SFX Newsletter

Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning at SFX

At our school, we consider Student Wellbeing to be at the core of everything we do. Children thrive when they feel loved, connected and supported. We use a number of programs to activate a student's self awareness and resilience and ensure that this aligns with Faith Education. We take the best parts of the best research based programs, to engage students to develop their social and emotional wellbeing. I have provided a short snapshot of our top 2 programs below. These form the basis of everyday life in each classroom at SFX. 

 

Berry Street Education Model (BSEM)

The BSEM approach is through a Trauma-informed Positive Education lens and has been designed with the following principles and values in mind:

  • Strong relationships matter
  • Has a dual-purpose: every lesson can teach academic content and psycho-education. The BSEM can be embedded and integrated into the everyday rhythms of the school
  • Visible learning and stamina for academic growth
  • Safe and predictable structures where teachers have shared and consistent expectations
  • Psycho-education is self-education: All students must have the opportunity to understand themselves and how they learn.

The BSEM provides strategies that enables teachers to increase engagement of students with complex, unmet learning needs and to successfully improve all students’ self-regulation, relationships, wellbeing, growth and academic achievement.

 

There are 5 Domains within the BSEM curriculum:

  1. Body
  2. Relationships
  3. Stamina
  4. Engagement
  5. Character

Every day, our staff and students begin with a circle to pray, connect and share. Each person in the classroom is given the opportunity to make announcement, but equally, each person has the opportunity to 'pass' - opt out of sharing. This encourages students to feel connected and develop empathy and understanding.

Brain and Movement Breaks are offered throughout every day, to allow students to regulate and learn regulation strategies, so that they can become self-direct learners who are responsible for their actions.

We are mindful and grateful of all the opportunities that are presented to us within our school and home life and we develop strategies to overcome set backs and to also seek help when needed.

 

Below are some graphics which are used to check in with ourselves before tasks. You might like to use something similar at home for bath time, dinner, homework or bedtime.

 

Zones of Regulation

The Zones of Regulation is a curriculum which is designed to foster self-regulation and emotional control. Students are taught about emotions and how to recognise their own feelings. They are empowered to be self-directed in their regulation strategies buy first being taught how to co-regulate. Co-regulation refers to the social relationships and the way one can adjust themselves when interacting with another, in order to maintain a regulated state. 

Once students have mastered the basic foundations of regulation strategies, then they are ready to self-regulate. Self-regulation (or the very similar term self-control) can be defined as the ability to alter one’s behaviour, including one’s thoughts, feelings, actions and other responses.

 

The zones are categorised into four states of alertness and emotions:

BLUE: sick, sad, tired, bored, lonely, moving slowly, lethargic

GREEN: happy, calm, good to go, focused, ready to learn

YELLOW: frustrated, worried, silly, anxious, excited

RED: mad, angry, out of control, I need some space

 

We teach the children that it is ok to be in each zone at different times, but the optimal zone to be in is GREEN! When we are in the green zone, we are the best version of ourselves.  Being in the yellow, blue and red zones are ok, but we don't want to stay there too long. 

 

Each student in the school has one of these charts in their classroom. They have to freedom to adjust their photo on their chart to help them identify and communicate the zone that they are in. This is also a very useful tool for home and can be displayed on the fridge or bedroom wall to remind us all to be aware of the zone we are in. 

 

A great film to watch as a family, to help you connect with the Zones of Regulation is 'Inside Out'.