TCS Self-Awareness & Self-Management Tools
All TCS students are now being taught the 12 "Toolbox Project" Tools. These Tools helps students develop skills of Self-Awareness and Self-Regulation. These skills benefit students in countless ways and are top skills coveted by the post-secondary, trades, and business communities.
TCS has also been using Self-regulation stations (using Zones of Regulation language/images) to provide students (and staff) an opportunity to first identify their emotional state, and then choose a strategy to shift energy toward a feeling of focus and readiness to learn. They are also referred to as Check ins, POP Charts, etc. Stations are equipped with mindfulness manipulatives, strategy tools, badges to help remind how to perform the strategy, and an option for a bit of privacy.
Strategies are organized to support the colored emotional "Zones" (credit Zones of Regulation, 2011) taught during grades K-3:
- Blue Zone strategies can be chosen to help energize us up to Green Zone (focused, ready to learn).
- Green Zone strategies can be used to keep us "in the zone" and may include doing a Random Act of Kindness (Bucket Filling)
- Yellow Zone strategies (most common) can be used when we've lost a "little control" and need to re-focus/regulate
- Red Zone strategies can be used to remind us to stop when we've "lost control" and express our emotions in a healthier way
For more information on Zones of Regulation visit their site, for more information on strategies at TCS (or to use them at home) feel free to reach out!
- Blue Zone strategies can be chosen to help energize us up to Green Zone (focused, ready to learn).
- Green Zone strategies can be used to keep us "in the zone" and may include doing a Random Act of Kindness (Bucket Filling)
- Yellow Zone strategies (most common) can be used when we've lost a "little control" and need to re-focus/regulate
- Red Zone strategies can be used to remind us to stop when we've "lost control" and express our emotions in a healthier way
For more information on Zones of Regulation visit their site, for more information on strategies at TCS (or to use them at home) feel free to reach out!
Regulation Strategies to help shift the energy we feel in our body:
- How to make a calm bottle (one version) *Credit "How to ADHD" on YouTube
- Brain Massage 101 (Covid19 REMIX)
- Animal Breaths 101 (Bunny breath, Snake breath, and Bumble Bee breath) Bunny and Bumble Bee breaths adapted from Yoga-4-Classrooms
- Write & Rip 101 (Adapted from Everyday SEL by: Carla Tantillo Philibert)
- GoNoodle.com (a great movement/strategy site free for families, ton of great videos/channels!!!)
- 4-7-8 Breathing (how to calm the body using a breath technique) *Credit Gozen.com
- "Me CaN CaLm MeSeLf DoWn" sensory/breathing exercise from COOKIE MONSTER! *Credit Sesame Street
- "Slow down, settle down" (Calm bottle with Abby Cadabby from Sesame Street. Great for Kindergarten/1st grade or younger) *Credit Sesame Street
- Loving Kindness Meditation... DANCE REMIX *Credit Gozen
- 3 minute body scan (calming reset) *Credit Fablefy
- Freeze Dance video (great self regulation practice) *Credit The Kiboomers - Kids Music Channel
- "Me WaNt iT bUt mE WaiT" Cookie Monster Music Video (self regulation reminder dance video #controlmeself)
- Yoga 4 Classrooms Mindful Activity of the Day (Archive link to all days as posted by Yoga 4 Classrooms) *Credit Yoga 4 Classrooms/Lisa Flynn
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Relaxation videos with sea creatures! (Shout out to Mrs. MacPhee for the find!) *Credit Monterey Bay Aquarium
Thinking strategies can help shift our mindset/mood by reminding us of how our brain and body process emotional responses to activating events:
- Brain science of Anxiety/Worry (for kids!) *Credit Gozen.com
- Why humans experience anxiety (as explained by Mr. Science from Gozen) *Credit Gozen
- What can you control? (Mojo reminds us to consider how much attention we give to things that are outside of our control...) *Credit Class Dojo
- Why do we lose control of our emotions? *Credit Kids Want To Know
- The Adolescent Brain explained by Dan Siegel, my FAVORITE. *Credit Random Acts of Kindness
- The Story of the Two Wolves (Mindfulness - attention/focus) *Credit Happify
- Cookie Monster learns about the word "RESIST" (self control reminder) *Credit Sesame Street
- Class Dojo "Growth Mindset Series" (5 video lessons on keeping a positive mindset and learning from mistakes) *Credit Class Dojo
- Hand Model of the Brain (why do we flip our lid?) *Credit Dr. Russ Harris & Dan Siegel
- "Power Posing" Posture based mindfulness activity for kids *Credit Blissful Kids, Chris Bergstrom
- Jonathan James and the Whatif Monster - A great video adaptation of the book, helps kids understand "What If?-ing" as a barrier to flexible thinking
Social Thinking Strategies?
Not all strategies are created equal. Not all strategies will work for everyone, or in every situation. Flexibility is key.
This brings us to Social Thinking Strategies... or ways we can approach social situations (or conflict resolution) more mindfully.
*Slides from a service-learning project entitled "Getting Back to Green" presented by two TCS students and the Counselor in March 2019.
This brings us to Social Thinking Strategies... or ways we can approach social situations (or conflict resolution) more mindfully.
*Slides from a service-learning project entitled "Getting Back to Green" presented by two TCS students and the Counselor in March 2019.