APPENDICES

2.1 The Four Sea Friends & Their Zones

Each character represents an emotional zone. Understanding these zones helps students recognize and name their feelings, building emotional vocabulary and self-awareness.

🐟 MANNY THE MANTA RAY - BLUE ZONE (Calm & Focused)

The Blue Zone represents a calm, peaceful, focused state. When students are in the Blue Zone, their body is relaxed, their mind is clear, and they're ready to learn.

Blue Zone Feelings:

• Calm, peaceful, content, focused

Blue Zone Body Signals:

• Relaxed muscles, steady breathing, clear thinking

Blue Zone Breathing Techniques (4 total):

• Manta Glide (4-2-5) - Transitions

• Jellyfish Float (4-4-6) - Before tests

• Deep Sea (5-2-7) - Deep calming

• Peaceful Wave (4-3-6) - Refocusing

⭐ STELLA THE STARFISH - YELLOW ZONE (Happy & Energized)

The Yellow Zone represents positive energy, happiness, and excitement. When students are in the Yellow Zone, they feel joyful and energized but still in control.

Yellow Zone Feelings:

• Happy, excited, energized, playful

Yellow Zone Body Signals:

• Increased energy, smiling, active movement

Yellow Zone Breathing Techniques (4 total):

• Bubble Breath (4-2-4) - Celebrations

• Sunshine Starfish (3-2-5) - Morning energy

• Celebration (4-1-5) - Achievements

• Dancing Dolphin (3-1-4) - Active play

🐢 SHELLY THE TURTLE - PURPLE ZONE (Sad & Vulnerable)

The Purple Zone represents sadness, worry, and vulnerability. When students are in the Purple Zone, they may feel low energy, withdrawn, or need comfort and support.

Purple Zone Feelings:

• Sad, worried, tired, overwhelmed

Purple Zone Body Signals:

• Low energy, quiet voice, withdrawn body language

Purple Zone Breathing Techniques (4 total):

• Shell Breath (4-2-6) - Feeling sad

• Gentle Breathing (3-2-5) - Needing comfort

• Gentle Variation (4-2-6) - Deeper sadness

• Comfort Breath (5-2-7) - Deep comfort

🦀 CRABBY THE CRAB - RED ZONE (Alert & Activated)

The Red Zone represents intense emotions and high activation. When students are in the Red Zone, they may feel angry, frustrated, scared, or overwhelmed. IMPORTANT: Crabby is portrayed as HELPFUL and EMPOWERED, not angry or scary!

Red Zone Feelings:

• Angry, frustrated, scared, out of control

Red Zone Body Signals:

• Fast heartbeat, tense muscles, loud voice, need to move

Red Zone Breathing Techniques (4 total):

• End Pressure (4-1-5) - Building frustration

• Boil Down (4-3-5) - Medium anger

• Storm Wave (5-2-7) - Intense emotions

• Anchor Drop (4-4-8) - Maximum grounding

🔑 KEY TEACHING POINTS:

• ALL zones are normal and valid - there are no 'bad' zones

• Different situations call for different zones

• We can use strategies to shift between zones when needed

• Crabby the Crab is HELPFUL - he teaches us about big feelings!

• Each zone has its own breathing techniques to support regulation

APPENDICES

6.1 Complete Breathing Techniques Guide

All 16 breathing techniques organized by zone. Use this as your quick reference during lessons and for student support.

📖 How to Read the Counts:

Format: Inhale-Hold-Exhale

Example: 4-2-5 means:

• Breathe IN for 4 counts

• HOLD for 2 counts

• Breathe OUT for 5 counts

💡 Quick Teaching Tips:

• Model breathing WITH students, not AT them

• Allow modifications - some students may need shorter counts

• Start with Blue Zone techniques, build to Red Zone

• Never force participation - breathing is a choice

• Celebrate any attempt, regardless of 'perfect' execution

🎯 Quick Zone Matching Guide:

Student is calm but losing focus → Blue Zone breathing

Student is happy and excited → Yellow Zone breathing

Student is sad or withdrawn → Purple Zone breathing

Student is angry or overwhelmed → Red Zone breathing

6.2 Week-at-a-Glance Calendar

APPENDICES

1.1 What is Calm Connections?

Calm Connections is a 12-week, evidence-based social-emotional learning curriculum designed specifically for K-5 students with special needs. Using engaging sea-friend characters and multisensory activities, students learn to:

• Identify and label emotions
• Use self-regulation strategies (breathing, sensory tools, Calm Corner)
• Communicate emotional needs
• Build empathy and social awareness

The program integrates seamlessly with IEP goals and provides systematic progress monitoring.

