TeachersFirst Managing Impulsivity (Habit of the Mind) Resources
Welcome to our collection of resources on the Habit of Mind of Managing Impulsivity—the practice of taking your time, thinking before acting, and remaining calm and deliberative even in the heat of the moment. In a world that often demands quick reactions, we've gathered a variety of tools to help you foster calm, thoughtful, and deliberate decision-making in your classroom. In this collection, you'll find mindfulness videos and breathing exercises that help students develop self-awareness, interactive scenarios and decision-making simulations that practice the "pause and think" approach, printable stop-and-think cards and visual cue posters for classroom use, lesson plans for teaching students to pause and reflect, interactive scenarios where students can practice weighing consequences, and resources for helping them become more aware of their own thoughts and feelings, and self-monitoring checklists that encourage students to track their progress. You'll also discover timer tools and web resources that build in intentional waiting periods, as well as discussion guides to help students recognize their thoughts and feelings before reacting. These resources will provide concrete strategies and examples to help your students learn to consider multiple options, fully understand directions before starting a task, and respond to situations with intention rather than impulse.
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Habits of Mind Explorer - Habits of Mind Insitute
Grades
K to 12
tag(s): critical thinking (154), preK (291), problem solving (250), social and emotional learning (134), thinking routines (28), thinking skills (75)
In the Classroom
Include this resource as part of a project-based learning unit by having students choose one habit to focus on as they work through a complex challenge. For a social studies project exploring historical figures, students can analyze which habits, like Taking Responsible Risks or Striving for Accuracy, were most critical to their subject's success. After conducting research, students can organize their insights and provide examples of these habits in action by creating a collaborative digital board with Lino, reviewed here. To take the reflection deeper, ask students to map out their own growth in that specific habit by creating a visual journey or mind map using MindMup, reviewed here shifting focus from just learning facts to understanding the mental behaviors that drive achievement, helping students become more self-aware and intentional learners.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Goal Setting - Easy Teacher Worksheets
Grades
3 to 8This site includes advertising.
tag(s): behavior (34), classroom management (108), social and emotional learning (134), thinking routines (28), thinking skills (75)
In the Classroom
Have students use completed goal sheets during conferences to explain growth, challenges, and next steps. This will help to build accountability and show progress. Use the goal planner before large projects (book reports, Reading Trek maps, research papers, robotics builds). Students can break the assignment into mini-deadlines and checkpoints to strengthen executive functioning skills. After quizzes or benchmark tests, students can analyze their results and set targeted improvement goals to gain ownership of their learning.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Brain Games for Stop and Think Power: A Set of SEL Kernels Practices - Greater Good Science Center
Grades
K to 6tag(s): classroom management (108), game based learning (265), social and emotional learning (134), thinking skills (75)
In the Classroom
Play a short version of the "Freeze Feelings" where students freeze like a statue when the music stops, then have them name the feeling they imagine their statue is showing. Play a version of Simon Says with a twist. Before starting, tell students they must silently say "pause, think, act" in their heads before each movement. After a brain game, have students draw a quick brain snapshot using Google Drawings, reviewed here showing what helped them stop and think. They can sketch a stop sign, brain gears, or a strategy they used. Then have them share with a partner.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Pause & Think Online - Common Sense Education
Grades
K to 2This site includes advertising.
tag(s): digital citizenship (98), internet safety (116)
In the Classroom
Teach students a simple hand-motion routine that matches the song's ideas (pause, think, protect, be kind). Use it as a warm-up before any digital activity to reinforce safe choices. Show a sample webpage or classroom-safe site, and model pausing and thinking before clicking. Students can then practice in partners, explaining their choices aloud. Give students picture cards of the Digital Citizens characters and brief online scenarios. Have them match each scenario to the character who would give the best advice, just like in the lesson.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Resisting the Marshmallow and the Success of Self-Control - PBS NewsHour
Grades
2 to 8This site includes advertising.
tag(s): classroom management (108), social and emotional learning (134), teaching strategies (59), thinking skills (75)
In the Classroom
Present quick scenarios such as "Do you play now or finish your homework first?" Have students vote using ClassQuestion, reviewed here, discuss their choices, and share what factors influenced them. Set up short, fun tasks like waiting 30 seconds before touching a card or completing a puzzle without talking. Have students reflect on what strategies helped them resist impulses. In pairs, have students create a safe, classroom-appropriate "challenge" (such as waiting to open a mystery envelope). They can predict which strategies would help someone succeed and then test and record the results.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Impulse Control - TPT
Grades
K to 8This site includes advertising.
