Learning to pause before reacting is an important skill that helps students in both personal and academic challenges. When students have the opportunity to practice this skill, they are more likely to be able to think clearly about the challenges they face, and act in ways that are helpful for themselves and others. A few strategies can be used to help students practice the skill of pausing (beyond running the Open Parachute lessons, which also teach this skill). Some of these might be strategies you already use, and some might give you ideas on new tools to try.
1. Take time to pause and connect with students.
For example, you could greet your students at the door when they arrive, asking them simple questions about their day before class begins; or you could focus on one student at a time, pausing to check in with them multiple times throughout a week to help them experience what it is like to pause and connect (this can also help students feel seen and valued, which also greatly increases their sense of well-being at school!).
2. Acknowledge and celebrate students who intentionally practice pauses.
For example, if you notice students taking a break from a challenging situation or activity (e.g., walking away and coming back later, taking a few deep breaths, sitting quietly for a few moments before responding, etc.), openly acknowledge how helpful this is in order to reinforce their behavior and encourage others to do the same.
3. Role model using pauses before, during, or after a stress-inducing event in the classroom.
For example, if you and the class have been focusing hard to work through a challenging assignment, you could say: "I'm going to need a minute to regroup and take a few deep breaths before we carry on."
For more suggestions on how to scaffold the learning from Open Parachute lessons across the school year, see our Help Article Scaffolding Opportunities.
We also offer training on Creating Resilient Classrooms, which provides an overview of the Being Well Model (Feel, Pause, Think, and Act) and how it can be embedded into every classroom.