Do you have a self-regulation protocol?

At the beginning of the year, I include a "Handle With Care (HWC)" letter in my welcome packet. The premise is simple: I tell parents that I know life happens, and if something occurs at home that might impact their child’s day, they can simply text or email me those three letters: "HWC." No questions are asked, and no details are required; it’s just a signal that their child needs extra grace, space, or support that day. While this has been a staple of my parent communication for years, it never occurred to me to offer that same agency directly to my second graders—until last week. After a particularly difficult stretch for one of my students, I shared the concept with the class. This week, a student walked in, looked at me quietly, and said, "Ms. Saint, HWC." I later learned her grandmother had passed away. Because she had the language to advocate for herself, she was able to get the space she needed to grieve without having to explain her "big emotions" in the middle of a lesson. Giving students the words to signal their needs before they reach a breaking point has completely shifted the energy in our room.

What protocols or strategies do you use to help students cope with heavy emotions during the school day?