Social-Emotional Learning Teaches Kindergarteners to Be More Aware of Their Emotions

“Everyone has an engine in their body,” began kindergarten teacher Emma Larson at the beginning of a social-emotional learning (SEL) lesson on Wednesday afternoon. “Your brain, your heart, and your muscles. And they work together like a machine to help keep you moving.” Ms. Larson then explained that sometimes the engine runs fast, other times it runs slowly, and that individuals are in charge of their own engines. Following this introduction, Ms. Larson shared with students the four different Zones of Regulation: red, which is used to describe extremely heightened states of alertness and intense emotions; yellow, which is used to describe elevated emotions, including frustration and excitement; green, which is used to describe a calm state of alertness; and blue, which is used to describe low states of alertness. This SEL lesson teaches students to become more aware of their reactions to their emotions and impulses, manage their sensory needs, and improve their ability to problem solve conflicts.

 

“We use zones of regulation to help students continue to be more aware of what their bodies need in order to be ready for learning,” adds Ms. Larson. “We have routine check-ins in class, where we say to students, ‘Check in with your zone and utilize the tools available to you in the classroom to get back to green.’ This encourages independence, when students make decisions for themselves based on their needs.” MORE PHOTOS