The Zones of Regulation

Less than a month ago, I had the opportunity to attend a work shop for The Zones of Regulation, a curriculum created by Leah Kuypers to help teach students self regulation and emotional control...and it changed my life...both personally and professionally.  It is THAT good!  Since then I have been obsessed and consumed with this program, talking about it to anyone that will listen.  To be honest, I am surprised that it has taken me this long to sit down and share it with all of you, my avid transition followers!

So...what is it?
The Zones of Regulation is a social skills curriculum that uses a cognitive behavior approach to teach students to recognize when they are in different states called "zones."  Each of the four zones are represented by a different color.  Students also learn to identify tools that help them stay in an expected zone, or move to an expected zone.  Some of these tools include calming techniques, like breathing exercises, and sensory supports like physical activity.  This program is very similar to the 5 point scale, in that it asks students to recognize their own emotions, but it goes much deeper in identifying a broader spectrum of emotions as well as the learning of tools.  The key with this program is the idea that no zone is a "bad zone," but that each zone has times when it is "expected" or appropriate to be in that zone, feeling those feelings.

Why do I love it so much?
The Zones is a program that lends it self very well for social skill training with students on the autism spectrum specifically, but it is also great for students with a wide range of abilities and can be beneficial to incorporate in general education classrooms as well.  What a great way for our students to connect with peers socially in general education classrooms, by having a common social "language" and strategy.  This program is concrete, using logical colors and providing a connection to the community with signs.  The Zones also fits into your teaching structures and is not something extra to do or plan for.  It is a curriculum that is put together thoughtfully and requires very little additional work.  Most importantly, this is a program that provides students with coping and regulation strategies that they can take with them upon transitioning into the adult world.  It does not require elaborate point systems or reinforcement systems...it is about as real life as you can get.

How am I using it in my classroom?
I began introducing The Zones of Regulation to my students about 2 weeks ago.  In following the curriculum, I first started by having my students identify different emotions or feelings that can be found in each zone.  This took us about three days.  As we selected the emotions we talked about what does this emotion look like, how does our body feel when we are experiencing this emotion, what makes us feel this way, etc.  Through lesson reflection, I felt there was a lot of teacher talk time, and in future introductions, I would like to find a better, more visual way to introduce the emotions that are associated with each zone.  As we selected an emotion, we glued it to its appropriate zone on our Zones of regulation display.  After the emotions were introduced, we took about a week to let those ideas resonate.  In conversations with our students we began using the Zones language, identifying when students might be feeling a certain way, and talking through with them what Zone that emotion might be in.

From there we then began talking about times you might be in each zone.  For example, the Blue Zone is the Rest Area.  Emotions associated with this Zone are tired, sad, shy.  Each student thought of a time both during their time at school and at home when it would be expected for them to be in that Zone.  Students mentioned break times at school and just before bed at home.

That's about as far as I have gotten with incorporating it into my current classroom setting.  I have lots of hopes and ideas for more ways to embed it into my students every day lives, both our classroom and in their community settings.  I am anxious to see students come through my classroom who have had exposure to the Zones of Regulation at an earlier age, and see the differnence it makes in them using it in their every day lives.

I cannot say enough about this program...just as those I come in contact with.  People who are not even familiar with the field of education have gotten ear fulls of information about the Zones of Regulation, because I am just THAT excited about it.  I see its potential.  I see its logic.  It is like a light bulb for me, and I know it will click and help my students be successful in their adult worlds...and that is why I just LOVE it!

Are you familiar with this program?  Are you using it in your classroom?

Come to the edge with me,
Mackenzie