Hello, 5B families!
Our students have been learning about self-regulation and the tools they can use in class to feel calm and focussed on their learning. Please take a moment to review our guidelines that help students choose and use fidgets in helpful ways.
Purpose of Fidgets
Fidgets are tools (not toys) that may help students stay focused during listening time. When used properly, they may help some learners to feel calm and pay attention without distracting anyone else. In our classroom, everyone’s learning matters. Therefore, we support the use of fidgets that are quiet, small, eyes-free, mess-free, safe, single-user, and non-distracting to others.
How a fidget is used makes a difference. Keeping fidgets in your lap or otherwise tucked away from obvious display is a good way to avoid distracting others.
What Makes an Appropriate Fidget?
- Quiet: It does not make any noise (no clicking, tapping, whooshing, or other sounds). Ask yourself: Is this fidget silent?
- Small: It is small enough to fit in your hand and can be used quietly on your lap or desk. Ask yourself: Does this fidget fit in one hand?
- Eyes-Free: You should be able to keep your eyes on the focus of instruction (e.g. your teacher and the white board, or the text you are reading, or your classmates or work while using it). It is not a book or a game that demands your brain power. Ask yourself: Could I read text while using this fidget?
- Mess-Free: It does not contain liquid, gel, powders, glass, or other things that spill or break. Ask yourself: Is this fidget free from messes?
- Safe: The fidget must not be able to harm you or anyone else. Pins, opened up paperclips, bare wire or pipe cleaners with a pointy end, scissors, and other sharp items are a safety risk, especially if you are distracted. Ask yourself: Is this fidget safe?
- Single-user: You can use it on your own, without needing help from anyone else. Ask yourself: Can I use this fidget by myself?
- Non-distracting: A fidget pulls anyone else’s attention away from teaching and learning. It should not have lights, smells, or anything that grabs attention. Ask a classmate and teacher: Have I been using this fidget in a way that is distracting?
Tiffany Poirier 