Tag: classroom-management

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Back-to-School: Start the Year Strong- Teaching Kids to Manage Emotions from Day One

Starting the school year isn’t just about setting up your classroom—it’s about setting the tone. Helping students understand and manage their emotions from the very beginning lays the foundation for a calm, connected, and resilient learning environment. Whether you’re introducing SEL routines, creating a space for emotional regulation, or simply looking for ways to support your students’ social-emotional growth, these tools can help. From printable reflection prompts to cozy corner essentials, here are some of my favorite resources to get your classroom emotionally ready for the year ahead.

🌧️ Rainstick-Inspired Calming Tubes
These hand2mind sensory tubes gently mimic the sound of falling rain, providing a soothing experience for kids who need a quiet moment to reset. A must-have for any calm down corner or sensory station!

😌 Express Your Feelings Sensory Bottles
These colorful bottles help students identify and express more complex emotions like frustration, excitement, or nervousness. A quiet, hands-on tool perfect for emotional regulation and SEL routines in your calm down space.

🌬️ Breathing Meditation Lamp
This guided visual tool helps students slow their breathing and self-regulate using calming light cues. Perfect for mindfulness practice, managing anxiety, or winding down after a tough moment in your calm down corner.

🛋️ Feelings Pillow Cover – Calm Down Corner Decor
Add a cozy and functional touch to your calm down space with this 18×18 “Feelings” pillow cover. It’s a great visual tool for emotion identification and doubles as inviting decor for classrooms, therapy offices, or counseling spaces.

🌈 “You Matter” Inspirational Doormat – Welcoming Classroom Vibes
Start the day with positivity! This 30×17 “You Matter” doormat promotes inclusivity and belonging right at your classroom door. Perfect for entryways in classrooms, homeschools, or playrooms, it sets the tone for a safe, supportive learning space.

✨ Cozy Rainbow Classroom Lamp – Calm Corner Lighting
Add a warm, soothing glow to your calm down space with this small USB-powered rainbow lamp (11.6 inches tall). Perfect for classroom calm corners, reading nooks, or playroom areas—this soft lighting creates a cozy, inviting atmosphere that helps students feel safe and settled.

🧠 SEL Strategy Cards for K–3
Looking for a simple, visual way to teach calming techniques? These Printable SEL Strategy Cards are perfect for classroom calm down corners, brain breaks, or emotional regulation lessons. Each card includes a kid-friendly strategy like deep breathing, movement, or visualization.
👉 Grab the set here

🗂️ Calming Strategy Choice Boards & Mini Menus
Empower your students to take ownership of their emotions with these Calming Strategy Choice Boards and Mini Menus. With multiple formats—including full-page boards and smaller, printable menus—this toolkit is ideal for calm down corners, student toolboxes, or even as part of a morning check-in routine.
👉 Check it out on TPT

🗣️ SEL Scenario Cards for Real-Life Classroom Situations
Support student decision-making and emotional growth with these Printable Social-Emotional Learning Scenario Cards. Featuring 40 real-life situations, these cards help children reflect, discuss, and problem-solve common challenges they may face in the classroom. A great addition to your calm down corner or morning meeting routine!
👉 Explore the resource here

🎉 Want It All in One Easy Download?

If you’re ready to stock your calm down corner with everything mentioned above, the SEL Calm Down Corner Bundle is your best bet! It includes:

  • Feelings check-in tools
  • Printable strategy cards
  • Calming choice boards & mini menus
  • Real-life SEL scenario cards

Perfect for K–3 classrooms and easy to implement starting Day 1 of the school year.

👉 Click here to grab the full bundle on TPT

Creating a classroom where students feel safe, seen, and supported doesn’t happen overnight—but with the right tools, it’s absolutely possible. Whether you’re just getting started with social-emotional learning or looking to refresh your calm down corner, I hope these ideas help you kick off the school year with confidence and heart. 💛 You’ve got this—and I’m cheering you on every step of the way!

