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Self-Reg for Education Assistants – Special Cohort 7
Level 1 Certificate Program
$745 CAD
In Self-Reg for Education Assistants, participants take part in a 12-module course delivered over three months. The course introduces the Shanker Self-Reg® framework and focuses on reframing behaviour, recognizing stressors, understanding brain–body states, and supporting restoration of energy, focus, and relationships.The emphasis is on applying Self-Reg in everyday school contexts, with attention to learning, behaviour, and participation.
The course is grounded in school-based practice and reflects the collaborative work of Susan Hopkins, The MEHRIT Centre and Kristin Wiens.
About This Offering
This is a special extended-access cohort of the existing Self-Reg for Education Assistants Level 1 Certificate Program. Learners will progress through the standard 12-module course at their own pace with facilitator support.
Cohort Dates
- Opens: October 1, 2026
- Enrollment open until: February 28, 2027
- Course closes: May 31, 2027
Register today for cohort starting:
About the Program
Learning Outcomes
1) Recognize the Vital Role of EAs: Understand how Self-Reg highlights EAs’ crucial role in managing challenging behaviors, supporting disengaged learners, and nurturing social-emotional development amid dysregulation in schools.
2) Apply Practical Strategies: Gain a deep understanding of the Shanker Self-Reg® Framework and acquire actionable techniques to effectively apply it in real-world situations.
3) Identify Root Causes of Behavior: Learn to differentiate between signs of stress and intentional misbehavior, responding with a blend of empathy and structure.
4) Address Behavioral Challenges: Develop the skills to identify and tackle various behavioral issues through Self-Reg practices, using empathetic and proactive intervention methods.
5) Collaborate for Regulation: Engage with students during moments of dysregulation using Co-Reg techniques to promote self-regulation.
6) Harness Student Strengths: Shift your approach by leveraging students’ strengths and assets to empower them.
7) Manage Environmental Stressors: Recognize and address stressors across five domains contributing to dysregulation and disengagement, implementing practical interventions to create a supportive learning environment conducive to social-emotional development.
8) Build Resilience: Encourage growth and enhance resilience through reflective practices and supportive relationships.
Module Sneak Peek
Module 1: Self-Regulation vs Self-Control: Why it Matters
Module 2: Misbehaviour vs. Stress Behavior
Module 3: Co-Reg with Dysregulated Students
Module 4: Identifying Student Stressors
Module 5: Co-Reg within 5 Domains
Module 6: Dial Down the Stress Load and the Stress Response
Module 7: Co-Reg and Strategies to Deal with Stress
Module 8: Reflective Practice and Brain-Body States
Module 9: Co-Reg for CLEAR: Calm, Listen, Embodied Awareness, Reflect
Module 10: Restore Energy, Focus, Relationships and Hope
Module 11: Co-Reg and Why Restoration is the Key
Module 12: EAs are Difference Makers
How Will You Learn
- Asynchronous – 100% Online, learn when during the week works best for you
- 12 module facilitated cohort course
- 2-3 hours work a week for a total of 30 hours of learning
- no tests, quizzes, or exams
- Certificate awarded at the end
Register Today for $745 CAD
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
MODULE OUTLINE
Module 1: Self-Regulation vs Self-Control: Why it Matters
- Intro to Self-Regulation: Grasp self-regulation’s essence and distinction from self-control, crucial for Education Assistants (EAs) in K-12 settings.
- Exploring Shanker Self-Reg® Framework: Adopt Stuart Shanker’s framework for effective student support.
- Exploring the Five Domains of Stress and Self-Reg: Delve into the pivotal role of stress domains–biological, emotion, cognitive, social, prosocial– in the self-regulation journey across K-12.
- EAs have Stress Too!: Acknowledging the stress inherent in this role
Module 2: Misbehaviour vs. Stress Behavior
- Self-Reg Practice 1 ~ Reframe: Empower EAs with a strengths-based approach that starts with “why” and “why now” reflecting grounded in science.
- Honouring the Work of EAs: Nurture self-compassion in EAs to enhance their capacity to support students’ self-regulation journey.
- You Are Enough: Highlight EAs’ essential role in guiding students’ Self-Reg and Co-Reg journey and why relationships are the foundation.
- Our Use of Language is a Strategy: Investigate language’s influence on crafting supportive environments and narratives
Module 3: Co-Reg with Dysregulated Students
- Co-Reg Practice 1 ~ Reframe: Practice reframing student behaviour to better understand the roots, going beyond the idea of seeking or avoiding something to better understand: why and why now?
