Accessing Regulation With One Foot In, One Foot Out in the Classroom
Experiencing Regulation and Dysregulation Simultaneously
In the classroom, you feel your stress and anxiety as well as the stress and dysregulation of your students. This is the nervous system doing what it’s designed to do: continually receive and respond to cues from the people around us.
While these cues can contribute to your dysregulation, it also creates an opportunity for support that can help you and your students navigate stress in the classroom.
Introducing “One Foot In, One Foot Out” To Access Regulation
The Synergetic Education Institute (SEI) Co-Founder Lisa Dion uses the phrase, “one foot in and one foot out” to describe experiencing dysregulation while simultaneously maintaining access to a moment of regulation. Within these experiences, you can serve as an external regulator for your students and expand your capacity to respond intentionally in a way that supports everyone in the classroom, including yourself.
Try This Exercise For Accessing Regulation
STEP ONE
Ask yourself: “What does my body need right now?”
All day, your body is sending you signals both in and out of the classroom. Understanding what your body needs can help you better recognize how to support yourself.
STEP TWO
Tune into your body: “What is my body telling me?”
For example, let’s say that you notice tension in your chest or your shoulders drawing up toward your ears. Perhaps, your body needs you to take a deep breath or for you to roll your shoulders. Remember, the goal isn’t to make dysregulation disappear altogether. It’s to notice what is happening and bring in a moment of regulation.
STEP THREE
Take a moment to regulate and reflect: “What can I do to understand my experiences and how can I support myself?”
Bring more moments of regulation into your day by taking a breath, stretching, or moving your body. It’s important to reflect on what you are feeling by naming the experience or physical sensation you are experiencing. When you do this, it also creates an opportunity for students to pause and notice their own experience.
25 Strategies to Bring More Regulation into Your Day
Click here to learn more about “One Foot In & One Foot Out including twenty-five strategies that can help you bring more moments of regulation into your day. Because when regulated, you can start feeling more connected and engaged and your students can experience the same.