Teaching self-regulation strategies can help OTs, PTs, SLPs, and other professionals improve their delivery of essential school-based services.

<p>Teaching self-regulation strategies can be a game-changer for professionals who deliver school-based services, including behavioral therapists, counselors, nurses, occupational therapists, physical therapists, psychologists, social workers, and speech-language pathologists. There are specific teachable strategies and a wealth of resources educational support professionals can rely on to help students learn to regulate their own behaviors. Self-regulation strategies can open doors to allow providers to deliver essential services when behavior distractions might otherwise get in the way.</p>

<h2>What the Research Says about Self-Regulation Strategies</h2>

<p>The <a href="https://dictionary.apa.org/self-regulation">American Psychological Association</a> defines self-regulation as &ldquo;The control of one&rsquo;s behavior through the use of self-monitoring (keeping a record of behavior), self-evaluation (assessing the information obtained during self-monitoring), and self-reinforcement (rewarding oneself for appropriate behavior or for attaining a goal).&rdquo;</p>

<p>In a meta-analysis and systematic review of the existing body of research, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6059379/">Pandey et al</a>. found that a wide range of interventions helped improve self-regulation in children and adolescents. They saw improvements in behavioral, health, and academic outcomes, including:</p>

<ul>
	<li>Academic achievement</li>
	<li>Substance abuse</li>
	<li>Conduct disorders</li>
	<li>Social skills</li>
	<li>Depression</li>
	<li>Behavioral problems</li>
	<li>School suspensions</li>
</ul>

<p style="margin-top: 20px">The researchers also found studies showed consistent improvement in self-regulation through:</p>

<ul>
	<li>Curriculum-based interventions</li>
	<li>Mindfulness and yoga interventions</li>
	<li>Family-based programs</li>
	<li>Exercise-based programs</li>
	<li>Social and personal skills interventions</li>
</ul>

<h2>Top Resources for Self-Regulation Strategies for Students</h2>

<p>When seeking research-based self-regulation strategies to use with students, educational professionals should turn to the top authoritative organizations in the field. Here are resources to get started, along with actionable strategies you can put into practice asap.</p>

<h3>Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL)</h3>

<p>The <a href="https://casel.org/professional-services/school/?gad_source=1&amp;gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0cWV1N2ViAMV5qNaBR04Ajm9EAAYASAAEgKex_D_BwE">Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning</a> (CASEL) has a helpful resource called <a href="https://casel.org/blog/5-meaningful-standards-based-sel-activities-for-the-classroom/">5 Meaningful, Standards-Based SEL Activities for the Classroom</a>. These social and emotional learning strategies can help kids develop strengths in self-regulation and enable them to turn their focus to the specialized services they&rsquo;re receiving. Here&rsquo;s a preview of activities featured in the article:</p>

<ul>
	<li><strong>Self-awareness:</strong> Ask the student to identify their current mood using five numbers, images, or emotions. This will help the student acknowledge their feelings and together, you can discuss further if needed.</li>
	<li><strong>Self-management: </strong>Have the student complete a goal-setting sheet to reflect on what they&rsquo;re doing to contribute to their progress. Ask them to set a new goal and list three actions they can take.</li>
	<li><strong>Social awareness: </strong>To work on developing mutual respect when perspectives differ, have students play &ldquo;this or that&rdquo; using hotly debated topics like math vs. English or football vs. baseball. Help students work on finding commonalities and being kind about differences.</li>
</ul>

<h3>American Psychological Association (APA)</h3>

<p>The American Psychological Association offers tips you can use with your students and share with their parents, teachers, and caregivers to align on teaching self-regulation strategies. <a href="https://www.apa.org/topics/parenting/emotion-regulation">How to help kids understand and manage their emotions</a> touches on the complexities of self-regulation and how a child&rsquo;s ability to navigate negative emotions depends on their temperament, genetics, environment, and outside factors like being hungry or tired. The resource includes tips for teaching self-regulation skills, including:</p>

<ul>
	<li>Start at a young age</li>
	<li>Ensure needs are met</li>
	<li>Model desired behavior</li>
	<li>Remain calm</li>
	<li>Provide options</li>
	<li>Offer more praise and less punishment</li>
	<li>Act as a team</li>
</ul>

<h3>IRIS Center at Vanderbilt University</h3>

<p>Vanderbilt&rsquo;s IRIS Center has a career resource on <a href="https://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/module/ef2/cresource/q1/p08/">self-regulation</a> that delves into how learning cognitive strategies can help students with learning disabilities, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and other differences. These tools can be used with students of all ages but may be particularly effective for older students. IRIS recommends the following strategies:</p>

<ul>
	<li><strong>Self-monitoring:</strong> To keep track of progress and record results, use checklists, logs, or self-monitoring sheets.</li>
	<li><strong>Self-instruction: </strong>To talk oneself through an activity or task, use prompts like: &ldquo;What do I need to solve this problem?&rdquo; or &ldquo;Did I understand what I just read?&rdquo;</li>
	<li><strong>Goal-setting</strong>: To establish measurable goals for learning, identify goals, develop plans for meeting goals, implement the plan, monitor progress, and revise as needed.</li>
	<li><strong>Self-reinforcement</strong>: To reward oneself after completing a task, use reinforcers that are social, activity-related, or tangible.</li>
	<li><strong>Additional tools</strong>: Utilize graphic organizers, mnemonics, note-taking, organization strategies, and reading comprehension strategies.</li>
</ul>

<h2>The Lasting Value of Self-Regulation</h2>

<p>As you begin to build new relationships with your students, devoting time up front to teach self-regulation strategies directly can go a long way. You&rsquo;ll be teaching them valuable skills that will spill over into all aspects of their lives. You&rsquo;ll also be able to devote more time to the services you&rsquo;re there to provide. When behavior challenges are under better management, you can focus on specialized tasks like strengthening motor skills, speech, pencil grip, or activities of daily living. You&rsquo;ll be better able to connect with your students and help them develop confidence in the ability to regulate their behaviors and emotions, setting them up for success in school and beyond.</p>

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Self-Regulation Strategies for School-Based Services

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