Gimme a Break Box

     I am a special education teacher, so through the years I've come up with a few ideas that have helped my students and me navigate our days together. One idea, is a "Gimme a Break Box"!  The Gimme a Break Box is a tool that is helpful for students who need breaks when they become overwhelmed academically, socially, or from too much sensory stimuli. Sometimes kids just need a break!  The Gimme a Break Box is used as part of an honor system in my classroom. The students know that it used only when taking a break is truly necessary. In all honesty, the students rarely use the Gimme a Break Box. I think that part of the charm of the Gimme a Break Box, is that it provides emotional support simply by being a "thing" that they can go to if needed. This provides comfort in knowing that it is okay to need a break if they need to. This in turn, creates a sense of calm in the students. It's funny how that works! The students also understand that it is a break and not meant to be an all day avoidance of school work. The students respect the the freedom of having the ability to take a break when they need it and therefore they also respect the fact that they must return to the group as soon as possible. Usually, when students use the Gimme a Break Box, they are away from group from five to ten minutes.  When needed they take the box and go to a quiet part of the classroom to relax. Their peers continue to work. It's a mutual community of respect.   So, would you like to know how to make a "Gimme a Break Box"?  Great! I'll provide some general instructions:

Know your Students:

First, you need to know your students. You of course know what grade level you teach so will know what kids at that age group like. Since I teach special education, I read my students IEP's to see what type things might be soothing in a Gimme a Break Box. Also, colleagues such as occupational therapists, physical therapists and counselors are always full of great suggestions.

The Gimme A Break Box-Box!:

I use a $1.00 plastic pencil box that latches for our classroom Gimme a Break Box. It's much roomier than you'd think! The list could be endless with ideas on things to put inside but I tend to focus on the five senses, things for: seeing, hearing, tasting, touch, and smell, plus things that are for emotional support. I will categorize them below:

Sight:

I tend to put brightly colored items with child appeal. Things they will be drawn too to take their mind off  what is bothering them. Also crayons to color with or perhaps a word search puzzle. I also include a small bottle of bubbles to blow because seeing the bubbles is soothing and blowing them helps the child to breathe deeply which is helpful in calming down anxiety.

Hearing:

A mini-ipod with head phones so that others are not distracted. Sometimes a quiet hand cranked music box may be helpful too. A small lock with keys that clicks when it is opened.   

Tasting:

I put a juice box and fruit gummies in the Gimme a Break Box. Sometimes kids are just hungry or thirsty and need a pick-me-up. When kids blood sugar is low they may have symptoms which include lack of focus, being fidgety, or irritable. A small nutritious snack may help. Since the Gimme a Break Box is not used often, I like to put non-perishable snacks inside the box. 

Touch/Tactile/Fine Motor  
I have things with a variety of textures into the Gimme a Break Box.  These things may include but ar Boxe not limited to: rubber band balls, koosh, balls, stress balls, wikki stix, Aaron's thinking putty, Bendeez, inside out balls with soft spikes, satin strips, small furry critters, feathers, ...etc.   Keep in mind that stress balls can be made by adding four or baby powder to uninflated balloons. This can double as a fun classroom activity!

Smell: 

The olfactory sense is not to be underrated! The sense of smell can insight feelings of joy, comfort, and even fear if the scent is not associated with a good memory. We are looking for positive memories so my classroom calm down box includes: play-doh, and since lavender is known to soothe, a homemade lavender fidget bag filled with beans! In fact my class will soon be sewing lavender scented rice into a felt bag in life skills class.

Emotional:

A Railroader Ticket

When a student is upset, it takes an emotional toll on them. I want them to always feel supported and valued. Taking a break should never leave the student feeling like he or she has done something wrong. So I always leave a railroader ticket (a school token) that can be turned into the school guidance office in a drawing for a weekly prize. Attached is a note letting the student know that I am proud of him/her for knowing that a break was needed and knowing that returning to class as soon as possible is a positive goal. It takes courage to take a break . It takes commitment and honesty to return to class after taking a break.







Educator Links:
Reduce Reuse, Recycle: Next Generation Lesson Planning
http://fishtreeblog.tumblr.com/post/89167029405/reduce-reuse-recycle-next-generation-lesson?

Four Keys to Developing Academic Vocabulary
http://www.teachthought.com/teaching/4-keys-developing-academic-vocabulary/?

Parent Links:
Calming Tips for Children with ADHD
http://www.familyplus.ca/articles-five.php

ADHD in High School: Medication Treatment Tips
http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/2053.html


Mitt Aubin's Book Review:
The Napping House, by Audrey Wood is a beautifully illustrated book by her husband Don Wood.  The Napping House is a soothing, cummulative rhyming story that puts children in a dream-like, relaxed demeanor. It's a calming story about a house will a granny, a child, and a dozing dog! Children will delight in the predictable rhymes and the wacky surprise ending! My daughters adored this book when they were young!

