Mar. 20, 2023 -- Most people are familiar with students learning to sing the scales or do proper pushups in weekly music and physical education classes. But at Roxboro Elementary School, students also have the opportunity to learn breathing techniques and talk about their feelings in their weekly visits to the Counseling Room.

Instituted this year by school counselor Lindsy Self, Rox El has added Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) to its “specials” rotation, and now each class splits a 40-minute block between the Media Center and the Counseling Room. That weekly 20-minute opportunity felt necessary after returning to in-person school following the pandemic. “We’re still seeing so many kids who are suffering and whose emotions are dysregulated,” said Ms. Self, who believes that this class is an example of the school being “proactive rather than reactive.”

Teachers all use SEL techniques in their classrooms and “definitely see the connections between academics and kids’ emotional regulation,” but they lack the time to fully reinforce the necessary skills and practices. “We all wanted to put this extra emphasis on it,” says Ms. Self. “SEL should be part of the daily routine.”

As for the students, “they love it!” she reports. And no wonder. The Counseling Room is designed as a peaceful, comfortable space, with dimmed lights, a “living room” of cozy chairs and pillows, soft music playing in the background, and a scene on the SmartBoard that ranges from a blazing fireplace while the snow falls gently outside to a freshly blossoming spring tree and swings in a garden.

But the students’ favorite aspect of the space is clear … the smell! “Every time I walk in, I smell the peppermint and it makes me calm down,” said 2nd grader Riley. Other students describe using lavender-scented “calming lotion” on their hands, with classmate Maeve reporting that she bought some at home and uses it to fall asleep.

From color-coded Zones of Regulation to hand drawing to a breathing ball, the students are learning that all feelings are okay and that while we can’t control what we feel, we can control how we react. On one afternoon, a 2nd grade class sits in a Feeling Circle sharing their current emotional state, some using words like “overwhelmed” or “frustrated,” many describing how they handle conflict with siblings, cousins and classmates, and almost all adding how “good” they feel in Counseling Room.

“It makes them feel seen and empowered to know what to do with big emotions and to see that they’re not alone,” said Ms. Self. “It feels good for them to talk about the things they’re dealing with.” And now that have the opportunity to do that every single week.