tag(s): behavior (34), social and emotional learning (134), thinking skills (75)
In the Classroom
Each day, post a new impulse challenge inspired by tasks often found on TPT (wait your turn patiently, follow directions the first time, use kind words when frustrated). Have students track in Book Creator, reviewed here when they successfully meet the challenge and reflect on which strategies helped. Or use Book Creator to have them complete a reflection page where students write or draw a moment when they felt an impulse, what they wanted to do, and what they chose to do instead. Introduce a set of calming strategies such as deep breathing, counting to ten, or chair yoga. Have students create a small foldable or card that lists three strategies they can use when they feel impulsive.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Cosmic Kids Yoga - Jaime Amor
Grades
K to 5This site includes advertising.
tag(s): social and emotional learning (134), thinking skills (75)
In the Classroom
After the yoga session, have students write a quick reflection: "How did my body feel before and after?" "What pose was easiest/hardest?", or "What did I learn about calming my mind?" Students can choose one pose from the video and explain the muscles they use during the activity. Yoga poses can be tied to health or PE by discussing balance, flexibility, and movement. In small groups, have students design a short yoga story with 4-6 poses. They can record the sequence using Adobe Express Video Maker, reviewed here, then present it to the class as a mini Cosmic Kids episode.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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10 Games to Build Stop-and-Think Skills and Regulation - Grow and Thrive Therapy
Grades
K to 5tag(s): classroom management (108), emotions (55), game based learning (265), social and emotional learning (134)
In the Classroom
Students can play the various games mentioned in the site. Students can share on Padlet, reviewed here which was their favorite game to play. Finally, students can create their own game using Blooket, reviewed here to review the rules of each of the games.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Stop Think Act Impulse Control Free Printables and Song - Your Therapy Source
Grades
K to 4This site includes advertising.
tag(s): emotions (55), mental health (57), social and emotional learning (134)
In the Classroom
Students can create their own scenarios on practicing stop-think-act and record themselves using ScreenPal, reviewed here. Students can share times when they have lost their ability to control their emotions. Finally, students can use Magic School, reviewed here to create their own song.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Online Pomodoro Timer - Francesco Cirillo
Grades
K to 12tag(s): classroom management (108), organizational skills (82), Teacher Utilities (184)
In the Classroom
Students can use the Pomodoro Technique with the customizable timer for a month. While using it for a month, students can use Google Drawing, reviewed here to track their opinions of using the technique. Students can use Stickies.io, reviewed here to share ideas on how they are using the Pomodoro Technique and timer. Finally, students can use Kiddle, reviewed here to research more about the Pomodoro Technique.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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I Can Control Myself - Hank the Health Hero
Grades
K to 2This site includes advertising.
In the Classroom
Students can use Imagine Forest, reviewed here to create an emotions journal. Students can use Cartoon Comic Maker, reviewed here to create comics about showing how to pause, breathe, and think. Finally, students can record themselves using Online Voice Recorder, reviewed here teaching others how to play Red Light-Green Light.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Emotion Motion Podcast - Move This World
Grades
K to 3tag(s): emotions (55), empathy (42), podcasts (139), preK (291)
In the Classroom
Students can use Seesaw, reviewed here to create an emotions book. Have students create and play emotion headbands using Canva for Education, reviewed here to create images.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Teaching With Habits of the Mind - The Institute for the Arts Integration and STEAM
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): professional development (290), social and emotional learning (134), teaching strategies (59), thinking skills (75)
In the Classroom
Have students create a habit of mind character sketch with Google Drawings, reviewed here. They can choose a character from a book and identify which habits the character uses or lacks. They can write a short explanation and illustrate the character demonstrating the habit in a key scene. Assign students to design a toolkit for a habit of mind. In small groups using Canva for Education, reviewed here, they create posters, bookmark reminders, or short scripts for morning announcements that teach their classmates how to use a specific habit. These tools are shared with the grade level or displayed in the classroom as ongoing reminders. Choose one habit of mind, such as persisting, and give students a quick challenge, such as building a tower from index cards and tape. Pause halfway through and ask students to reflect on how they are using the habit in real time, this helps them experience the habit through action.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Integrating the 16 Habits of Mind - edutopia
Grades
K to 12tag(s): classroom management (108), problem solving (250), social and emotional learning (134)
In the Classroom