- Responding to Stress Behaviours: Explore strategies and tools to differentiate and respond to stress behaviours more effectively.
- Seeing Dysregulation as an Opportunity: Consider dysregulation moments as avenues for growth in the classroom.
- Challenges Unpacked: Examples, strategies, tools and skills for identifying stress behaviours empathetically.
Module 4: Identifying Student Stressors
- Self-Reg Practice 2 ~ Recognize Stressors in Five Domains: Identify stressors – obvious and hidden ones– impacting students’ self-regulation.
- Understanding Stress Domains: Identify common stressors faced by students (and adults) and their brain-body impact.
- Self-Reg is Continuous and Ongoing: Recognize Self-Reg as a dynamic journey with in-the-moment challenges and preventative upstream priorities
- Building Healthy Relationships: Highlight positive relationships’ role in fostering supportive environments and Self-Reg Havens.
Module 5: Co-Reg within 5 Domains
- Co-Reg Practice 2 ~ Recognize: Practice identifying and mapping stressors across the 5 Domains.
- Addressing Immediate Needs: Prioritize when to reduce stressors and dial down the tension across the 5 domains.
- Understanding Student Stressors: Explore potential student stressors and strategies to mitigate their impact.
- Challenges Unpacked: Consider a range of personalized strategies for EAs to manage stress across all 5 domains and also prevent burnout.
Module 6: Dial Down the Stress Load and the Stress Response
- Self-Reg Practice 3~ Reduce: Delve into tangible Self-Reg methods for alleviating stress across the 5 domains
- Identify what’s Already Working: Explore current strategies and approaches that are already making a difference for students and consider with a Self-Reg lens
- Quick Relief Measures: Unpack interventions and responses to aid students during moments of distress.
- Being Part of a Team: The importance of team cohesion, what EAs can contribute, and how to deal with others’ stress or different viewpoints.
Module 7: Co-Reg and Strategies to Deal with Stress
- Co-Reg Practice 3~ Reduce: Mini action research: practice Co-Reg strategies and reflect on the results and lessons learned
- Brightening a Student’s Day: Strategies for the day after a tough day for a student
- View of the Child: Strategies to deal with the most challenging student and still believe there is no such thing as a bad child (even if we doubt it for a bit!)
- Spotlight on Strategy: Comfort Kits: Plan and develop personalized kits with sensory tools and calming resources to aid students in emotional regulation.
Module 8: Reflective Practice and Brain-Body States
- Self-Reg Practice 4 ~ Reflect: Engage in reflective practice while exploring brain-body stress states
- Interoception: Develop awareness of internal sensations to recognize and address stressors and identify states.
- BEST BET Reflection: Utilize the BEST BET framework to assess responses to stress and develop coping strategies.
- Recognizing Burnout Signs: Identify burnout indicators and implement personally chosen routines for maintaining well-being.
Module 9: Co-Reg for CLEAR: Calm, Listen, Embodied Awareness, Reflect
- Reflect Practice 4~ Co-Reg: Utilize reflective practices to enhance Co-Reg and support emotional well-being.
- Presume Potential for ALL students: Adopt a science-informed strengths-based approach to support students’ growth and journey to self-regulation.
- Scenarios – Analyze a range of scenarios to discern effective Co-Reg strategies during most challenging times throughout the day, including transitions
- Complete the Regulation Portrait: Engaging students in self-reflection to identify triggers, coping strategies, and support needs.
Module 10: Restore Energy, Focus, Relationships and Hope
- Self-Reg Practice 5~ Restore: Implement strategies to restore before the peak is reached
- Reflect on Purpose: Prepare to set goals for the next 3 months by reflecting on your whys for being an EA. What is your purpose?
- Begin With the End in Mind: Set your ‘from here to there’ intentions
Module 11: Co-Reg and Why Restoration is the Key
- Co-Reg Practice 5~ Restore: Leveraging strengths-based approaches to restore
- Restoration across the Day: Unexpected ways to support restoration during the school day for the students who need it the most
- Celebrating Progress: Recognizing and celebrating students’ strides in Self-Reg
- Synthesize Strategies: Integrate knowledge from previous modules to create a personal Self-Reg toolkit
Module 12: EAs are Difference Makers
- Personalized Action Plans: Craft personalized plans to integrate Self-Reg and Co-Reg into your work as an EA
- Taking Small Steps: Identify actionable steps to continue implementing and refining strategies, techniques and tools learned in this course.
- Looking Back: Reflect on personal growth and goals for ongoing professional learning.
- Gratitude: EAs are difference makers— a final acknowledgement and celebration