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By Morgan Humphrey, SHS Student Writer
Salem Community Schools is one of many Indiana schools implementing regulations for teachers to help students with anxiety through social-emotional learning programs. In terms of bringing these regulations to Salem, there are certain guidelines that are being followed.
“Salem is currently implementing approved programming from the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE),” said Superintendent Jill Mires, adding that the second step is a program Salem purchased using Title IV funds which focuses on the development of coping skills and emotional awareness.
“This program also has lessons that focus on bully awareness and drug education,” she said.
Salem is planning professional development for all grade levels on the Zones of Regulation, which is approved by the IDOE. Teachers, students and families will learn about these zones.
“There are four types of zones, these zones will help students better understand and manage their emotions, energy, and responses,” she said. “It divides feelings and states of alertness into four color-coded zones, each representing a different type of emotion and level of energy.”
The zones are:
Blue Zone- This zone includes feelings like sadness, tiredness, or boredom, and times when we are feeling low.
Green Zone- This is the ‘ready to learn’ zone, where students feel calm, focused, and in control. It's an ideal zone for learning and positive interactions.
Yellow Zone- In this zone, students can feel excitement, frustration or worry. Students might need strategies to stay balanced.
Red Zone- This zone is for anger, panic, or elation. This zone is for students to take a step back, calm down and regain control.
When asked if teachers have to go through a certain training, Mires said, “Indiana has developed Social-Emotional Learning Competencies, similar to the standards we might hear teachers discuss for math and English. These competencies encourage practices in self-management, emotional regulation, and relationship skills, which teachers can integrate into classroom activities.”
Teachers can collaborate with school counselors or mental health professionals for support.
“These new regulations can benefit both teachers and students by helping them recognize our feelings and learn coping mechanisms to move between zones as needed,” she said. “This can help students and teachers build friendships, and improve overall well-being.”