Taking Time Tool

Concept: The Taking Time tool promotes the idea of self-control and self-regulation. There are moments in our lives when situations require us to step back and chill out- to allow ourselves some time to cool down and explore our choices, particularly during conflict and anger. At time, we may need to take a break and reflect on our options. Sometimes we need to process information, feelings, perspectives, and ways of working out the conflict before we can be effective communicators. There are two aspects of the Taking Time Tool: Time-In and Time-Away. Time-In means taking some time to check in and see what we need or are feeling. It’s an opportunity to think things through or cool down. Time Away allows us to physically remove or distance ourselves form the heat of the conflict, allowing us space to calm down and understand how we are feeling and thinking.

Hand Gesture: A wristwatch reminds students that the Taking Time Tool is important- to pause and go inward, or to pause and gain perspective. Gently tapping their wrists with their index fingers can help students remind themselves to take some Time-In or Time-Away. “I take time-in and time-away.”

Suggestions on how to introduce the tool to your students:

  • What do you think it means to use your time wisely?

  • Show students a real wristwatch or stop watch and explain that the Taking Time Tool has two parts, Time-In and Time-Away. Time-In looks, from the outside, a lot like the Breathing Tool. However, the Breathing Tool is about focusing on inner body sensation. Taking Time-In is about quietly thinking and reflecting. Taking Time-Away is when you make the decision to leave a situation in order to calm down and have the space to breathe deeply and listen to your inner voice.

  • What are some different ways to use your time wisely by using the Taking Time Tool? (Go for a walk, go to your room, move away from the people bothering you, take a deep breath, close your eyes, etc)

  • Make a chart of the board with the two questions “When are some good time to take time away?” “When are some good times to take a Time-In”?

    • Suggestions for Time-Away

      • When you’re feeling like you want to hurt someone.

      • When you’re feeling ready to explode.

      • After you do explode.

      • When you keep getting into conflicts with people around you.

      • When you’re feeling over-excited and wishing you could calm down.

    • Suggestions for Time-In

      • After you’ve been fighting with your brother or sister

      • If you’ve been feeling grumpy, irritable, upset, or mad and you’re not sure why.

      • After you’ve had a disagreement with a friend.

      • After you’ve had an argument or conflict with your parent.

  • When you are Taking Time-In, what are you saying to yourself? When you are Taking Time-Away, what are you saying to yourself?

Practice and implementation- choose from the following:

  • Let your students know when you are taking Time-In or Time-Away. (Last night I took some serious Time0In to think and feel about how our class discussions are going. I realized I really like/would like to improve on….)

  • Notice students using their Taking Time Tool and offer them appreciation. (I see that you realized you needed Time-Away and I appreciate that you moved yourself over to the reading corner for 3 minutes to regroup yourself)

  • Note when characters in stories use their Taking Time Tool.