Applied Self-Reg for Education Assistants (You Are The Strategy Series)

You know the moments. Something shifts. A student pulls away, shuts down, or suddenly pushes back. You feel it before anyone says a word, and you still have to respond.Applied Self-Reg for Education Assistants is a practical, neuroscience-informed book grounded in the work of Dr. Stuart Shanker and the Shanker Self-Reg® framework. Written for those working in education support roles across K–12 schools, it offers a clear Self-Reg lens for understanding what is happening beneath behaviour and how to respond in ways that support learning, engagement, and well-being.Through real stories, visuals, scenarios, and flexible strategies, the book walks readers through how Self-Reg is applied in everyday school situations. The focus is on approaches that can be adapted across students, needs, and contexts, helping support teams respond with greater confidence, clarity, and steadiness over time.This book is for the people who are right there when things get hard. Education assistants. Paraprofessionals. Child and youth workers. Classroom and learning support staff. Behaviour support roles that go by many names but share the same reality: being with students in the moments that matter most.If you’re dealing with things like:behaviour that seems to change “out of nowhere”students who shut down, escalate, or disappear when demands risetransitions that derail the whole daymoments when talking makes things worseclassrooms that feel tense, rushed, or overloadedthe pressure to stay calm and responsive no matter whatThis book was written with you in mind.Inside, you’ll find:lots of practical strategies you can use in real timeclear explanations that help behaviour make sense without blamerealistic school scenarios drawn from everyday support worktools for transitions, learning time, recess, and unstructured momentsways to support students through overload, escalation, and shutdownideas you can adapt, rather than scripts you’re expected to followThe book is visually rich and easy to come back to, with illustrations woven throughout to support understanding and recall when time and energy are limited. The visuals help readers quickly grasp ideas, notice patterns, and remember what helps in the middle of a busy day.Why this book worksThis book brings together two perspectives that belong together.Kristin Wiens, MEd, is an educator, illustrator, and inclusion leader whose work centres on Self-Reg and relational approaches to supporting students. She began her career in education support roles and went on to teach and lead inclusion work in schools. Kristin is a course facilitator with The MEHRIT Centre and a co-creator of the Self-Reg for Education Assistants course. Her strategies, scenarios, and illustrations throughout the book reflect both frontline realities and a deep understanding of how environments and adult responses shape student experience.Susan Hopkins, EdD, is an educator, author, and the Executive Director of The MEHRIT Centre (self-reg.ca). With more than 25 years of experience as a teacher, school administrator, curriculum writer, and inclusive schooling leader, Susan is widely known for her work alongside Dr. Stuart Shanker and for helping educators understand stress, behaviour, and well-being through a Self-Reg lens. She brings the science into clear, usable language while staying grounded in the realities of school life.Applied Self-Reg for Education Assistants is not about fixing behaviour or getting it right every time. It’s about understanding what’s happening underneath, knowing what helps now, and trusting your ability to respond with care and skill when things shift. Read more