You are the Thermostat

Listen on Your Favorite Platform

You are the Thermostat

by Drs. KPF & JC | The Inclusion Podcast

Transcript [pdf] 

SHOW NOTES

 

Key Takeaways

    • You are the thermostat. Your energy sets the tone for the classroom, no matter what age group you work with.

    • Co-regulation isn’t optional. Students of all ages need adult support to return to calm— especially during dysregulation or shutdown moments.

    • Regulation happens before, during, and after. It’s not just about crisis response. Co-regulation is built into everyday habits and classroom systems.

    • Small shifts add up. You don’t have to “fix” everything at once. Even tiny adjustments can reset the emotional climate.

Episode Download

Get the “You Are the Thermostat” Handout at inclusiveschooling.com/download51

What’s inside:

    • ✅ 10 Foundational Co-Regulation Moves: Practical habits you can start using today.

    • ✅ 60 State-Based Strategies: Specific things to do before, during, and after escalations to bring students back to “just right.”

Perfect for team trainings, paraprofessional supports, or as quick-check reminders for all adults.

 

Highlights from the Handout

Julie’s Favorite:
 “Lower your body, lower your voice.” Small changes in posture and tone create big shifts in student behavior.

Kristie’s Favorite:
 “Use fewer words, more presence.” During challenging moments, it’s not what you say— it’s how you show up.

 

Practical Tips from the Episode

    • Set the tone first: Ground yourself with a breath, lower your voice, and slow your movements. Students mirror your state before they hear your words
    • Use fewer words, more presence: During escalations, pause the lecturing. Non-verbal support like quiet proximity helps students re-engage their prefrontal cortex
    • Offer co-regulation scripts: Say phrases like “Let’s breathe together” or “I’ll hold the calm for you” to gently guide students back to a steady state
    • Teach coping strategies proactively: Don’t wait for crisis moments— build in daily practices like breathing rhythms, mindfulness, and body awareness exercises
    • Validate before redirecting: Acknowledge feelings first, even with older students. Say things like “That really looked hard” before moving to problem-solving
    • Use rhythmic actions to regulate: Gentle tapping, rocking, or drumming fingers can help both students and adults return to a calm, learning-ready state
    • Focus on small temperature shifts: Rather than aiming for instant calm, think of each strategy as a 1-degree adjustment back toward the “just right” learning zone

Favorite Expert Quotes

    • “Co-regulation is defined as warm and responsive interactions that provide the support, coaching, and modeling children need to understand, express, and modulate their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.” Zero to Three 
    • “Co-regulation is our biological imperative to share our emotional availability in a safe, trusted, and nested space.” Dr. Lori Desautels
    • “Co-regulation: A shared state of calmness between individuals within which, as a result of our understanding of Self-Reg, we reframe the other’s behaviour, identify and reduce their stresses, and help them shift from maladaptive to restorative modes of self-regulation.” Dr. Stuart Shanker
    • “How we experience the world, relate to others, and find meaning in life are dependent on how we have come to regulate our emotions.” Dr. Dan Siegel