A Quiet Spot

We all know how crazy busy a day can be in first grade! This year, I tried something new... I created an oasis for my little ones when they need a break to regroup or just to take a breather from the action. Heck- I need it too some days! According to the Conscious Discipline method, "The safe place provides the opportunity for children to remove themselves from the group in order to become calm, regain composure and maintain control when upset, angry or frustrated. Children may come to the safe place in order to be helpful and not hurtful to themselves and others".


Although this area speaks to the design of my classroom, it was constructed with the child's heart in mind. I struggle with the notion of calling it a "safe place", implying that the rest of the school/classroom is not safe. At the start of the year, when I was introducing the methods of stress relief, the children named the spot "The Quiet Spot". It is NOT a time-out or any other form of punishment. It is a continuation of the idea that we need to take care of our hearts and physical needs in order to be efficient learners. Children must feel safe in order to learn at their personal best. Here are some photos of our "Quiet Spot".

This is in the back corner of the room, out of the flow of traffic.  I knew that it needed to be by the window so the child could look out onto the beautiful woods that surround us. I got the chair from Target. I liked the style because it seemed to "hug" you when you sit in it. 

The signs are downloaded from the CD site and were placed in the area after the method of stress release was taught in our morning meetings.  I also have a tin of fidgets and stress balls on the window sill.  The big leaf is from IKEA. 

Help me help you....

Today was a good day- actually, a great day.  Things went so well that we had 10 extra minutes at the end of the day.  So, my little friends got to watch some of the video on the life cycle of butterflies (they LOVE the science videos!).  I explained to them that because they were doing so well following directions and transitioning quietly and quickly throughout the day, we had time for a bonus activity.  The routine is finally set, the expectations are internalized....Help me help you to get a few more minutes of fun :)

Yesterday, my friends learned what the weekly "helper" duties are.  I've never had a job chart before, so this is new to me.  I know, I know.... I just never thought it was a party I wanted attend, so I came late! :)  In the 2nd chapter of Conscious Discipline, they discuss ownership of the classroom and how our school "family" works together, just like at home.  Thus- the job chart.  I only have about 12-13 actual jobs, the rest are generic "helping hands".  The jobs rotate each week.  Here is a photo of the chart that hangs on the door that connects us to another classroom (it's the behavior chart from Lakeshore Learning that I re-purposed):

The "Helping Hands" actually have a week off, unless I need more than one friend for the project.  For example, the "librarian needed to take 31 books to the Media Center this morning.  i asked four of the general helpers to come and help.  We also talked about how even when we don't have a specific responsibility, we always need to be helpful.  I may just need another chart at home for my kids!

I'm in a "helpful" mood, so I'm sharing the cards that I made for the chart.  The clip art if from DJ Inkers and Microsoft. 

Family Helper Cards