School Counselor's Corner
Zone's of Regulation Edition Jan/Feb 2018-2019
Some times it is very difficult to regulate our emotions, because we first need to identify them.
Leah Kuypers, M.A.ED.
Michelle Garcia Winner
Michelle is a speech language pathologist and founder and creator of the Social Thinking Methodology. In 2009 she met Leah Kuypers at the Social Thinking's Annual Providers' Conference. She saw all the value in Leah's Zone of Regulation program and helped her to make it less academic and more approachable, and then even had her own company publish it.
NFMS' TEAM Class
We cover the zones, discuss strategies for regulating, and talk about reasonable/rational reactions to situations.
HOW BIG IS MY PROBLEM?
A typical conversation using the 'Zone' language:
Cassandra: Yes, I got yelled at and I was told that I needed to stay for a lunch detention, but I did nothing wrong (Cassandra is starting to tear up)
Counselor: Cassandra where are you in the Zones?
Cassandra: Oh, I am in the red, Mrs. Jacques and I was doing great hanging out in the Green and Yellow most of the day. But now I am all Red.
Counselor: How can I help you get back into the Yellow or Green?
Cassandra: Get me out of lunch detention and tell my teacher to stop yelling at me.
Counselor: Cassandra, what were you doing prior to getting the teacher upset? Or what was going on in the classroom?
Cassandra: Well, we were handing in our classwork from our group, and my group leader pointed out to the teacher that I didn't help the group and told her I was on my phone the whole time. What a snitch, and who cares! I am not going to lunch detention and I best get my phone back.
Counselor: I see that you are angry at your group leader and at the teacher and you feel they put you in the Red Zone. Do you think you may have done this to yourself by not being such a great group member? Maybe you can own some of this too? How can I help you get out of the Red Zone, what are your strategies?
Cassandra: I need space, and I have to move. Can we walk around the building a couple of times?
Counselor: Let's do it. Exercise works for me too. We will do two rounds and then back to class you go. At lunch time, I will go with you to get your lunch and walk you to lunch detention. It will be okay.
Cassandra: Fine! Let's go walk, I got to shake this before I see Ms. Jones again. I know I have to be in the yellow zone before I speak to her about my phone and when I will be getting it back.
Counselor: And she will be wanting to talk to you about your behavior.
Cassandra: I know. Le'ts keep walking, its working.
Popular calming strategies students @ NFMS will use.
- Talking it out
- Breathing in and out using deep breaths focusing on each breath in and each breath out (this never gets old, and works every time)
- ABC lists (in my head I name off animals a-z, or z-a) kids will switch up the list, newest of late is menu items
- Journaling thoughts out [sometimes these need to be private, sometimes students like to have thoughts read with responses written back]
- Coloring in coloring books with markers or colored pencils has been very popular for two years now.
- Music breaks/ reading breaks
- Building with Lego Blocks
- Exercise [walk around the building, shoot hoops, swing on the swings]
Mrs. Amy Jacques
15 Years @ NFMS
Email: jacques.amy@newfairfieldschools.org
Website: https://sites.google.com/a/newfairfieldschools.org/mrs-jacques-7th-grade-school-counseling-corner/
Location: New Fairfield Middle School, Gillotti Road, New Fairfield, CT, USA
Phone: 203 312 5902
Twitter: @ARCJ89