One of our Theatre Arts Training classrooms has received a makeover this summer! With the opening of our new Reset Room, students of all ages now have access to a calm, reliable space if they need a break from a busy day of camp. Johanna Gorman-Baer, resident teaching artist, tells us all about it!
Having a space separate from the office for students who need a few minutes to center themselves has been a game changer! The Reset Room is staffed by a teaching artist and teaching assistant who are trained to be understanding, patient, and focus on getting each student what they need so they can return to their group in the classroom.
Some of the things we have observed in these first weeks:
Students who come to the Reset Room for a break from their classroom and peers are given a timer for two or five minutes, select from a limited list of calming and/or grounding activities, and receive a check-in from a teaching artist or assistant when their time is up. Students have the option to request more time if they need it, but for the most part, they’ve been able to recognize when they’re ready on their own, tell the teacher, and transition calmly back to the classroom within the time they requested.
Some of our youngest students who are nervous about their first day of camp and have trouble leaving their parent or guardian, benefit from a teaching artist and assistant in the Reset Room who can give them a little more one-on-one attention and reassurance in a quiet space before introducing them to their camp classroom.
Students who may not be feeling well now have a quiet space with gentler lighting and comfortable seating where they can wait to be picked up.
As we get to know students over the course of the week, setting regularly scheduled breaks away from their peers can help with the social/emotional fatigue of being in a collaborative space for six hours a day. This helps students get along with their peers more successfully while also providing some much-needed space throughout the week.
