Implementing in Different Settings

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Implementation of The Zones of Regulation can occur in a variety of settings. There is no best place to implement; in fact, a best practice is for learning to happen across settings. Ultimately, teaching learners in their natural environment, whether it’s their home, classroom, or community setting, will help them best connect with their authentic experiences and apply learning. 

What Can the Zones Look Like in Different Settings?

HOME

  • Includes residential settings
  • Implementing and using Zones Climate Elements
  • Some direct instruction of Zones concepts including the Signature Practices
  • Bridge: Closely working with educators, therapists, other team members to carry over direct instruction happening in other settings (such as school or therapy)

SCHOOL

  • Direct instruction within or across multitiered supports (Tier 1, 2, 3)
  • Instruction led by school counselors, school social workers, special education staff, general education teachers (depends on implementation plan)
  • Zones Climate Elements utilized schoolwide
  • Zones is used as an inclusion strategy for learners with regulation differences
  • Bridge: Closely working with caregivers, teachers, outside of school providers to carry over direct instruction to other settings

AFTER-SCHOOL & COMMUNITY PROGRAMS

  • Includes childcare programs, clubs, community or religious groups, camps, sports, arts programs, etc.
  • Implementing and using Zones Climate Elements
  • Direct instruction of Zones concepts may vary
  • Bridge: Closely working with educators, caregivers, other team members to carry over direct instruction happening in other settings (such as school or therapy)

CLINICAL & THERAPEUTIC PRACTICE

  • Includes clinics, hospitals, treatment centers, private centers, and correctional facilities
  • Instruction in an individual or small group format
  • Highly personalized goals and treatment plans
  • Highly adapted instruction for each individual or group
  • Bridge: Closely working with caregivers, educators, and support team to use Zones Climate Elements and help learners apply skills across settings

Depending on the implementation plan, there are likely one of two ways that adults are involved with teaching and supporting The Zones of Regulation within a setting: 

  1. Adults can lead instruction in Zones of Regulation concepts in the setting. When this is your role, we refer to you as the “leader” and you provide direct instruction of The Zones of Regulation curriculum. 
  2. Adults can reinforce Zones of Regulation instruction that is being led in a different setting (such as in school, therapy or special services, or community organization). In this case, adults can follow along with concepts taught through the Zones Bridge handouts and regular communication with the leader. Your role will involve carrying out the activities and suggestions in the Bridge in your setting to help learners practice and generalize new skills, as well as extending the Zones Climate to your setting. 

In either one of these scenarios, your role involves establishing Zones Climate practices in your setting, helping create an environment where talking about and regulating feelings is the norm.

DO expose other adults and learners in the setting to Zones teachings, so everyone can be on the same page, using the same language. This facilitates inclusiveness, equity, and co-regulation.

DON’T teach Zones of Regulation to a learner in only a pull-out or 1:1 model without collaborating with other connected adults who can help support the learner across settings.

The Zones of Regulation has been widely adopted by schools around the world to foster regulation and social emotional learning (SEL) competencies. The Zones can be used in many ways within a school setting, from individually or in small groups by a therapist/counselor, to select classes or grades by a classroom leader or guest leader (e.g., school counselor or OT), to schoolwide where every classroom, as well as all staff, embraces The Zones. In addition to its application in general education classrooms, The Zones of Regulation has proven to be a valuable resource in special education and targeted interventions to provide identified learners more intensive instruction and support around regulation and social emotional learning. This leads to further inclusion and positive outcomes. As you learned in Adult Learning Module D: Building The Zones Climate school staff are encouraged to adapt and integrate The Zones into all aspects of a school culture. In addition, The Zones concepts can be woven into academic content throughout the school day, rather than only at a specific time and place 

Connect to Academic Standards 

Given that we experience feelings across all aspects of the school day, The Zones of Regulation Digital Curriculum can be adapted and integrated into teaching of core subjects to address K–12 state academic standards. The following are some examples of how you can connect the lessons/concepts to these standards. 

  • Reading/Literature: Increasing vocabulary around emotions and sensations; using comprehension and inference skills to identify characters’ shifting Zones as well as their use of tools/strategies; relating the text to individual learner’s prior knowledge and personal experience 
  • Writing: Creating poetry, personal narratives, opinion pieces, and fictional stories that explore feelings, thoughts, and related actions in varying contexts/situations 
  • Math: Creating bar/line graphs and pie charts based on data collected from learners during the Zones Check-Ins; constructing and interpreting line and bar graphs, using data to draw conclusions regarding regulation tools to try, and looking for patterns over time 
  • Speaking/Listening: Communicating effectively through participating in conversations and formal discussions about The Zones concepts; following two-step directions; attending to and understanding the meanings of messages; communicating needs, feelings, and ideas to peers and adults; and using a voice level appropriate for the language situation 
  • Social Studies: Exploring multiple perspectives and the role of emotions within historical and current events 

The Zones of Regulation® Digital Curriculum can easily be used within tiered support systems widely adopted in education settings, such as Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS). When The Zones was first developed, it was primarily used for small-group or individual interventions (Tiers 2 and 3). With the paradigm shift in education over the last decade calling for the education of the whole child and support for social emotional learning, we have seen a dramatic increase in schools that are using The Zones in Tier 1. This establishes common language and practices in SEL that can be built upon in Tiers 2 and 3. The Zones of Regulation is a proactive practice or intervention that can be applied at varying intensities within all the differing tiers of support. What is unique about The Zones is that it builds positive mental health and social emotional competencies for all, while serving as an inclusion strategy for neurodivergent learners and learners with trauma histories and regulation differences. It provides the universal language and a visual system that EVERYONE can use in school, home, and even if they move to a new school within the district. 

