Just for a second, imagine an orchestra playing mid-performance. The string section suddenly goes off tempo- some of the players start to panic and go faster and faster.
The conductor has two options:
- Option one: Stop the orchestra. Point at the strings. Say ‘you’re off beat, fix it.’ The strings players feel ashamed; their bodies tighten and the problem gets worse.
- Option two: The conductor doesn’t stop. Instead, they stabilise their own tempo. They make eye contact with the strings, slow their beat and keep steady. Gradually, the strings match the rhythm- they come back into sync (cue: co-regulation).
Here’s the thing. Your teachers are the conductors of their classrooms. Their students can often be like the strings section- and when a student becomes dysregulated, your teacher needs to be a regulated conductor.
But here’s the catch- if your conductor (teacher) is also dysregulated (think burned out, stressed or unsupported) the whole orchestra collapses when the strings go off beat.
Three moves you can make today to build a culture of co-regulation:
- Stop asking “why won’t this student behave” and start asking “is this teacher regulated?” If the answer is no, this step should also include a plan to support the teacher
- Ensure your staff have access to regular supervision: We can help you here if you don’t already have this in place- schedule a call with one of our team below.
- Model co-regulation from the top: Your staff won’t stay regulated if you don’t show them what it looks like- be the conductor they need.
Schools that get this right see:
Teachers staying (retention increases), student’s settling (behaviour improves) and culture shifting (from reactive to relational).
Are you ready to build this in your school or workplace?
At SKI, we work with leaders to create co-regulation cultures through:
- Trauma Informed Leadership Training: Learn to be the conductor your staff need.
- Staff Reflective Supervision: Reduce burnout, increase retention.
- Trauma-Informed Classroom Training: Equip teachers with real skills to become a Trauma-Informed educator.
If you’d like to learn more, visit our website to explore training options or book an introductory call. We’d love to support your team in building regulated, relational learning environments.