Students can share how they are implementing the Habits of the Mind by posting it on Lino, reviewed here. Students can create an infographic using MindMeister, reviewed here to explain one of the habits. Students can create a comic using ToonyTool, reviewed here explaining one of the Habits of the Mind.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Habits of Mind - Arthur L. Costa and Bena Kallick
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): critical thinking (154), problem solving (250), thinking routines (28), thinking skills (75)
In the Classroom
Introduce one habit, such as Thinking Flexibly, and give students a quick scenario in which they choose among different ways to solve a problem. Have them vote and explain their choices. Give students cards with prompts like "A time I persisted today..." or "A moment I listened with understanding..." to build awareness of habits in real time. Set up stations tied to different habits, such as puzzles for persisting partner tasks for listening with understanding or creative challenges for thinking flexibly. Have students rotate and practice each habit as part of your ongoing classroom routines.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Take A Family Break Videos, Activities, and Songs - WXXI
Grades
K to 5tag(s): social and emotional learning (134), stress (5)
In the Classroom
Use the short videos as quick movement or mindfulness breaks between lessons to help students refocus and improve concentration. Activities such as belly breathing or freeze dance can help energize or calm students as needed. Pair activities with subjects like science (learning about the body and breathing), ELA (storytelling exercises), or math (counting games). This helps reinforce learning in a fun, interactive way. Turn the activities into a class-wide challenge by tracking the number of different exercises students try each week. Encourage students to share their favorite techniques and create their own variations.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Magic ToDo - Goblin Tools
Grades
K to 12tag(s): adhd (20), artificial intelligence (232), organizational skills (82), professional development (290), Special Needs (45)
In the Classroom
Use Magic ToDo as a professional tool for creating to-do lists to complete upcoming tasks, such as preparation for parent-teacher conferences, writing long-term lesson plans, preparing for substitutes, and more. Share Magic To-Do with students to create a guide for planning on completing long-term projects. Show students how to use the estimated time feature to help them understand the time required to complete all project steps. To help students stay on track, ask them to create a to-do list for their upcoming project, take a screenshot of their list, and share it with you. Then, ask for weekly screenshots that show each student's progress in completing the project and ask them to use the checkboxes to mark completed items. If students fall behind, have short conferences to determine what is holding them back and provide support as needed. This tool is also helpful for students with special needs or attention disorders to use as a guide for completing required tasks.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Clockify - Nenad Milanovic
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): calendars (35), DAT device agnostic tool (125), organizational skills (82), Teacher Utilities (184)
In the Classroom
Have you ever had students complain about group projects and class members not participating fully? Clockify is an excellent tool for managing these projects. Share this site with team members and ask them to include time spent on the project and use tags to categorize time spent on different activities of the project. Clockify is also an excellent resource for teaching data and statistics in math class. Create a project and use the site's tools to add information on time spent on class activities, chart time spent on homework, or hours spent on after-school activities. Ask students to take the data and analyze the results. Use a simple online chart-creation tool like ChartAccent, reviewed here, to display the data.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Classroomscreen - Laurens Koppers
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): classroom management (108), emotions (55), functions (55), iwb (27), multilingual (73), social and emotional learning (134), Teacher Utilities (184), time (91)
In the Classroom
Use Classroomscreen on your interactive whiteboard for quick access to many commonly used tools. Enhance SEL for your students by using the backgound widget to set a calm tone for learning as students enter the classroom, use the timer for destressing during activities. Add to student computers for access to a calculator and text box for notes. ENL/ESL teachers will enjoy the multi-language feature, set it up under Personalize. Use the different backgrounds as inspiration for creative writing projects.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Classtools Countdown Timer - Classtools.net
Grades
K to 12tag(s): classroom management (108), counting (62), time (91)
In the Classroom
There are many uses for this practical online tool. Get out your interactive whiteboard or projection screen (or even the classroom desktop computer) and make sure the speakers are turned up. Use this tool for students to practice speeches, or to limit the time for a quiz or spelling test. Use the countdown feature for timing the rotations from center to center. You can even use the timer for reading fluency exercises or physical education warm-ups! A clever classroom management tool would be to start the visible count-down on your computer screen when you want the class to settle down for directions or to transition to the next subject. Select calming music for quiet times. Students may even want to use this tool for themselves. Kindergarten students can practice counting along with the watch!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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