The Zones of Regulation

We have added a Cozy Nook to our classroom in order to provide students with yet another Safe Space that they can visit when they need a little break.  We are trying to teach the students a variety of tools for Self-Regulation. Our Safe Spaces in the classroom (Colour Me Calm drawing centre, Reading Corner in our classroom library, Prayer Table and the new Cozy Nook) are just one type of tool students can use to help them self-regulate their feelings and emotions.

Above our Cozy Nook there is a Zones of Regulation poster. There are four Zones (e.g. Blue, Green, Yellow and Red).  Each colour is associated with a set of related feelings. The optimal zone is the Green Zone. When we are in the Green Zone we feel happy, calm, focussed and ready to learn.  Underneath each zone colour there is a cup. Students are invited to move their personal craft stick in order to communicate which zone they feel they are in. By doing this, they are learning to recognize their own feelings which is the first step toward self-regulating.  It also provides an opportunity for collaboration (e.g. student-student, student-teacher, etc.).