As I began my first week of the short practicum, my grade one class started a new unit called “Personal Experiences shape self-expression”. The unit focused and reflected on the transdisciplinary theme of “How we express ourselves”. Students inquired about different ways in which they discover and express their ideas, feelings, thinkings, culture, beliefs and values.
During the Unit of Inquiry class, I was surprised to see how the students were able to throw out many different ways to express themselves. For example, one of the student mentioned how she loves to draw to express herself. Another student shared to the class how she coloured her drawing blue when she felt tired and sad. I got really surprised when I heard this because it was just amazing how she was applying the concept of “Zones of regulation” to express her everyday emotions. She was being knowledgeable by exploring and applying the Zones of regulation concept to the U.O.I class.
This is the poster of the concept “The Zones of Regulation” by Leah M. Kuypers that was displayed in Grade 1 classroom at my practicum school.
This inspired me so much that I looked it up to learn about this concept in depth so that I can use it during my teaching. I was happy to see how not only I provided the knowledge to the student, but I also learned something from the student during my practicum. In other words, students teach me as much as I teach them! This is one of the reason that becoming a teacher is such an exciting moment for me. This really encourages me to feel that I really want to teach and interact with the students and with the class more.
Hi DH,
I’m really encouraged to see how you are learning alongside your students! I think it’s so wonderful to see a grade 1 student being able to apply the zones of regulation in their own expression. Prior to reading your post I thought the zones of regulation is just a way to regulate their behaviour in the classroom, but your example has helped me to realize that students have the capacity to internalize their learning in a meaningful way. How wonderful!
Thanks for sharing.
Sherry
I agree, DH. This is most definitely one of the best reasons why we become teachers! How inspirational it must have been to see and hear these young 6 yr olds express themselves so competently and capably! I think this also supports why the PYP and IB in general is such a change agent for schools. It pushes children to think beyond what one might normally expect from this age group. The shift from theme-based teaching (apples, dinosaurs, space) to a concept-based approach raises the bar for our students. It supports the notion that if we provide children with the opportunity to interact with more challenging ideas and concepts, they will grasp on to them and make them their own. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Three cheers for the Zones of Regulation!