Color Zones Help Kids Learn to Regulate and Restore for Focused Learning!

A Message From Ms. Reeves (2nd Grade Teacher & Meadow Brook Hero!)

Each morning students have the opportunity to participate in a “Color Zone” check in.

The students are able to enter the room and place their magnet in the “Color Zone” they feel they are entering the classroom in.

This allows them to take a moment to identify how they are feeling and better understand how they might react to activities or interactions that we may engage in.

Identifying how we feel is a wonderful way to take charge of our learning and our communication.

We have also brainstormed strategies that we can use in each of the “Color Zones.”  We all get sad, silly, and even angry sometimes, and we are all capable of restoring ourselves to a place of focus if we learn about how and practice what we learn.

Some of these include taking a break in the peace corner, taking deep breaths, getting a drink of water, talking to the teacher or a peer, etc.

The students have the same opportunity at the end of the day.

This allows them to reflect on their day and identify what “Color Zone” they’re leaving the classroom in.

Overall, this allows the students to self-regulate their emotions and recognize that all zones are acceptable, and that it’s the strategies that we use in those zones that are important.

With a Growth Mindset we always remember that we’re Heroes in Every Zone!

For more about the “Color Zones” click here: Color Zones of Regulation

Thanks to Ms. Reeves and her incredible students for sharing out about this part of their learning journey…sharing our stories builds our partnerships and strengthens our school community!

You can share your thinking by leaving a comment on this posts, sending a Tweet to @ThinkMBE, or reaching out by phone or e-mail at your convenience.

Thank you for your partnership…in it together for the kids!

Hero Headlines: Suit Yourself…Be Kind.

Safe. Respectful. Responsible. 

Greetings, Meadow Brook Partners!

When I walked out of the building from conferences on Thursday evening I saw something that made me remember what is means to be a Meadow Brook Hero.

It was dark, it was snowing, and it was cold.

It had been a long day. Wonderful, with opportunities to share stories and celebrations with many partners, but long nonetheless.

It would have been understandable if people walking out of the building late in the evening would have been thinking about nothing more that heading home.

What I saw was an act of selflessness and kindness.

Mrs. Schroeck was just finishing wiping the snow off of everyone else’s cars.  If your car was still in the lot, it was cleared off by Mrs. Schroeck.

Thank you, Mrs. Schroeck, for being a shining example of what it means to be a Meadow  Brook Hero!

Let’s all follow that lead over the next couple of days and do as many acts of kindness as we can.  It feels good and it helps all of us build the positive partnerships we pride ourselves in our wonderful school community.

For more on how kindness can help us and everyone around us check out this inspirational Ted Talk from Mark Kelly:

Thank you for your patience and your partnership…in it together for the kids!

With optimism and gratitude,

 

Seth

 

Seth E. Berg

Principal

Meadow Brook Elementary

Call: (248) 726 -4101

Click: sberg@rochester.k12.mi.us

My Reflective Journey: Berg’s Eye View