Strategic Second Grade Quiet Time
Source/Author: Michele Johnson, Second Grade Teacher
September 27, 2018
"When used effectively, students and teachers alike look forward to this oasis of peace and quiet in the midst of a busy and energetic school day."
- ResponsiveClassroom.org
- ResponsiveClassroom.org
Quiet Time is a Responsive Classroom structure that allows students to take a physical, mental, and emotional breather during the school day. While it can be tough to fit 15-20 minutes of calm into the day, the benefits are vast. Some pre-lunch worries and disputes seem to wash away as students transition into the afternoon.
In Mrs. Johnson's second grade classroom, students can count on quiet time at least three days each week. It allows them to settle back into their space after PE or music, and is a great way to set up a focused, engaged afternoon. The goal is to give students a chance to choose what to do with their time. This ability to choose gives them a sense of power and freedom in an otherwise structured day.
Activities range from drawing and coloring to reading or designing with math manipulatives (see Alexander's creation, pictured.) Some students finish up work from earlier in the day, or continue to work on art projects they've been creating.