MTSS/PBIS and Zones of Regulation Crosswalk

When using The Zones for Tier 1 instruction, the implementation process and plan is approached differently at each school. There is no “right” way to roll out The Zones of Regulation Digital Curriculum, however, schools that have successfully implemented The Zones schoolwide share four common factors: 

  1. Administrator support: The administrators (and district staff) are involved in planning the implementation of Zones schoolwide. They are included in planning meetings, trainings, and use the Zones Climate Elements in their own spaces. Ultimately, administrators will set the tone for making The Zones an integral and sustained part of a school climate. 
  1. Zones champions who take leadership: This effort is brought forward and supported by staff who have experience supporting wellness, positive mental health, and social emotional learning with their learners. Zones champions are often counselors, social workers, general and/or special education leaders, and therapists (occupational, speech and language). 
  1. Staff buy-in: In addition to understanding how to use The Zones, make sure everyone understands WHY The Zones can help and what problems it can solve. Consider piloting The Zones in a few classes first and having staff share their success stories to build confidence, enthusiasm, and momentum before launching schoolwide. 
  1. An implementation plan: Create an implementation plan that identifies how instruction will be rolled out in the first year and beyond. Identify the implementation process in detail including the who, what, when, and how of training staff, teaching the lessons, and collecting data.

For further information and resources for Schoolwide Zones Implementation, visit https://zonesofregulation.com/for-your-school/.

Zones Champions consider attending Tier-1 Team Training (see https://zonesofregulation.com/training/tier-1-team-training).

 

Using The Zones of Regulation in home and residential settings can be beneficial for both learners and the grown-ups who support them. The concepts found in The Zones of Regulation Digital Curriculum can be directly taught within a family unit or caregivers can support learners by creating a Zones Climate at home. In addition to the tips below, explore the Zones Bridge activities within each concept to help extend regulation skills into the home. 

Here are some tips to support using The Zones in a home setting: 

  • Create a visual of the four Zones for the home. You may choose to incorporate pictures of family members (and pets) modeling various feelings for each Zone. (Concept 2) 
  • Use Zones Check-Ins on a regular basis to connect as a family. This can look like each family member having their name on a sticky note or clothespin and using the visual of the four Zones to check in by moving their sticky note or clothespin throughout the day. (Concept 5) 
  • Model using the visuals and the Zones language with all family members. When reading books or watching movies together, infuse Zones language into reflections on the characters’ feelings, behaviors, and/or tools as they manage their Zones. 
  • Have a family discussion around tools for each Zone, putting together a family Zones Toolbox that can be displayed visually. In addition, put together a collection of objects that work as tools in a designated space for easy access by all. (Concepts 7 and 8) 
  • Explore tools that a young learner gravitates to in the home and community to personalize the learner’s toolbox. Take pictures of the tools that a learner finds effective and add them to their Zones Toolbox visual. (Concepts 7 and 8)
  • Try out a Tool of the Week by choosing a regulation tool or strategy to try each week as a family. Some examples are journaling, listening to music, going for a nature walk, eating a healthy snack and taking screen breaks. Collect your favorite tools in a family Zones Toolbox. Check out our Tools to Try Cards for Kids and Tools to Try Cards for Tweens & Teens for ready-to-go tool ideas. (Concept 8) 
  • Build a comfort corner or regulation station by creating a place (or two) for kids and family members to go when they want to regulate. Choose a space that’s comfortable and quiet, and include items such as stuffed animals, coloring books, fidgets, and books. Practice using your designated space a few times together. Caregivers can model by using it themselves when they need a break. 
  • Tools can be reviewed and reinforced by making a book, video, or slideshow of the learner using their tools that the family can reference frequently with the learner when they are in a calm state. The family can work together to use tools, giving each other Tool Tickets and working together to accumulate a set amount to earn a special reward they decide on. (Concept 10) 
  • The Zones of Regulation Storybook Set, Zones apps, Tools to Try card decks, and Navigating The Zones game can be used to reinforce and explore Zones concepts. 
  • Family Game Night with games like UNO, Sorry!, and Twister can easily be turned into opportunities to practice and reinforce The Zones. Take turns naming an emotion or experience for each red-, yellow-, green-, or blue-colored Zone during game play. 
Zones in the Home: A shareable version of these bulleted suggestions 

For more information on Zones in the home consider attending our Zone Your Home: A Parent/Caregiver Training (see https://zonesofregulation.com/training/zoneyourhome/).