How to Keep Your Teachers
Even after the pandemic, teacher retention continues to plague districts. Rami Tulp, assistant director of intervention for Katy ISD, shares their strategies for keeping educators coming back year…
SEL
3 classroom trends real teachers are spearheading
Social and emotional learning and coding are among the top classroom trends that teachers needed help funding last year, according to an analysis of 2018 project requests from…
5 easy ways to get parents involved in SEL
Social-emotional learning (SEL) equips students with the skills to regulate their emotions, build resilience to stress and challenges, make responsible decisions, collaborate well with others, and empathize and…
5 Big Ideas for Education Innovation in 2019
Over the last year, education innovators around the country continued to pursue expanded definitions of student success, personalized approaches, and wholly new models of school.
Middle school movies that support SEL in the classroom
No matter how we discover them, the best films move us in ways we’ve never imagined. No matter how old we are, they can make us both laugh…
Student wellbeing & SEL are more important than you think
Through monthly articles on the eSchool News and eCampus News media platforms, The Brzycki Group & The Center for the Self in Schools will cover the latest psychological, educational,…
SEL + restorative practices = a safe, supportive school climate
Zero tolerance policies, while trying to keep kids accountable for their actions, often result in suspensions for even minor infractions like dress code violations or being tardy.
Teacher training does wonders for students’ emotional regulation
When teachers participated in a training program focused on pro-social classroom behavior, their students became more socially competent and better able to regulate their emotions than students in…
The 14 most innovative SEL districts, part 2
In this article, we will be highlighting districts that have shown tremendous commitment to the well being of their students and staff. These 14 districts are being recognized…
The 14 Most Innovative SEL Districts, Part 1
In this article, we will be highlighting districts that have shown tremendous commitment to the well being of their students and staff. These 14 districts are being recognized…
Why we love our SEL tools
Social and emotional learning (SEL) is an increasingly important part of the curriculum in many schools—and for good reason. SEL helps students develop key skills they’ll use to…
How SEL inspired a transformation in my school
When I accepted the position as principal at Langley Elementary in Washington, D.C., I had two objectives in mind: one, to empower teachers who truly care about supporting…
We all teach SEL: Empathy activities & tools for students
Building social and emotional learning (SEL) skills such as empathy requires face-to-face interactions, meaningful discussion, and reflection.
Here’s how teachers think SEL can truly help students
A resounding majority of administrators, teachers, and parents say they believe social and emotional learning (SEL) is just as important as academic learning. SEL is the process that…
Resources for creating a school culture of empathy, inclusion, and kindness
Since the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, we've heard from many educators who are looking for resources to support students’ social and…
How to start the school year on a happy note
I have a hot pink sign that’s right beside my computer that says, “If you want people to embrace your vision, you must continue your pursuit of them.”…
SEL should be an easy sell for U.S. schools and districts
In light of tragic events that have put a spotlight on school safety issues, it’s more important than ever to understand the value of students’ social and emotional…
6 key principles for a successful SEL program
A social-emotional learning (SEL) curriculum adds valuable lessons to a student’s normal school day that will help propel them beyond academic success and onto success in life. No…
5 best practices for teaching challenging subjects
One of the most effective ways to cultivate skills such as empathy, problem solving, and emotion management is to help students productively struggle through an examination of the…
How Wearables, AR, and VR Help Students Develop SEL Skills (Part 1)
In her post, “Now is the Time to Redefine Readiness,” my colleague Katherine Prince detailed how the world of work is changing, creating an urgent need to redefine…
One way to manage stress: Focus on self-care
In 1995, Robert Kegan, now emeritus professor at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education, wrote a book entitled In Over Our Heads: The Mental Demands of Modern Life. He…
How schools can address mental health to reduce school violence
With another school shooting just down the road from me last month, it was sobering to see parents and community members leaving positive Post-it notes and sidewalk chalk…
Calling all leaders: Hope is not a strategy
Hope is critical to greatness but not the strategy to achieve it. Hope is not wishful thinking—as in “I hope I win the lottery.” It is the core…
Can we design learning environments geared for maximum motivation?
What can we learn from human psychology about designing learning environments geared for maximum motivation? Let’s start by identifying core human motivations using Maslow’s Hierarchy of Human Needs.…
10 ways we made our school happier
After the recession hit in 2013, it was evident that something was off at Mashburn Elementary School (part of Forsyth County Schools in Georgia). I watched teachers being…
4 reasons teaching coding improves SEL instruction
Being able to recall facts may help you look good in front of your friends during trivia night, but memorizing content of the past has become largely irrelevant…
Finding the money for SEL
Effective social emotional learning (SEL) requires a thorough understanding of the student population’s needs, training to integrate SEL into everyday lessons, and the instructional resources. Although educators and…
Now is the time to redefine readiness
Today’s working adults have seen a lot of change in the employment landscape. But that change is likely to be modest compared to the changes coming between now…
Putting the SEL into PBL
In project-based learning (PBL), teachers present students with a real-world problem and challenge them to solve the problem through research and inquiry, often collaborating with each another and…
4 ways technology can improve SEL skills
Today’s classrooms are full of immersive high-tech tools—but at the same time, schools and districts are being pushed to promote social-emotional learning (SEL) and improve school climate. Since…