Introduction

Controlling our thoughts and feelings is a vital skill for students, especially those in special education. The Self-Controller Scanner is a useful tool that helps students become aware of their emotions and regain control when necessary. This blog post will discuss the Self-Controller Scanner and provide an easy-to-implement activity, discussion questions, related skills, and next steps for educators working with special education students.

No-Prep Activity: Self-Controller Scanner Role-Play

This activity requires no preparation or materials from the educator. It serves to help students practice using the Self-Controller Scanner in various situations.

1. Divide the students into pairs.
2. Ask each pair to think of a situation where one student might feel overwhelmed or lose control of their thoughts and feelings.
3. Have the student who is feeling overwhelmed use the Self-Controller Scanner to identify their emotions and regain control. The other student can act as a supportive friend or teacher, offering assistance if needed.
4. After a few minutes, ask the pairs to switch roles and repeat the process.
5. As a group, discuss the different scenarios and how the Self-Controller Scanner helped students regain control of their thoughts and feelings.

Discussion Questions

• How does using the Self-Controller Scanner help you gain control of your thoughts and feelings?
• Can you think of a time when you could have used the Self-Controller Scanner to stay in control? How would it have helped?
• What are some strategies you can use to regain control when you notice your emotions are taking over?
• Why is it important to be aware of our thoughts and feelings, especially in a school setting?
• How can we support our peers when they are using the Self-Controller Scanner?

Related Skills

The Self-Controller Scanner is just one aspect of a broader set of social-emotional skills that students can benefit from. Other related skills include:

• Emotion recognition: Identifying and understanding the emotions of oneself and others.
• Emotion regulation: Managing one’s own emotions in a healthy and appropriate way.
• Empathy: Putting oneself in another person’s shoes and understanding their feelings and perspective.
• Problem-solving: Identifying and resolving conflicts or challenges in a constructive manner.
• Communication: Expressing oneself effectively and respectfully, and actively listening to others.

Next Steps

Now that you have learned about the Self-Controller Scanner and its benefits for special education students, it’s time to take action. We encourage you to try the no-prep activity and discussion questions in your classroom. For more information and free samples of this skill and others, sign up at Everyday Speech to access a wealth of resources to support your students’ social-emotional learning journey.