TL;DR Emotional safety is just as critical as physical safety. Creating safe spaces in our classrooms starts with understanding our own safety needs. Build hands-on tasks with students and colleagues to break down complex emotional ideas. Using mood meters provides learners with a language to describe their emotions. Feeling safe is a fundamental need. Learners’ attention in our classes depends … Read More
The Gift of Love: A Piece of Our Heart
TL;DR: We give our students many things but the greatest gifts we can give are our love and our heart. Give students a piece of our heart by giving them a visual reminder as a gift. Put your heart into what you do and share your love with students. There can be a lasting impact. Speak life through the words … Read More
A Sense of Urgency
TL;DR: There is a need for a sense of urgency as students return to school. We can focus on 11 areas by asking key questions mentioned below. Educators must focus on the unique needs of their school and the students they serve. “Transformational leadership starts with a calling, it stands on a cause, and then it breathes with urgency at … Read More
5 Tips for Infusing SEL
TL;DR: Character and SEL are not an extra. They are the foundation that all other academic content rests on. Include targets for SEL in lessons. CASEL has an interactive framework wheel to use. When creating expectations for your students, you have to intentionally teach the concept of SEL and re-teach it. Include SEL in daily practice, lessons, and activities throughout … Read More
3 Strategies to Support Student Understanding
TL;DR: Schools and districts need to think ahead to the future and prepare a strategy to meet the needs of each learner. The most effective strategy to support student understanding may be to combine the following: Through a deficit approach to provide additional support to fill in the gaps. Building on the strengths of learners through assessments, feedback, and academic … Read More