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How to Use SEL Scenario Cards to Build Empathy and Problem-Solving Skills

If you’ve ever had a student shout, “That’s not fair!” or melt down because a friend didn’t want to play the same game, you already know:
Learning to manage feelings and solve conflicts takes practice.

One of my favorite ways to help students build social-emotional skills is by using scenario cards.

These simple tools open the door to big conversations about kindness, empathy, and making good choices.

Today, I’m sharing tips for using SEL scenario cards in your classroom—and a resource that can make it easy to get started!

💛 What Are SEL Scenario Cards?

Scenario cards are short, kid-friendly situations that students might encounter at school or in daily life.

Each card describes a problem or feeling and includes reflection questions like:

  • What could you do in this situation?
  • How might someone else feel?

They help students practice:
✅ Recognizing feelings
✅ Thinking before reacting
✅ Considering others’ perspectives
✅ Solving conflicts respectfully

✨ 5 Simple Ways to Use Scenario Cards

Here are some of my favorite ways to use them:

1️⃣ Morning Meetings
Choose a scenario to read aloud and discuss as a class. This is a great way to start the day with empathy and connection.

2️⃣ Small Groups
Use cards in SEL rotations or counseling groups. Students can take turns reading and sharing ideas.

3️⃣ Writing Prompts
Have students respond to a scenario in their journals. They can write or draw about how they would handle it.

4️⃣ Role-Playing
Act out scenarios and practice calm responses. This is especially helpful for kinesthetic learners.

5️⃣ Calm-Down Corner
Keep a ring of cards available for students to read and reflect on when they need a break.

Check out this example from the set:

This simple prompt can lead to powerful conversations about inclusion and kindness.

📚 Ready to Try Scenario Cards?

I’ve created a set of 40 printable SEL Scenario Cards covering these topics:

✅ Friendship & Inclusion
✅ Managing Emotions
✅ Conflict Resolution
✅ Kindness & Empathy

Each card includes a clear scenario and reflection questions, plus a teacher guide to help you get started.

Click here to check them out in my TPT store!

💖 Let’s Support Our Students Together

When we give kids the tools to talk about feelings and practice empathy, we’re setting them up for a lifetime of healthy relationships.

If you try these scenario cards, I’d love to hear how you use them in your classroom!

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Must-Have SEL Printables for Your Calm Down Corner

As teachers, we know that helping students identify and manage their emotions is just as important as academics. But finding simple, ready-to-use tools to support social-emotional learning (SEL) can feel overwhelming.

Today, I’m sharing two of my favorite printable SEL resources that make it easy to create a calm, connected classroom: the Feelings Check-In Tool Kit and the Calming Strategy Menus.

1. Feelings Check-In Tool Kit

This resource is designed to help K–3 students name and share how they’re feeling in simple, developmentally appropriate ways.

What’s Included:
✅ 1–5 Feelings Scale
✅ Weather & Animal-themed check-ins
✅ Sentence starter page
✅ Teacher guide with ideas for use

These printable pages are perfect for:
✨ Morning meetings
✨ Calm down corners
✨ One-on-one check-ins
✨ Counseling sessions

Teachers have told me their students love the variety of visuals—especially the weather and animal options!

👉 Check it out on TPT here.

2. Calming Strategy Choice Boards and Mini Menus

Once students have identified how they feel, it helps to give them concrete strategies to self-regulate. The Calming Strategy Menus are printable posters that guide kids through simple calming techniques.

What You’ll Find Inside:
✅ A large visual choice board of 9 calming strategies
✅ 3 mini-menus focusing on:

  • Breathing exercises
  • Movement strategies
  • Mindfulness activities
    ✅ A teacher guide with suggestions for classroom use

You can display the menus in your calm down corner or print individual copies for students.

👉 See the resource here.

