Our definition of Self-Control is: “I can control my emotions, thoughts and actions. I think carefully about how I behave.”
Self control is the ability to stop and think before making a choice.
Self Control means being able to control our emotions, thoughts and actions. It means thinking carefully about how we behave.
At school, demonstrating self-control may involve:
– Waiting, being patient and resisting doing what is not right.
– Coming to class/working from home with everything needed to get to work rather than being
unprepared
– Making thoughtful decisions
– Remembering and following directions rather than needing to be reminded
– Getting to work right away rather than procrastinating
– Paying attention rather than getting distracted
Interpersonally, demonstrating self-control could involve:
– Playing cooperatively with friends
– Allowing others to speak rather than interrupting
– Being polite to all, even when stressed or angry
– Remaining calm, even when criticised or otherwise provoked,
rather than losing your temper
At BHPS, Self-Control comes within the Engagement arm of our PERMA model because having self-control helps us to make the most of our learning opportunities.
When Sophie Gets Angry, Really, Really Angry!
The Marshmellow Test
The Zones of Regulation
One of the approaches that we use to help with self-regulation at school are the “Zones lf Regulation (ZOR)”. Using the ZOR increases our emotional literacy because they give us a language with which to describe lots of different emotions. We can also have a toolbox of strategies to use if we find that we need help with changing from one zone into another.
The Green Zone means you’re feeling calm and alert, or “just right”.
Being in the green zone means you are calm, focused, happy, relaxed, or ready to learn. This is predominantly the state you want to be in. Although, the yellow zone is okay sometimes, too. And, you’ll learn, that there are times when the other zones are expected.
Being in the Green Zone in the classroom, means ready to learn.
The yellow zone describes when you have a heightened sense of alertness. This isn’t always a bad thing, and you still have some control of your actions when you’re in the yellow
Being in the yellow means you may feel frustrated, anxious, or nervous. But, it could also mean you’re feeling excited, silly, or hyper – which is okay in the right situations.
The red zone describes an extremely heightened state of intense emotions. When a person reaches the red zone, they’re no longer able to control their emotions or reactions.
Being in the red zone means you’re out of control. You could be feeling many things, such as, anger, rage, terror, or complete devastation.
The blue zone, on the other hand, is used when a person is feeling low states of alertness or arousal.
When you’re in the blue zone you may be feeling down – sad, sick, tired, or bored. You’re still in control, as you are in the yellow zone, but with low energy emotions.
Tools to regulate
Some of the tools that students may learn to regulate include; sensory supports (e.g. squeezing a stress ball), calming techniques (count to 10, Lazy 8 breathing) and thinking strategies (e.g. big versus little problem).
These photos are of examples of the ZOR in use at BHPS
The Colour Monster – A Story about Emotions
The Zones of Regulation explained
What do the Zones look like?
