Give Pupils a Moment to Self-Regulate With an ‘I Need a Break’ Card

As teachers, we know how overwhelmed some pupils can get in the classroom. When those feelings hit, they can escalate into an emotional meltdown or behavioural outburst. However, there are many ways to catch pupils and de-escalate the situation before that happens. We’ve created a handy set of Chill Out Passes to help you defuse behaviour incidents before they happen.

What Are the Benefits of a Classroom Work Break?

While a work break seems too simple to actually help manage behaviour, providing pupils with a Classroom Escape Clause has many benefits! Work breaks can:

• Defuse potentially explosive situations
• Allow intervention before mild behaviours escalate to significant behaviour problems
• Provide a moment to calm down and think clearly
• Help pupils refocus and regain motivation
• Teach important coping skills
• Keep pupils in school

Pupils must bring the card to you when they feel upset or angry and need a break from the situation. Ensure that you speak to the pupil after their chill-out time to discuss the situation and any concerns they may have.

There are five-minute and three-minute cards and cards with no indicated time amount. Work with pupils to choose the best option to suit their needs.

Download Your Printable Work Break Cards

There are multiple file formats to choose when downloading this resource. Use the dropdown menu to access the:

• Full-colour PDF
• Black-and-white PDF
• Full-colour editable Microsoft Word
• Black-and-white editable Microsoft Word