Ideas for Using These Tools Together

  • Start the day with a check-in so students can share how they feel.
  • Help them pick a calming strategy if they’re dysregulated.
  • Use the sentence starters as a journaling prompt or reflection activity.
  • Keep copies handy for transitions or times when emotions run high.

🌟 Ready to Get Started?

Both resources are designed to save you time and support your students in building lifelong SEL skills.

✨ Explore them on TPT:

If you have any questions or want ideas for implementation, feel free to comment below or reach out—I’d love to hear how you use them in your classroom!

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🌿 How to Create a Calm Down Corner That Actually Works

If you teach in an elementary classroom, you’ve likely faced this scenario: a student becomes overwhelmed, emotional, or dysregulated, and you need a way to help them reset—without disrupting the rest of the class.

Enter: the Calm Down Corner.

This dedicated space offers students a safe, supportive place to regulate their emotions, breathe, and return to learning with a clearer mindset. And the best part? Setting one up is easier than you think—with just a few intentional tools, you can transform even a small classroom nook into a calming oasis.

💡 Why Every Classroom Needs a Calm Down Corner

A Calm Down Corner isn’t a punishment—it’s a proactive strategy that supports emotional regulation and self-awareness. When students have a go-to space where they can reset, you’ll see:

  • Fewer disruptions
  • Shorter recovery times
  • Better long-term self-regulation

Plus, you’re modeling what it looks like to respond to big emotions rather than react—a powerful SEL lesson in itself.

🧺 What to Include in Your Calm Down Corner

Here are my must-have tools for creating a calming, functional space that works for young learners.

1. ✨ Soothing Sensory Lighting

💡 Try This: HEXlight Sensory Lights – 20% Off

Harsh overhead lighting doesn’t exactly say “relax.” These bestselling lights create a soft, ambient glow that instantly shifts the mood. Easy to set up and especially perfect for calm down spaces.

2. 🪴 Indoor Plants + Gentle Grow Light

💡 Try This: Zekoled 7-Tier Plant Stand with Built-In Grow Lights

The crescent shape of this plant stand makes a visual statement, and the full-spectrum lights keep your greenery happy. Plants bring calm, improve air quality, and offer a soft focus for students who need to reset.

3. 🧩 Hands-On Tools for Emotional Reset

🧠 Try These:

Some students need to move their hands while their minds settle. These quiet tools encourage problem-solving, creativity, and independence—all while promoting calm.

4. 📂 Organization for Tools + Strategy Cards

📁 Try This: JZW Color File Folders – Set of 5

I use these color folders to organize printed SEL tools by theme—breathing, movement, reflection, and more.

📥 Get My SEL Strategy Cards:
Download on TPT – Printable SEL Strategy Cards for K–3

🧘‍♀️ How to Introduce the Calm Down Corner to Students

A calm corner only works if students know:

  • When to use it
  • How to use it
  • That it’s not a punishment

Start by modeling its use during class meetings or SEL lessons. Practice when students are calm, not in the middle of a meltdown. Reinforce that this is a tool, not a time-out.

🌈 Final Thoughts

You don’t need a giant budget or a Pinterest-perfect setup to build a powerful calm down space. A few intentional choices—and the right tools—go a long way in helping students build emotional awareness and regulation skills.

👉 Shop All My Calm Down Corner Favorites on Amazon
Or grab the printable strategy cards here to get started right away.

📌 Pin This Post for Later!

Want to set up a calm down corner in your classroom that actually works? These teacher-tested Amazon finds—including soothing lights, plants, emotional reset tools, and a printable SEL card deck—make it simple. Save this post and grab what you need! #SEL #CalmDownCorner #AmazonTeacherFinds

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8 Powerful SEL Picture Books to Use in Your Elementary Classroom + Grab Your Freebie Reflection Form

Social-emotional learning (SEL) plays a critical role in helping students navigate emotions, build relationships, and grow into compassionate individuals. One of the most powerful ways to introduce SEL concepts in an elementary classroom is through picture books.

