Do you ever feel the need to slip away into some quiet place where you can take a walk in nature or decompress with an activity that helps you regroup?

This week, I applaud a school in Oregon that is providing a quiet, yet effective space for children to diffuse and regroup when they are struggling to maintain their cool and focus control in the classroom.

With laws saying that children are to be taught in the least restrictive environments, sometimes we can take this to mean that children should always remain in the classroom. There are times, however, when it is appropriate for children to be invited into a space that teaches them how to focus, calm down, and regroup. I often say at workshops, “Instead of telling children to focus, teach them how to focus. Talk less. Show more.”

After doing a training in Hillsboro, Oregon, one of the attendees took this to heart and created a S’cool Moves room complete with S’cool Moves posters that help children self-regulate, calm, and refocus.

Along with the S’cool Moves activities, children are taught how to monitor where they are in terms of self-regulation using the program Zones of Regulation. Children rate what zone they are in prior to entering the S’cool Moves room and then rate the zone after completing the refocusing and integration activities.

Michele Obama shares, “I am an example of what is possible when girls from the very beginning of their lives are loved and nurtured by people around them. I was surrounded by extraordinary women in my life who taught me about quiet strength and dignity.”

I applaud this school’s insight and wisdom in providing children with a quiet place where they learn how to become strong in mind and body while maintaining their dignity. Thanks for all you do for children.