Spotlight on self-regulation

Redefining school readiness

Preparing children for academic success starts with building a foundation for learning. And that means supporting young children as they develop the ability to focus and shift their attention, remember information on purpose, and plan before acting. To be successful in school, we expect children at all developmental levels to learn to anticipate and navigate their emotions, engage in problem-solving, and exercise self-control, even when it’s hard. Self-regulation develops as these skills are regularly practiced in meaningful ways.

“Five things all school leaders need to know”

In a new EdWeek Spotlight dedicated entirely to self-regulation, Tools speaks frankly to school and district leaders across the country, sharing “five things all school leaders need to know” about self-regulation. They are powerful when examined together, as they reveal the importance of aligning practices and systems to emphasize a shared understanding of self-regulation as the foundational element of learning and development.

Digging into each, Tools pulls back the curtain on how best to support self-regulation development. We also identify some common practices schools lean on to address lagging self-regulation that may not be enough to bring about meaningful skill development and lead to lasting impact.

What next?

As leaders in the field grow toward more intentionally considering learning and behavior through the lens of self-regulation, Tools offers a tangible next step. Sign a commitment to creating the conditions to support self-regulation development and stay open to learning more.

To read more about the five things school leaders need to know, see what research and experts say about self-regulation, and learn how to do more to support self-regulation in our youngest learners, check out the EdWeek Spotlight, “The Science of Self-Regulation: The Missing Foundation of Academic Success.”

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