Our students are returning to in-person learning after a long, difficult separation from school. In the case of our school, it has further been impacted by community unrest following the murder of George Floyd in their neighborhood, their school district redistricting schools; many students returning to new schools, new teachers, and new peer groups.
We are setting up comfort corners in all the classrooms where students can go within their classroom if they need a moment to reset and regulate. It will be a non-punitive small area their classroom with some oversized pillows, a weighted lap pad, and a cozy cushion to plop on that allowed students a space to just be (with less of the sensory demand around them). We are going to as a community decide if they will be Cozy Corners (as they were at a previous elementary school) or a fresh re-brand as Refuel Station to set the tone as a place to fill up with whatever your need is to be able to move forward in your day in your own way.
By creating this area in the classroom both allows the relationship with the teacher to remain strong as the teacher will be able to be part of the regulation strategy as well as keeping students in the classroom, where the learning is happening. It also teaches students how to regulate in the classroom environment, which is key to generalizing regulations skills.
About my class
Our students are returning to in-person learning after a long, difficult separation from school. In the case of our school, it has further been impacted by community unrest following the murder of George Floyd in their neighborhood, their school district redistricting schools; many students returning to new schools, new teachers, and new peer groups.
We are setting up comfort corners in all the classrooms where students can go within their classroom if they need a moment to reset and regulate. It will be a non-punitive small area their classroom with some oversized pillows, a weighted lap pad, and a cozy cushion to plop on that allowed students a space to just be (with less of the sensory demand around them). We are going to as a community decide if they will be Cozy Corners (as they were at a previous elementary school) or a fresh re-brand as Refuel Station to set the tone as a place to fill up with whatever your need is to be able to move forward in your day in your own way.
By creating this area in the classroom both allows the relationship with the teacher to remain strong as the teacher will be able to be part of the regulation strategy as well as keeping students in the classroom, where the learning is happening. It also teaches students how to regulate in the classroom environment, which is key to generalizing regulations skills.