1.2 Why This Works

Calm Connections is grounded in evidence-based frameworks:

• Zones of Regulation (Kuypers, 2011)
• CASEL Social-Emotional Learning Framework
• Sensory Integration Theory
• Universal Design for Learning
• Trauma-Informed Practice

Research shows SEL programs reduce behavioral incidents by 22% and improve academic performance.

1.3 Quick Start Checklist

WEEK BEFORE STARTING:

☐ Print character cards (4 cards)

☐ Print zone poster

☐ Set up Calm Corner basics

☐ Print Week 1 worksheets

☐ Send home Program Overview letter

WEEKLY ROUTINE:

☐ Review week's lesson outline (5 min)

☐ Gather materials (5 min)

☐ Teach core activity (20-30 min)

☐ Send home family letter

☐ Complete weekly progress tracker

1.4 Materials You Need

ESSENTIAL MATERIALS (One-Time):

• 4 Character Cards (Manny, Stella, Shelly, Crabby)
• Zone Poster (Blue, Yellow, Purple, Red)
• 4 Breathing Posters
• Calm Corner designated space

WEEKLY MATERIALS:

• Student worksheets (1 per student per week)
• Family letters (1 per student per week)
• QR breathing cards (weeks 1-4)

OPTIONAL BUT HELPFUL:

• Sensory swatches (Week 4)
• Laminator for reusable materials
• Visual timer

1.5 Weekly Time Commitment

TEACHING TIME: 25-35 minutes per week

• Introduction: 5 minutes
• Core Activity: 20-25 minutes
• Closing: 3-5 minutes

PREP TIME: 10-15 minutes per week

• Print worksheets and letters
• Review lesson outline
• Gather materials

TOTAL WEEKLY COMMITMENT: 35-50 minutes

2.1 The Four Sea Friends

Your students will meet four sea friends who represent different emotional states:

🐟 Manny the Manta Ray - Calm Zone (Blue)

ZONE: Calm, focused, ready to learn

BREATHING: Manta Glide Breath (slow, wide arm movements)

WHEN: Morning routine, before tests, during quiet work

TEACHES: This is the ideal zone for learning

⭐ Stella the Starfish - Joy Zone (Yellow)

ZONE: Happy, excited, energized

BREATHING: Sparkle Breath (trace fingers while breathing)

WHEN: Recess, celebrations, fun activities

TEACHES: Joy is wonderful, but may need to regulate for learning

🐢 Shelly the Sea Turtle - Vulnerable Zone (Purple)

ZONE: Worried, sad, overwhelmed

BREATHING: Spiral Breath (trace spiral on shell while breathing)

WHEN: Transitions, difficult tasks, social challenges

TEACHES: It's okay to feel vulnerable and ask for help

🦀 Crabby the Crab - Alert/Irritated Zone (Red)

ZONE: Frustrated, angry, irritated

BREATHING: Claw Reset Breath (open/close hands while breathing)

WHEN: Conflicts, frustrations, overstimulation

TEACHES: Anger is normal; we have tools to manage it safely

The Essentials Edition includes 3 essential assessment tools that provide systematic progress monitoring while maintaining IEP/504 compliance. These tools are streamlined versions designed for efficiency.

TOOL 1: Pre/Post Skills Inventory

WHEN TO USE: Week 1 (pre) and Week 12 (post)

TIME: 10-15 minutes per student

This 15-item assessment measures growth across 5 domains:

1. Emotional Awareness (3 items)

2. Self-Regulation (4 items)

3. Communication (3 items)

4. Social Skills (3 items)

5. Tool Usage (2 items)

RATING SCALE:

1 = Not Yet (needs full support)

2 = Developing (needs some support)

3 = Independent (uses skill independently)

PURPOSE: Demonstrates measurable growth from Week 1 to Week 12 for IEP progress reporting.

