A Recovery Station is a special space in the classroom where children can take a moment to decompress, take a breather, or think about making different choices. Typically, when scholars are talking, acting out, bothering others, unfocused, upset, or agitated, they don't always need a consequence, they just need a chance to reset and return. It’s a powerful thing when they learn to do this on their own, without much adult intervention.

It’s important for kids to grow in self-awareness – recognizing their emotions and responses – and to self-regulate their own emotions and behaviors as this impacts their relationships and the success they will have in school, work, and in life. By learning to recognize when they are upset, bored, or perhaps just avoiding schoolwork, they can then better understand what they need (i.e., a short break to clear their mind, a conversation to clear out negative emotions, and/or further instruction to clarify their assignment) and scholars can adjust their responses accordingly.

In this process, children also grow in understanding how their behavior affects others. They begin to take greater responsibility for their thoughts, words, and actions. They start making better choices inside and outside of the classroom. Their ability to manage their own behavior and emotions rather than having someone else direct it for them sets them on a lifelong trajectory for success in every area of life.