The Magic of the 3rd Place

There’s no better technique for pattern interrupt than movement. At the core of this method is a little known fact that humans are not able to change their thoughts without changing their breath pattern. Breath is essential for replenishing our bodies with the oxygen it needs to function. 

The children inhabit their own space, their own physical palace from which they chose to express their emotional, spirituals and physical selves. You inhabit a space of your own, in command of the class, poised and ready to present your lesson. 

You give a signal and no one joins you. They know it’s time.  

When you move into the kids’ space, you are essentially trespassing onto their emotional property. Inviting them into your space sounds an awful lot like calling them to order. 

“Scoop up the group from where they are and take them to a third place. You will peak their interest.”

So try inviting them to a third place, meet them under a nearby tree if you are outside, or in the library at school. Somewhere they feel less like students and more like they are queuing up for an adventure. 

This action peaks their curiosity and though it may create a bit of short term chaos, I find the third place a wonderful location to meet about class projects, planning surprise birthday parties, and discussing classroom achievements. Everything that is at the core of the social classroom dynamic.

Establish a full respect rule that the kids help design. Choose to be present so that everyone else can be, too. There is always a spot to wait if your students have no interest in what's being discussed. I guarantee they will be listening from within earshot of the 3rd Space.