The Wonderment of Letting Kids Just Be Kids

     Halloween is long over, or is it?  For many, it is a day filled with too much sugar, uncomfortable costumes, and too much...well, fun!  In many places it is cancelled due to the fear of danger and the fear of sugar! Are these fears warranted, absolutely! However, there is another fear that I have that many people today are not talking about...this is, the fear of not cultivating a child's imagination! Sadly, I too reluctantly took part in this no Halloween hoopla! 
      There is a policy in my school where every day must go on as usual. Education is the focus as it should be. Also, there is a high rate of poverty where I teach.  It is believed that if too much emphasis is placed on the holidays that the children may feel the pang of not having. I can see this point but am not sure I share this thought process.
   This year, Halloween was on a Friday. My lesson plans reflected good, solid academic structure! My plan was to go through the day as usual. Friday afternoon I was going to allow the students the next to the last block (period) to explore their newish chromebooks. Then, I was going to give them a halloween treat as they left for home. I was going to do this quietly to not disturb the continuum of learning! 
   The last block was reserved for a controlled pep rally in the auditorium to show school spirit for all sports teams and to wish our football players well as they head off to the playoffs. Friday was maroon and white day (school colors) to promote solidarity in supporting our football champions. I of course wore maroon and white because I am very proud of the "Railroaders" for their great season in what ever sport they play. The pep rally was nice because the principal congratulated all of the students for their great leadership skills. We do have great kids in our school! All kids are great! Again though, Halloween was not mentioned, not even once! This is proper because school isn't about Halloween! Or, is Halloween more than that?
     My students and aides set me straight! (#notperfect)  I had said that we were not having a party but could use our chromebooks to explore academic sites! My students tried really hard to follow the policies set in place, but, well it is Halloween after all!  In case I haven't mentioned this, I love my students, my aides, and my school because in the end what's needed, happens...always! My students, even though they were told not to, brought in Halloween goodies that they made themselves! Talk about "Life Skills" in action! We had cookies to decorate, birds nest cookies, and aqua blue, spiders web cupcakes with candy spiders in them!  My aides brought in Halloween goody bags and really neat skeleton Cheetos to make skeletons out of (science in action)!  Through out the day, Halloween drawings appeared on my whiteboard and Halloween images were taped to our classroom window! How could I not get the hint! Suddenly my lame, consolation, out-the-door treat did not seem worthy of this occasion! So...I rescinded my no party rule and we had a party! (Shh...don't tell! This is a secret!) Actually, it really wasn't a party. It was kids having fun, feeling joy (#edjoy) as they explored educational venues on their chromebooks!
     Later, in the evening while reflecting on the day, I thought about the importance of Halloween in children's lives.  Halloween has become part of our American culture. Halloween doesn't have racial or social status barriers. All who choose to, can take part equally. Though Halloween is thought to be a children's holiday, grown-ups enjoy participating too. Why else would my social media pages be filled with Halloween pictures of those from all ages. Halloween insights imagination. On Halloween you can be whatever you want to be, in anyway you want to be it! Every thing goes!  You can forget if you are rich or poor, short, tall, chubby, skinny,disabled, smart...! Halloween allows everyone to forget about their everyday circumstances and just have fun!  Halloween doesn't need to be about the candy either. It can be whatever you make it! My students and aides made it about sharing and camaraderie. They made it okay to break a rule that has good intentions but maybe overlooks the importance of this underappreciated holiday!  My students kept their focus all day long. They played by the school and classroom rules and engaged in their lessons. When the time was right, they allowed this rule enforcing, teacher to rethink the wonderment of letting kids just be kids, and reclaim the joy of Halloween and letting our imaginations flow! (#makingmemories)

Educator Links:
Critter Kin: Listen, Love Learn
http://critterkin.com/2014/10/the-not-perfect-hat-club/
Monday Morning Memoir
http://www.edutopia.org/discussion/monday-morning-memoir?
New York State Approves Career-Focused Graduation Pathways
 http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/curriculum/2014/10/new_york_state_approves_career.html

Parent Links:
Positive ADHD Symptoms- Five Things You Can do Better than Anybody Else
http://www.adhdthegift.com/positive-adhd-symptoms/
Crossing Sign Conundrums
http://ollibean.com/2014/03/06/crossing-sign-conundrums/


Mitt Aubs Book Review:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FS9Ng-GSO2E#action=share

      I was so excited to find an autographed copy of Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller's book: Nightmares.  An up to date novel about a boy who is having a few adjustment problems with his new step-mother, a possible witch in his new home belonging to his new step-mother- a purple mansion! Cute for young readers!