Here are eight impactful SEL read-alouds, complete with themes and lesson ideas, that can spark meaningful conversations with your students. After reading, put some of these reading reflection forms in your calm down corner. Students can use them to implement SEL skills into their daily life and routine.

1. The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig

Theme: Inclusion, empathy, kindness
This heartwarming story follows Brian, a quiet boy who often feels invisible until a new student shows him kindness.
Classroom Idea: Create a class discussion around “invisible” moments and how small acts of inclusion can make a big difference.

2. Don’t Think About Purple Elephants by Susan Whelan

Theme: Anxiety, calming strategies
A story about a girl whose worries come at night, until her mother offers an imaginative way to cope.
Classroom Idea: Teach students how to redirect worry thoughts by imagining something silly or comforting.

3. My Magic Breath by Nick Ortner & Alison Taylor

Theme: Mindfulness, breathing techniques
This interactive book encourages kids to use their breath to manage feelings and calm down.
Classroom Idea: Introduce this during morning meetings or before tests as a mindfulness routine.

Art connection: Make a class book where students draw their own “magic breath”- put it in the calm down corner for students to look at when needing a minute to calm down.

4. Enemy Pie by Derek Munson

Theme: Friendship, conflict resolution
A clever dad helps his son turn an “enemy” into a friend using a secret recipe—Enemy Pie.
Classroom Idea: Have students write a recipe for friendship or role-play conflict resolution strategies.

5. After the Fall by Dan Santat

Theme: Resilience, overcoming fear
Find out what happens to Humpty Dumpty after his great fall—an inspiring tale of bravery and perseverance.
Classroom Idea: Connect this book to growth mindset lessons or journal about a time students overcame fear.

6. Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts

Theme: Gratitude, needs vs. wants
Jeremy wants trendy shoes like his classmates, but ultimately discovers kindness and generosity are more important.
Classroom Idea: Use this to open discussions about empathy, giving, and recognizing privilege.

7. Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson

Theme: Regret, kindness, missed opportunities
This powerful book shows how one girl’s missed chance to be kind stays with her.
Classroom Idea: Reflect on the ripple effect of kindness with writing prompts or class challenges.

8. The Bad Seed by Jory John

Theme: Behavior, self-perception, change
A funny but touching story about a seed who believes he’s “bad,” and how he chooses to change.
Classroom Idea: Use it to discuss labeling, growth, and making positive choices every day.

📘 Make SEL Meaningful with Read-Alouds

These picture books offer more than just stories—they open the door to deeper conversations, reflection, and classroom community building. Whether you’re doing morning meetings or SEL mini-lessons, these titles fit naturally into your routine.

🔗 Amazon Affiliate Links

Want to grab these books for your classroom? Check them out here:

After reading: Use this reading reflection sheet. Students can respond and reflect on the books you use in the classroom to help teach those important SEL skills.

Grab Your Free Copy!

Do you have any great picture books that you use to teach SEL strategies in your classroom? Share them with us- we always love to see what other teachers are doing in their classrooms.

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🎉 Get a Free Student Self-Reflection Form

Want a simple, effective way to help your students take ownership of their actions and reflect on their choices?

Sign up below to get instant access to my free printable Self-Reflection Form—perfect for calm-down corners, SEL check-ins, and restorative practices.

I’ll also be sharing things like:
✔️ Classroom-ready freebies
✔️ Practical teaching ideas
✔️ Resources to help your classroom feel like a home away from home

👇 Just enter your info below and I’ll send it right to your inbox!

🎉 Get Your Free Student Self-Reflection Form

Help your students build emotional awareness and take ownership of their choices with this simple, printable reflection form. It’s perfect for calm-down corners, behavior check-ins, or restorative conversations.

Prefer a plain link? Click here to grab it

**Since we are just getting to know each other, you might need to check your spam folder if you don’t receive the reflection form to your inbox.

Thanks!