Message from: Belma Martin- Counselor

What ZONE Are You In?

At Briarwood, we use a school-wide self-regulation curriculum called The Zones of Regulation. This program, based on cognitive behavioral principles, is designed to help children develop the skills to regulate their emotions independently. Through the curriculum, students learn to recognize and identify their feelings, build self-awareness of their internal state (emotions and body sensations), and ultimately develop self-management skills.

The Zones of Regulation connects the mind and body to help students:

• Recognize their feelings.
• Identify which Zone they are in.
• Choose coping strategies to manage their emotions effectively.

The curriculum is taught through a series of lessons by me, starting with foundational concepts about the brain and body. Here's an overview:

1. The Brain and Emotions:
   In the first lesson, students learn about key parts of the brain involved in thinking, learning, and managing emotions.
2. Body Signals and Feelings:
   Next, students explore body signals (e.g., a racing heart, butterflies in the stomach) that accompany emotions such as happiness, fear, worry, sadness, or jealousy. They also learn to categorize these feelings into four colored Zones to describe their energy levels and emotions:
   • Blue Zone: Low energy (sad, tired, sick).
   • Green Zone: Calm and focused (happy, ready to learn).
   • Yellow Zone: Elevated energy (excited, nervous, frustrated).
   • Red Zone: Extremely heightened energy (angry, out of control, elated).
3. Coping Tools and Strategies:
   In the final lessons, students are introduced to coping tools to help them manage their Zones. They learn that all feelings are okay, but it's important to understand and respond to them in healthy ways.

To support your child’s learning at home, I’ve included the handouts we use in class, as well as additional resources. Using the same language and strategies at home reinforces consistency and helps your child practice self-regulation in different settings.

Thank you for partnering with us in helping students build these important life skills!

Here are the handouts your students receive after each lesson:

https://issaquahwednet-my.sharepoint.com/:w:/g/personal/martinb_issaquah_wednet_edu/EZSwHjTlzJhKowIr6SkQ_-4Bopi7qVhPHTaf3EAnTOrGIg

https://issaquahwednet-my.sharepoint.com/:w:/g/personal/martinb_issaquah_wednet_edu/EVr2g51YymtPs8TuX6D4uR0BwpzqtUarGvYig8lXRAw10A

My Coping Strategies for Any ZONE I am in.docx

 

Also, if you would like to learn more about the ZONES of Regulation:

Welcome to the ZONES of Regulation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zHR3kYg1vI

ZONES Home Check in: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l07xlKoNYEE

An article: https://www.socialthinking.com/Articles?name=no-need-to-get-back-to-green-zones-of-regulation