We’ve committed to social emotional learning (SEL) schoolwide by utilizing Zones of Regulation with our students, K-6. This provides an opportunity for our students to understand and express their feelings and build a toolbox of skills to help self-regulate. All four zones are a-okay for students to be in, and we are providing opportunities for students to explore these big emotions and feelings.

Here are some teacher observations and student data as it relates to our school-wide implementation of Zones of Regulation:

"When students need a break or seem off, they are regularly able to reference how they are feeling in terms of the zones. We can then talk about strategies and time needed to get them back to green."

"In discussing how we can move from blue/yellow/red into green my students identified that they didn’t get enough sleep, they needed to eat breakfast or talk to a counselor about something that stemmed from outside of school."

"I loved how students are now able to recognize that sometimes their emotions can have more than one zone. One student talked about how they felt excited about moving but also sad. The students have really done a great job of using the zones to help process their emotions."

"One student gave ways their inner coach could help them reset early in the morning, when waking up with a negative inner critic mindset. The student's inner coach focused on the positive of the day that is waiting for them to have instead of focusing on the day being a bad day."

"My students frequently discuss their emotions using the zones of regulation and I find it to be very helpful. They may not be able to find the words to describe the emotion they are feeling, but if they can use a zone to help describe it, it helps me to understand how they may be feeling."

"Most of the students shared how the Zones of Regulation applies to them not just in school but outside of school as well. They talked about how they see it in their sports games or things that happen at home and on playdates with friends. It was great to see how they applied their knowledge to these instances."