As educators, we understand the profound impact a sense of community can have on student engagement, learning outcomes, and overall well-being. A classroom environment prioritizes community-building and fosters collaboration, empathy, and a...
Dr. Barbara Fredrickson eloquently defines awe as an encounter where one is "overwhelmed by greatness." In the picturesque landscapes of Normandy, France, I discovered firsthand the transformative power of awe.
In 2007, I embarked on a poignant...
There were mere weeks left in the school year, and in a rare moment of quiet, I checked emails before the class returned from lunch. Before long, I heard the bustle of students coming back into the building, and three of my Grade 3 boys hurtled...
Lately, I’ve been thinking about impactful social emotional learning skills considered essential in human growth and development for a productive, healthy life - terms like respect, accountability, and empowerment. These terms are not listed...
One of the things I'm most proud of during my teaching career occurred while I worked in the district was the opportunity to co-create a student leadership organization with two of my very dear friends.
I served six years as a high school...
A few weeks ago, I was having a coaching conversation with some fabulous high school counselors. One of the things we discussed is how to make social emotional learning skill development very explicit for students.
In this case, I don’t mean...
Our third entry point or approach for infusing SEL into everything we say, think, and do are in our instructional practices. For example, every teacher I’ve ever worked with has leveraged group work or group discussion in their classroom....
When working with educators on infusing SEL, many often tell me, “I already do this.” What they mean, more specifically, is that they infuse social emotional learning via their SOCIAL INTERACTIONS with students.
When asked if...
When I was a classroom teacher and had heard of social emotional learning, my original thought was that it was all about relationships with students. The more I investigated the research, specifically from CASEL, the Collaborative for Academic...
As educators, we know that when there is an extended break from the classroom, it is wise to spend time the first day back re-acclimating to our class routines, norms, and each other. It is also helpful as this may be when new students enter your...
This past weekend, I revisited my favorite location for an acupuncture treatment. During the conversation with the doctor, I mentioned that I had visited Hawaii. In the months since I had last been there, for “whatever” reason, I was...
In October, I facilitated a session on Reaching Students Who Are Experiencing Poverty in Illinois. We discussed how poverty impacts the brain and learning. We explored ways teachers can foster positive relationships with families and students...
