah Kuypers and the Zones of Regulation. My mind was blown. In her book The Zones, I learned about self-regulation and how a student can manage his/her’s emotions and the physical and verbal actions that accompany these emotions. I also grew to learn that many times students do not know what an appropriate response is to the various emotions they feel throughout the school day. In turn, students may need a safe space in the classroom to process emotions. That is where my Mindfulness Space idea came to me and has evolved every school year.

This idea of a space centered around Zones of Regulations and Mindfulness tools that I teach started as a decorated student desk with tools and posters they could use, then the next school year changed into a Mindfulness corner chair with the same items in a bin underneath. While last year, I transformed it into a little area called Class 1211’s Mindfulness Nook. This nook has the Zones of Regulation posters, pillows, fidget tools, sand timers, a mirror (to help them identify their emotions), and a few small stuffed animals (we call them our Mindfulness buddies).

This nook can be found in between my filing cabinet and a rather large bookshelf. It is on the floor, on a small rainbow-colored door rug that I bought in college from Urban Outfitters. Ultimately, my wish for my students to learn to self regulate on their own. However, trauma is real, especially in the Title 1 school I work in and the Mindfulness nook has been working well for my students. It serves as a place where they can check-in and reflect on how they are feeling and acting while at school.  As I stated in my last blog post. I would love to know what your corner/nook/desk/area looks like? What items are in it that help students self regulate?  As educators, we learn best from one another.  I am excited to hear from you.

In peace,
Zoey

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Zoey Bros is a second grade teacher from Minnesota. Follow her on Instagram: @shiningbrightinsecond

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