Five Minutes A Day To Change Classroom Culture

If you're feeling especially challenged or overwhelmed by your new school year, then this post is really for you!  If you would like to build stronger relationships with your students, then this blog is for you.  If your a curious teacher who like to think about new things, then this blog is for you.

What I'm about to share is not new.  In fact it's probably as old as education itself.  It's just one of those things we've lost sight of.  One of those things that seems way too easy to lead to any sort of real change.

This is a game change!

At the beginning of the day as your students arrive, have only one job.  And hold the time sacred so nothing like last minute tasks can interfere.

Greet each and every one of your students at the door.  

Shake their hand.  

Let your eyes meet. 

Greet them by name.

Unless this is already part of your class or school culture, it's going to make an amazing difference.

THIS IS SO IMPORTANT.  Some days you will be the only person who says that child's name in a kind and loving way.  You may be the only person who looks directly into a child's eyes and silently expresses, "I see you.  I really see you."  You will be training your students to behave is socially appropriate ways for their future job interviews.

At first it will be a challenge.  It may feel awkward.  Do it anyway.  For students who I have hard time meeting your eyes, ask them to look at your nose.

Do not let the greeting become superficial--ie Don't you look pretty today.  I try to avoid physical appearance comments unless something really changed--glasses, braces, etc.

Good morning, William. That's all it needs to be.  If you want to make it more:  How are you today?  {Listening to response, too.}  You look like you're ready to learn.  I know we're going to have a great day together.

Overtime you are instilling the belief that you care about that student.  This makes a huge difference when discipline issues arise.

If something happens and I'm not at my door then I walk around the classroom greeting students at their seats.  If you do coteaching or have a student teacher you can both do this. Or take turns while one is prepping and fielding questions.

As the teacher you will also be able to gauge so much about your students' morning.  I found it especially useful with students who had mental/emotional health concerns.

Best wishes to you.  Let me know how it works for you.

Yoga Breath with Kids in the Classroom

Have you noticed how stressed and anxious kids are?  And how it usually isn't even about stuff they need to think about--let alone worry about?

One of the many "extras" that we need in our classrooms is self soothing and calming strategies.  One of the best I know is different types of yogic breathing.  {I don't usually call it this, but my students do--those little smarties!}  I usually say "Deep Breathing" or "Relaxing Breath" or "Calming Breath."
I talk about times and ways they can use this breath.  I also talk about my own experiences of feeling so nervous it feels like there is a rock in my stomach.  Or when I feel so worried I can't sleep.  Or when I'm so angry I feel like I'm shaking on the inside.  {Kids really get this!}  I also tell them that the breathing only works for me because I've practice it so much, that it is almost automatic in a really stressful situation.

I ask them if they want to practice with me.  We usually practice when we come in from recess before a restroom break for just a couple minutes.  Sometimes we practice before we take a test.  Sometimes if we're antsy we will practice, too!

Here are a few of my favorites:

Hint:  We always breathe in and out through our noses.  If kids use their mouth I don't make a big deal about it, unless they sound like they are gasping for air.

Big Balloon Belly Breath:  We fill our bellies full of air, so they puff out like a balloon.  We hold for a few seconds.  Then as we exhale we try to remove all the air like a deflating balloon.  It helps to imagine we are squeezing our belly button back toward our spine.  {Repeat several times}

Smell the Flower, Blow Out the Candle:  My son prefers smell the cookie, blow out the candle!  I've heard several variations on this.  Hold up the index finger that will act as both flower and candle.  Breathe in smelling the flower and breathe out through mouth as if blowing out a candle.  Kids love these and it really works.

Breathe at your Happy Place:  Child closes their eyes and think of a place they love to be--real or imagined.  I suggest grandma's house or their backyard or a place they have visited.  I tell them I'm on a sandy beach in a hammock in the shade.  I can see it, but I've never been there.  We just breathe.  It's crazy how fast my class will become completely still.

If You Can Hear My Voice:  If it's loud I will start in a quiet voice, "If you can hear my voice breathe in through your noise and out through your nose.  If you can hear my voice fill your belly like a balloon.  If you can hear my voice release all the air through your nose."  And so on.

Audible Sigh:  We will inhale and then vocalize our exhale as a sigh.

Should Lift with Breath:  We inhale our shoulders up by our ears, and as we exhale we slowly lower our shoulders.  This takes practice.

These are great for grown ups and for kids at home, too!  It's amazing how the more they are practiced the more students will request them.

Happy Breathing!

Sensory Breaks in the Classroom

So we all know that sensory breaks are recommended for students with a variety of special needs.  I would argue that sensory breaks are a great idea for everyone in the classroom--even teachers!  They can be used many different ways.  This year I have so many students who benefit from the consistent addition of breaks into our daily routine.  I can usually tell when this is needed because the students are extra antsy or unfocused.  Below you will find some ideas that I added and some were suggested by our occupational therapist.  {She had some of my students teach these breaks to the whole class!}  If you need more suggestions, consult your school's occupational therapists or consultants.

I made mini posters to remind students of our breaks.  The posters backed with aqua paper can be done by any students at any time at their seat.  These include:

Deep Breath:  Breathe in through the nose slowly and out through the mouth slowly.  This can be "smell the flower, and blow out the candle," or as my son prefers, "smell the cookie, blow out the candle."

Pressing Palms:  Press palms together in front of the chest.  {You should be able to feel the press all the way up into the shoulders.}

Chair Push Ups:  Press hands down on seat of chair and lift bottom off the seat so that feet come off the ground.

Lift Arms Over Head:  Lift arms overhead and press them up toward the sky.

All of these can be modified, expanded, or repeated several times.  Most we will do 3 or 5 times.

I honestly don't have many students who will initiate a break on their own.  Sometimes I will invite a student who looks like they can most use the break to choose one for us to all do together.  That is usually very effective and quick!

Then we have a variety of breaks that would be too distracting for one person to do, but the whole class will stand up and do them together.  These are very popular many months into using them!

Put on the sunscreen:  start with arms and press as if you are applying sunscreen.  We go from arms to legs to bellies to necks and heads.  Try it!  It's surprisingly calming to me!

Brrr!  Hug and stir:  Cross arms and give yourself a tight hug, tightening muscles.  Repeat 3-5 times, and then stir a big cup of hot cocoa in front of you.

Popcorn Spelling:  Practice spelling words outloud.  Pop up for certain letters.  We usually pop up for vowels.  So for c-a-t, we would sit as we said c, pop up for a, and sit for t.  My students LOVE this one!

Roll A Brain Break:  I printed this freebie from Teachers Pay Teachers.  One student rolls a die and then reads the instructions to us.  {There is a different activity for each number 1 - 6}

The Elephants Are Coming:  The all time favorite!  I say, "Do you hear the elephants coming?"  They say, "Yes and they are far away {Tiptoeing}  Me:  "Do you hear the elephants coming?"  Them:  Yes, and they are half way here.  {Louder feet}  Me:  "Do you hear the elephants coming?"  Them:  Yes and they are almost here.  {Pounding feet}  Me:  "Do you hear the elephants coming?"  Them:  Yes, and they are here.  {Pounding feet, trumpeting mouths and moving trunks}  Me:  Do you hear the elephants leaving?  Them:  Yes, they are moving away {Pounding feet}  Me:  Do you hear the elephants leaving:  Them:  Yes, and they are far away {Tiptoeing}  Me:  Are the elephants gone?

Them:  {whisper yes and sit down silently}

As the winter has been long and spring is always a time for antsy students, these are worth a try!  Let us know what you use and how these work with your kiddos!