The safe seat is essentially a time-out chair if it is only used when teachers send students there. Time-out is only effective in reducing undesired behaviors if students enjoy the thing they are being removed from. Therefore, using the safe seat as a place to send students who do not want to participate is actually reinforcing those undesired behaviors because the student gets to avoid work. So...

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How do we effectively provide students with a space to calm down in the classroom so that they can stay engaged in their learning to the greatest extent possible?

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We effectively provide students a space to calm down when we present the safe seat to students as that. Teachers have to tell their students, “This space is for you to regulate yourself when you need to get away.” Teachers then have to follow through and use the space in that way. If it is labeled as a safe seat for calming, it must always be a safe seat for calming.

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Teachers also need to tell students and model for them ways to calm down. They can give students verbal reminders in a calm manner, such as, “You seem frustrated. Would you like to go to the safe seat to take a break, or is there a strategy you could use here at your spot to help you calm down?” These strategies will help students use the safe seat as a calming space.