Take
a break is a method that is most commonly used when responsive
classroom is implemented in the classroom. Responsive classroom is a
classroom management technique that includes a specific language to use
with the children and creates a classroom environment that is more like a
community. The goal of this is for each child to feel valued and like
they have a say in the classroom. Take a break is a way for children to
leave the instructional area, take a deep breath, think about their
actions and return to the lesson when they feel they are ready to learn.
It is the teacher's job to create a classroom community where the
children understand that everyone including the teacher need breaks and
that taking a break does not mean you are in trouble. After this is
established in the first two weeks of school, children are able to take
breaks at any time.
PRO:
- Teaches students to manage own behavior
- Immediately removes student from situation
- When explained correctly to children (explain to them that taking a break is something that everyone has to do even you and sometimes we just need to remove ourselves and think about how to control ourselves before rejoining the group) they are able to rebound from "getting in trouble" because they know the teacher is not mad at them
CON:
- Students may not come back to the carpet or the classroom because they don't ever feel they are ready, thus missing out on instructional time
- Students may take advantage of it as a way to get out of activities they don't like
Ratings for Take a Break and Responsive Classroom:
- Reduce Public Humiliation: At the beginning of the year students are taught about what taking a break means. As a part of creating the classroom community they are taught that everyone in the community may need to take a break sometimes, even the teacher. They are taught that when they take a break they are not in trouble they just need to think about what they are doing that may be distracting or hurtful, think about how they can change it, and then come back to the carpet…. 1 star
- Effectiveness: Taking a break gives some students the rest time that they need to come back to the class and be able to learn for the rest of the day. There are however some children that do not respond well to this and use taking a break to hang out at a table. The whole point of taking a break is being responsible enough to come back to the class when you are ready, and some children are not able to do that…. 1 star
- Student Acceptance: If a classroom community is set up where the children help to create the rules and the feeling inside the classroom the students tend to accept this. Some children rely on it in order to make it through the day. It is a way of letting the child know that what their doing is unacceptable, but still being able to go on with the class and not humiliate the child… half a star
- Minimal Class Disruption: Since this is used throughout the day, during instructional time or no instructional time it is not very disruptive. If the teacher feels as though a child needs to take a break she will just say the child’s name, tell them to take a break and continue teaching. Usually the students don’t even blink an eye. There is no yelling, no fighting and no discussion, the child just goes to an empty seat, thinks about how he can fix what he was doing wrong and comes back to the carpet… one star
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