Help support Ms. Johnson's Classroom

I teach self-contained 8th grade students with a wide variety of disabilities. This year more than half of them have varying degrees of Autism. School has always been hard for my students emotionally and academically. I want this year to be different. I have been selected to be a Social Emotional ambassador for my district. I would like to implement a "Zen Den" for my students. This will be several areas in my classroom that they can work on emotions they may encounter during the school day. We also will be working on their growth mindset to help, model, and mold their negative thinking. While it is important to have a response strategy for student meltdowns, it is equally to make sure supports are put in place to prevent a negative behavior from occurring in the first place. Even with our best efforts, a student may get so frustrated or upset that the negative behavior occurs. In this case, try utilizing Classroom Calming Corners where students can go to briefly get away from the frustrating task or overstimulating activity. It is a good idea to try to have the student remain in the classroom rather than send him out to prevent this behavior from becoming an avoidance tactic as well as to promote self-calming strategies. The Calming Corners will be a safe place where a student can go to calm himself using pre-taught strategies for a short amount of time. The goal is to give the student a “time away” so that his behavior does not escalate any further. The Calming Corners is a positive place that rewards students for keeping their emotions in check and using strategies to calm themselves so that learning can occur.

About my class

I teach self-contained 8th grade students with a wide variety of disabilities. This year more than half of them have varying degrees of Autism. School has always been hard for my students emotionally and academically. I want this year to be different. I have been selected to be a Social Emotional ambassador for my district. I would like to implement a "Zen Den" for my students. This will be several areas in my classroom that they can work on emotions they may encounter during the school day. We also will be working on their growth mindset to help, model, and mold their negative thinking. While it is important to have a response strategy for student meltdowns, it is equally to make sure supports are put in place to prevent a negative behavior from occurring in the first place. Even with our best efforts, a student may get so frustrated or upset that the negative behavior occurs. In this case, try utilizing Classroom Calming Corners where students can go to briefly get away from the frustrating task or overstimulating activity. It is a good idea to try to have the student remain in the classroom rather than send him out to prevent this behavior from becoming an avoidance tactic as well as to promote self-calming strategies. The Calming Corners will be a safe place where a student can go to calm himself using pre-taught strategies for a short amount of time. The goal is to give the student a “time away” so that his behavior does not escalate any further. The Calming Corners is a positive place that rewards students for keeping their emotions in check and using strategies to calm themselves so that learning can occur.

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season!
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Ms. Johnson's Classroom Edit display name

About my class

About my class

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season! Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.

Ms. Johnson's Classroom Edit display name

About my class

About my class

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season!
Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.