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
3 Levels of SEL Implementation
TL;DR: SEL (Social-Emotional Learning) is as important as academic learning. For successful SEL implementation, teacher training frameworks must develop educator social-emotional competence and understanding of students’ Social-Emotional Learning needs. Integrate SEL by adding an SEL PLC session to your regular schedule. CASEL offers a school-wide guide to SEL. Four classroom SEL practices are explicit instruction, integrated with academics, youth voice … Read More
Give Yourself Permission
TL;DR: Give yourself permission to put yourself first and value self-care, wellness, and social emotional learning. We need to be courageous in our P.A.S.S.I.O.N.—pause, assess, space, speak, insight, open, knowledge. Empower yourself to follow through on your BEST INTENTIONS to show up for YOU. “It’s important to take a daily temperature of your heart.” – Diana Patton, Inspiration in My … Read More
My Educational Heroes: Our School Counselors
TL;DR: The role of the school counselor has changed from in the past. They manage college essays and counsel students. They also create and monitor programs, including social-emotional learning, new student programs, suicide prevention, career development, intervention, and family issues. This post honors National School Counseling Week from February 1-5. A few years ago, I had the privilege of co-presenting … Read More
Reflecting in Times of Uncertainty
TL;DR: As we reach the end of the year, it is time to reflect together, problem-solve together, and try something that makes us uncomfortable. Some questions to facilitate discussion among colleagues include reflecting on professional learning and collaboration, learning targets/instruction, assessment, and social/emotional support. All over social media and throughout schools, we hear phrases right now such as, “Be compassionate,” … Read More