TOOL 2: Weekly Progress Tracker

WHEN TO USE: Every week (5 minutes)

TIME: 5 minutes per week

Simple yes/no/emerging checklist for each student:

☐ Participated in lesson

☐ Used breathing technique

☐ Identified emotions

☐ Engaged appropriately

NOTES SECTION: Space for brief observations

PURPOSE: Documents weekly participation and skill demonstration for IEP data collection.

TOOL 3: IEP/504 Goal Tracker

WHEN TO USE: Monthly (Weeks 4, 8, 12)

TIME: 10 minutes per student with IEP/504

Tracks progress on aligned IEP goals:

• Social-emotional goals
• Communication goals
• Self-regulation goals
• Sensory processing goals

INCLUDES:

• Goal alignment chart (match program skills to IEP goals)
• Monthly progress ratings
• Data collection log
• Parent communication template

PURPOSE: REQUIRED for IEP/504 compliance and progress reporting.

NOTE: All 3 blank assessment forms are included in Appendix C for easy copying.

This section ensures Calm Connections meets all legal requirements for supporting students with IEPs and 504 plans.

5.1 How This Program Supports IEPs

Calm Connections directly addresses common IEP goals in these areas:

SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL GOALS:

• Student will identify emotions with 80% accuracy
• Student will use calming strategies when upset
• Student will participate appropriately in group activities

COMMUNICATION GOALS:

• Student will express feelings using words or AAC
• Student will request help appropriately
• Student will respond to emotional check-ins

SELF-REGULATION GOALS:

• Student will use breathing techniques to calm
• Student will access Calm Corner independently
• Student will demonstrate emotion regulation skills

SENSORY PROCESSING GOALS:

• Student will identify calming sensory inputs
• Student will use sensory tools appropriately
• Student will communicate sensory needs

5.2 Common IEP Goals Alignment

SAMPLE ALIGNED GOALS:

GOAL: Student will identify and label emotions in 4 out of 5 opportunities.

CALM CONNECTIONS SUPPORT: Weekly practice identifying emotions through character matching, zone sorting, and daily check-ins.

DATA COLLECTION: Tool 2 (Weekly Progress Tracker)

GOAL: Student will use a calming strategy when upset with minimal prompting.

CALM CONNECTIONS SUPPORT: Explicit instruction in 4 breathing techniques; Calm Corner protocol practice.

DATA COLLECTION: Tool 2 (Weekly Tracker) + Tool 3 (IEP Goal Tracker)

GOAL: Student will request help appropriately in 3 out of 5 situations.

CALM CONNECTIONS SUPPORT: Week 9 focuses on help-seeking; practiced throughout program.

DATA COLLECTION: Tool 2 + observation notes

5.3 504 Accommodations Guide

COMMON 504 ACCOMMODATIONS SUPPORTED:

• Breaks as needed → Calm Corner access
• Calming strategies → 4 breathing techniques
• Sensory supports → Sensory swatches and tools
• Visual supports → Character cards, zone poster, breathing visuals
• Movement breaks → Built into lessons
• Reduced stimulation → Calm Corner as quiet space
• Check-ins for emotional regulation → Daily zone check-ins

5.4 Progress Monitoring for Compliance

DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS MET:

WEEKLY: Tool 2 (Weekly Progress Tracker)

• Documents participation and skill demonstration
• Takes 5 minutes per week
• Provides consistent data points

MONTHLY: Tool 3 (IEP/504 Goal Tracker)

• Aligns program activities to IEP goals
• Documents progress toward goals
• Ready for IEP meetings

PRE/POST: Tool 1 (Skills Inventory)

• Demonstrates measurable growth
• Compares Week 1 to Week 12
• Shows program effectiveness

FAMILY COMMUNICATION: Weekly letters home

• Documents family engagement
• Supports home practice
• Maintains home-school connection

Week-at-a-Glance Calendar