What is ‘Take a Break’ ?
Take a Break is a proactive strategy rooted from Responsive Classroom that is designed to support students in self-regulation and emotional management. It offers students a non-punitive space where they can step away from the group, take a moment to calm down (which is why some teachers refer to this as the ‘Calm Down Corner‘), and regain their focus before returning to the activity. Unlike traditional discipline methods, Take a Break is not intended as a punishment. Instead, it is a tool that empowers students to take responsibility for their emotions and behavior in a supportive way. It is built on the belief that when students are overwhelmed, frustrated, or distracted, giving them space to reflect helps them re-engage more effectively.
How is ‘Take a Break’ Different from Punishment?
The key difference between Take a Break and a punitive consequence is the purpose and tone of the intervention. Take a Break is designed to help students succeed by providing a moment to reset, not as a consequence for misbehavior. There’s no shame or reprimand involved. Instead, it’s framed as a positive opportunity for students to reflect and regain control, promoting a sense of independence and self-management. In contrast, punishment typically focuses on consequences for inappropriate behavior without necessarily teaching the student how to manage their emotions or behavior in the future.
Creating Effective ‘Take a Break’ or ‘Calm Down’ Spots in the Classroom
Ideally, you’ll want two Take a Break or Calm Down spots in your classroom to offer students flexibility, but if space is tight, even one will do. When setting up these spots, there are two key decisions to make:
- Where will your ‘Take a Break’ or Calm Down locations be?
- What will the ‘Take a Break’ or ‘Calm Down’ spot look like (desk or rug)?
First, let’s talk about the locations. When you are deciding where to put your Take a Break or Calm Down spots, make sure to
- Choose spots that will offer distance from other students, preferably outside the parameters of where student desks and whole group teaching area is located, to minimize distractions and peer interactions.
- It’s important to remember that even while taking a break or calming down, students should be able to see the lesson or activity so they don’t lose out on valuable learning time. So, make sure that the location is facing out toward the classroom rather towards a wall, and even though some teachers call this spot the ‘Calm Down Corner,’ it’s better if it’s not in a corner. Corners are sometimes associated with punishment.
- Make sure the location is visible to the teacher where the student can still see the teacher and vice versa. This makes redirections easy.
Now that you’ve got your locations, let’s talk about what students will use for Take a Break.
- Keep it simple, use a chair, a small rug, or a desk. Other people may disagree with me, but I 100 percent believe you should avoid adding distracting items like fidgets, stuffed animals, books, or pillows. The goal is for students to rejoin the class promptly and focus on learning with their peers. You don’t want this to be a nice, comfy place where students want to stay there forever.
How to make ‘Take a Break’ and “Calm Down Corner’ an Effective Classroom Management Tool
The answer: use it. If you set up Take a Break spots, but never send anyone to use it, or use it only occasionally, ‘Take a Break’ will not work. The key is to use it all the time, especially for little things. That way, when something big happens, ‘Take a Break’ does not seem like a big deal.
When to send a student to Take a Break or Calm Down:
- Emotional Overwhelm: If a student becomes upset during an activity, calmly ask the student to Take a Break. The break will give them time to self-regulate and return when they’re ready.
- Disruptive Behavior: When a student is being disruptive, a quick break allows them to reset and come back focused.
- Conflict with Peers: If students are arguing, sending one or both to Take a Break provides space for emotions to cool before resolving the issue.
- Multiple Redirections: If you are having to redirect a student multiple times about the same thing, a short break will help remind them of the expectations.
- Signs of Stress or Anxiety: If a student is anxious or fidgety during a lesson, offering them a break provides a safe space to manage their emotions and re-engage with the lesson.
- Break an Agreement: When students break a classroom agreement, send them to take a break. This will remind them of the expectations.
If you’re ready to implement Take a Break in your classroom but aren’t sure where to start, check out my Take a Break Classroom Resource made for grades 2-5! This resource includes a ‘Take a Break’ visual and worksheet to use in your classroom, along with the exact steps to introduce and teach your students about ‘Take a Break’. It’s designed to make the process simple and effective, ensuring that your classroom benefits from this essential Responsive Classroom strategy.
