My chime is an auditory stimulus that helps my students focus their energy into calm breathing. My students have learned to recognize this sound and it can be used during the day when one or more students are elevating their stress or frustration.
The Mini Sphere is an amazing tool! When I open the ball I prompt students to take a deep breathe and expand their tummies in the same way the ball is expanding and then exhale as the ball is being condensed back to it's original size. I also pair this with a physical cue, we call them "practicing hands." Students put their fingers together and then expand and pull them apart as they inhale and put them back together as they exhale. This has turned into a great visual prompt and it can even be used from across classrooms by teachers and Paraprofessionals to redirect students back to a calm state. This is our NUMBER 1 go to STRATEGY!
Don't Wake Up Daddy, just the Daddy part, is a favorite way for my students to learn what it feels like to be "tense." I typically give the mini sphere to a student to practice his or her breathing while I push the button on Daddy's bed. I challenge them to stay calm while they wait for daddy to jump up in his bed. As students learn the technique and become more comfortable in the group, I have them choose a classmate to challenge and we take turns passing the ball and Daddy around our circle.
The Phlat Ball is another way to teach students what "tense" feels like. I challenge my students to use their "practicing hands" and breathing while we all wait for the ball to pop open.
All of these items are currently available at Amazon.com. As I said, they are essential items in my teaching tool box!
Look for an update with a movie demo in the next couple weeks as I demonstrate how my students are using these techniques during extended school year.
