“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” I first heard this Aristotle quote during an in-service day session with our school social worker. It really resonated with me.
Today, children face more challenges/stress than ever, and their self-regulation tool belts must be expanded, stocked, and supported.
In my eight years of teaching, I have seen firsthand that learning can become even more of a challenge for students facing hardships, anxiety, depression, inconsistencies in their home life, loss, learning disabilities, peer/societal pressure, and more.
Students learn best when they feel safe, accepted, supported, and loved. That's why it is important to help students with self-regulation. I want my students to know I will always care about their hearts, emotions, fears, frustrations, etc.
A Classroom Calming Corner allows my students to take a "time in" to recognize their big emotions and find the healthiest way to handle them by selecting/implementing a strategy of choice. Self-regulation is a life skill that students must work on to become successful lifelong learners and positive members of a community. The materials would include a bean bag and carpet to rest and relax, a shelf with cubbies to store stress balls, focus games to ease their mind, music, sensory toys to fidget with, windmills to practice breathing, and a mirror to view their body language and ask, “Do I look ready to return to my class activity? Do I look in control of my emotions?” Students will utilize and improve self-regulation strategies, stay in the classroom where I can safely see them, and decrease escalations (which maximizes teaching and learning time).
Thank you for helping me take care of our children's hearts so that they can focus, learn, and grow with their minds.
About my class
“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” I first heard this Aristotle quote during an in-service day session with our school social worker. It really resonated with me.
Today, children face more challenges/stress than ever, and their self-regulation tool belts must be expanded, stocked, and supported.
In my eight years of teaching, I have seen firsthand that learning can become even more of a challenge for students facing hardships, anxiety, depression, inconsistencies in their home life, loss, learning disabilities, peer/societal pressure, and more.
Students learn best when they feel safe, accepted, supported, and loved. That's why it is important to help students with self-regulation. I want my students to know I will always care about their hearts, emotions, fears, frustrations, etc.
A Classroom Calming Corner allows my students to take a "time in" to recognize their big emotions and find the healthiest way to handle them by selecting/implementing a strategy of choice. Self-regulation is a life skill that students must work on to become successful lifelong learners and positive members of a community. The materials would include a bean bag and carpet to rest and relax, a shelf with cubbies to store stress balls, focus games to ease their mind, music, sensory toys to fidget with, windmills to practice breathing, and a mirror to view their body language and ask, “Do I look ready to return to my class activity? Do I look in control of my emotions?” Students will utilize and improve self-regulation strategies, stay in the classroom where I can safely see them, and decrease escalations (which maximizes teaching and learning time).
Thank you for helping me take care of our children's hearts so that they can focus, learn, and grow with their minds.
Read more