Co-Regulation in an Outdoor Classroom with Alisa Paul and Elsa Medina

What does it mean to regulate with our students instead of for them? In this episode, I sit down with educators Alisa Paul and Elsa Medina to explore co-regulation through a social-emotional learning lens—grounded in nature.

We share real stories about feeling dysregulated as teachers, what it means to model honesty with students, and how the land itself can become a co-regulator. Together, we reflect on:

🌿 Why naming our own nervous system state matters
 🌿 How outdoor routines can build safety, trust, and connection
 🌿 Ways that nature can calm students when adults can't
 🌿 Practical strategies a TTOC or classroom teacher can lead—starting tomorrow
 🌿 What we wish more teachers understood about managing emotions outside

Whether you're new to outdoor learning or simply feeling stretched thin, this episode offers simple, powerful ways to bring co-regulation to life—step by step, and breath by breath.