After the success of Wobbles the Koala in a 1:1 setting, I decided to bring the activity into my classroom emotional literacy when students needed help regulating their emotions.
Following a difficult safety drill, the class felt unsettled and overwhelmed. It was clear they weren’t ready for meaningful learning. Instead of pushing through the lesson, I recognised they needed something else first.
They needed a reset. So out came Wobbles.
Start with Feelings
We started with a simple conversation about feelings, why they matter and why every feeling has a purpose. Fear, anxiety, frustration, confusion… even uncomfortable feelings exist to help keep us safe in unexpected situations. The message was simple: whatever you are feeling is okay. Some students even asked if they could learn to crochet. They didn’t want to make koalas though – they wanted to make blueberries!
Exploring Classroom Triggers
Next, we explored the kinds of situations in the classroom that can trigger big feelings. Each student identified the moments that mattered to them personally. Not everyone found this easy. Some confidently identified several triggers, while others could only name two or three. That was completely okay too.
The real value wasn’t the number of answers, it was the process.
As students worked, they naturally started talking.
They chatted about what they had just experienced during the drill. They reflected on previous events that had made them feel similar emotions. They quietly discussed the activity in front of them and, without even realising it, began processing what had happened.
This calm opportunity after chaos gave them permission to regulate in a safe, supported way.
No pressure.
No forced sharing.
No expectation that everyone would respond in the same way.
Just space to breathe, talk, reflect, and be heard.
Wobbles did his Job
At one point, Wobbles was quickly claimed by another student after I explained that his poor little eyes had apparently been chewed several times by the resident dog! (Wobbles has clearly seen some things.)
Throughout the activity, students stroked his ears, held him close and used that sensory comfort while completing their work. Watching them instinctively seek comfort from something soft and familiar reminded me just how important simple regulation tools can be.
Why Emotional Literacy in the Classroom Matters
This activity was a powerful reminder that emotional literacy in the classroom is just as important as academic learning.
Many young people, particularly those with learning differences, anxiety, or previous difficult school experiences, are often expected to “get on with it” without being given the tools to understand what is happening in their bodies and minds.
Teaching students to recognise emotions, accept them without judgement, and identify calming strategies is a skill for life.
This simple classroom reset drew on principles similar to DBT emotion regulation skills and trauma-informed teaching practices, but most importantly, it met students exactly where they were.
Sometimes the most meaningful learning happens when we pause the curriculum and respond to what students actually need in that moment.
That day, they needed safety.
They needed connection.
They needed calm.
And, unexpectedly, they needed Wobbles.
Supporting Learning and Emotional Wellbeing
If you’re looking for support to help your child strengthen their literacy and numeracy while also developing emotional literacy around learning, we’d love to help.
At LearnPop Studio, we believe learning is about more than academics. It’s about confidence, emotional wellbeing, regulation, and helping young people feel safe enough to learn.After the success of Wobbles the Koala in a one-to-one setting, I decided to bring the activity into my classroom as a way of supporting emotional literacy in the classroom when emotional regulation was needed.
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