Zones of Regulation
If I am feeling tired and sick, what zone am I in?
Blue
You would like to ask a friend over to your house so you send them a text. They do not respond immediately so you text them over and over and over. Is this an EXPECTED or UNEXPECTED behavior?
UNEXPECTED behavior. One message is enough to let your friend that you are trying to get in touch with them. If there had been something extremely important that you need to share, you can say in the message that it is important for your friend to respond as soon as possible.
You have a hard time sitting still and keep wiggling around in your chair during your spelling test.
Energy Hare-y
Your grandfather gives you $10. As you walk away you hear him ask, "Didn't you forget something?" What does your grandfather mean? A) You forgot the money. B) You forgot to say "thank you." C) You forgot to tell me where you're going.
B) When someone gives you something, it is expected that you say thank you in acknowledgement. Grandfather's question is his clue to help you remember that a thank you is needed.
Lucas’s teacher was giving directions for how to do math problems. Lucas was scribbling on his paper. His feet were swinging back and forth under his desk. Was Lucas using whole body listening?
NO. Lucas needs to work on keeping his hands and feet still to use whole body listening.
Which is the best zone to be in when we are at school?
Green
You are in class and you do not even notice, but you are tapping your hands on the table. Someone asks you to stop, but you continue to do it anyway. Is this an EXPECTED or UNEXPECTED behavior?
UNEXPECTED behavior. If someone asks you to stop, it is EXPECTED that you would kindly stop. By continuing to bother them, you are using UNEXPECTED behaviors and causing others to have weird thoughts about your behavior.
You keep repeating the same word over and over again, trying to get your classmates to laugh, even though they are supposed to be working on their assignment.
WasFunnyOnce, Rock Brain
You ask some of the boys if you can join their basketball game. One of them says, "Our teams are even right now." What does the boy mean? A) You can be on my team B) We don't have enough players C) We don't need another player right now
C) When the boy says that the teams are even, he is telling you that if you were to join in, the teams would become uneven and it would give a team an unfair advantage.
Ben is in class listening to his teacher speak about turtles. He is very interested and is sitting tall in his desk facing the teacher with his hands clasped together on top of his desk. His feet are under his desk and still. He is listening closely and thinking about how to answer the questions. when he figures an answer out, he raises her hand. Is Ben using whole body listening?
YES! Ben has a quiet body and has his attention focused on what the teacher is saying. He is listening with his brain and heart by trying to come up with answers to the teacher's questions. His teacher recognizes that he is using whole body listening and has good thoughts about Ben.
If I am feeling calm and relaxed, what zone am I in?
Green
You see your friend on Monday morning and start a conversation with him by asking him what he did over the weekend. Is this an EXPECTED or UNEXPECTED behavior?
EXPECTED behavior. When you see your friends, it is an expected behavior to talk about what happened over the weekend or the previous night especially if you know someone did something really exciting.
During a classmate's report on Maine you blurt out, "this is boring! Maine is a dumb state!"
Mean Jean, Grump Grumpaniny
Your class is going on a field trip. Your teacher goes over the rules and says, "Please remember that you are fifth graders." What does your teacher mean? A) Remember what group you're in. B) Remember that she teaches fifth grade. C) Fifth graders should behave well.
C) By the fifth grade, you have learned the expected behaviors when on a field trip. It is expected that you are aware of and follow these behaviors without reminders.
The teacher is smiling at her class. Each student is facing and looking at her with quiet feet, hands, mouth and body listening to what the teacher is saying. Hands go up to answer the questions being asked with thoughtful answers. Is the class demonstrating whole body listening?
YES, the class is using whole body listening. Their bodies are quiet, with their eyes on the teacher. Their thoughtful answers show they are thinking about and caring what the teacher is saying. The teacher is smiling because she has good thoughts about her class.
If I am yelling and aggressive, what zone am I in?
Red
Another student is talking about the new puppy he got and you say "Wow, that's cool!! What kind of dog did you get?". Is this an EXPECTED or UNEXPECTED behavior?
EXPECTED behavior. By asking what kind of dog he got, you are showing that you are listening with both your brain and heart. You are not only thinking but also caring about what he is saying by asking a question that shows you were listening. Your friend will be really happy to answer the question.
After you lose at Sorry, you yell and throw your game pieces onto the floor.
D.O.F., Glassman
You sit down next to a group of kids in the library. One of them says, "We're studying for a test." What does this student mean? A) Someone else is sitting there. B) We'd like you to help us study. C) We don't want you to sit here.
Liam is standing in line outside of the art classroom waiting to go in. He is jumping up and down to peek into the windows. He does not hear the teacher asking him to stop because he is also singing very loudly. Is Liam using whole body listening?
NO. Liam is not listening with his body, ears or mouth. His body should be still and facing forward, his mouth should not be making any noises and his ears should be listening for any directions being given. Liam needs practice with whole body listening.
If I am feeling confused or embarrassed , what zone am I in?
Yellow
Your friend sits with you at lunch and comes over to your house to play after school. Is this an EXPECTED or UNEXPECTED behavior?
EXPECTED behavior. Friends enjoy each other and want to spend time doing things together.
You are reading a good book for silent reading and you stop reading when Mrs. Massengale says, "it's math time"
Tricked you! There is no unthinkable at work - you did the right thing!
Jennifer did not study for her science test. She played video games instead of studying. When she did not pass the test, her teacher said, “Jennifer, it’s your own fault.” What does it mean? A) Jennifer’s teacher does not like her., B) The teacher made the test too hard., C) Jennifer did not make good choices and study for the test.
C) Because Jennifer chose to not study, the grade she got was the result. Her teacher may not have known Jennifer played videos, but she knew Jennifer did not study and therefore got the grade she deserved; that it was Jennifer's fault she didn't pass the test.
Naje's eyes and body are facing the teacher but she is thinking about her new kitten. She cannot wait until after school to play with her new pet. When the teacher calls on Naje to answer a question, she has to say "I don't know." Was Naje using whole body listening?
NO. Although Naje's body was quiet and her eyes were looking at her teacher, she was not listening with her ears or brain. She was daydreaming. Naje needs to remember to use her ears and brain to listen to her teacher when she is teaching a lesson.