School focuses on four emotional states

St John The Baptist Catholic Primary School, Woy Woy, has completed its Wellbeing Week in Term 2 with a focus on social and emotional learning.

Using a "Zones of Regulation" system, a cognitive behaviour approach is used to teach self-regulation by categorising all the different ways of feeling and states of alertness into four concrete zones, according to principal Ms Nicole Cumming.

The system provide strategies and tools to teach students to become more aware of, and independent in controlling their emotions and impulses, managing their sensory needs, and improving their ability to problem solve and deal with conflict, she said.

Red, yellow, green and blue zones were each used for a different area of emotional learning and wellbeing.

The red zone was used to describe extremely heightened states of alertness and intense emotions.

A person may be elated or experiencing anger, rage, explosive behaviour, devastation, or terror when in the red zone.

The yellow zone was also used to describe a heightened state of alertness and elevated emotions.

However, one has some control when they are in the yellow zone.

A person may be experiencing stress, frustration, anxiety, excitement, silliness, the wiggles, or nervousness when in the yellow zone.

The green zone is used to describe a calm state of alertness.

A person may be described as happy, focused, content, or ready to learn when in the green zone.

This is the zone where optimal learning occurs.

The blue zone is used to describe low states of alertness and down feelings, such as sadness, tiredness, sickness, or boredom.

"The zones can be compared to traffic signs," Ms Cumming said.

"When given a green light or in the green zone, one is 'good to go.'

"A yellow sign means be aware or take caution, which applies to the yellow zone.

"A red light or stop sign means stop, and when one is the red zone, this often is the case; and the blue zone can be compared to the rest area signs where one goes to rest or re-energize," she concluded.

SOURCE:

Newsletter, 28 Jun 2017

Nicole Cumming, St John The Baptist Catholic Primary School