Self-Regulation Summer Symposium Learning - Red Brain/Blue Brain

This week, I attended the 4th Annual Self-Regulation Summer Symposium.  I want to blog about all my learning but there is TOO MUCH!!!!!!  In today's blog post, I'm sharing some new learning for me about the triune brain.

Red brain/Blue Brain

Self-regulation is based on brain science and a simplified version of this is the idea of red brain/blue brain.  Blue brain is when the prefrontal cortex is engaged and 'running the show.' We are rational, calm, able to think logically and communicate with others. But, when we are stressed, we may switch into red brain. In red brain, the limbic system takes over and we are in fight or flight.  In red brain, we are no longer able to think carefully and consider our actions; are actions are driven by primitive survival instincts.

But here was the new learning for me this past week.  When we are in red brain, those around us can drive us in one of two directions.  We can move into intense negative emotions like fear and anger.  Imagine a Trump rally with cries of "Lock her up" and "Build that wall."

Or we can move into intense positive emotions like love and joy. The example Dr. Shanker shared was of Robert Kennedy addressing a crowd in Indianapolis. As RFK was to begin his speech, he learned that Martin Luther King had just been assassinated.  He informed the crowd of the assassination, and in the audio of his speech, you can hear their gasps of shock and horror.  It would have been easy for someone to take that moment and push the entire crowd into red brain, violence and anger.  Instead, he speaks in soothing tones and tells the crowd, "What we need in the United States is not division, what we need in the United States is not hatred, what we need in the United States is not violence and lawlessness, but is love and wisdom and compassion toward one another, a feeling of justice toward those who still suffer within our country, whether they be white or whether they be black.......Let us say a prayer for our country and for our people."

So many of the people we work with or meet each day - students, parents, neighbours, strangers - are stressed and could easily be pushed into red brain and anger. How can we help to soothe them, to make them feel safe in our classroom, our school, our neighbourhood?  Here are a few of my suggestions:

• signs welcoming students, parents and visitors to your building and your classroom
• student ambassadors to give parents and visitors tours of the building
• a welcome package for any new student who joins your class throughout the school year
• for new staff - a welcome package with info about the school and the community, an assigned teacher mentor to answer questions about the school and the culture (where do you get supplies, who coaches which teams, etc)
• making sure all support staff are included in staff lists, newsletters, special events. 
• having welcome signs, school newsletters, library books and other resources available in the languages which reflect the diverse community your school represents

Feel free to add more suggestions in the comments.