SEL IN ACTION
February 2021
Message from our SEL Professional Development Manager
Happy Black History Month!! It brings me joy to support our district as we celebrate Black contributions both past and present. Our team, in collaboration with the Racial Equity Office created Morning Meeting and Advisory lessons highlighting Black Pioneers.
The SEL Team has enjoyed serving you, and supporting practices centered in the social and emotional well-being of our community. Our focus is to support SEL that is both culturally responsive and in service of equity.
As we enter the second month of the year, I hope you make time to reflect. Check-in with yourself to see what is working and what is not. Be gentle, knowing that we are still in the midst of challenging times. Despite the challenges and hardships, my wish is that you find joy and hope. I would like to share one of my favorite quotes by audre lorde: “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”
Being an educator is both rewarding and challenging at the same time. Everyone is touched by teachers, both formally and informally. To celebrate Black History Month and reflect on our sacred calling, I encourage you to read “A Talk to Teachers,” a speech delivered by James Baldwin in 1963. Today, his words are still relevant as a call to action. During this time, our country has had to take pause in so many ways. The CoVid-19 virus changed how we navigate daily life, but also the virus of racism has reignited a call for justice and change. I am thankful to be a part of a team and district that is committed to educational equity.
During this month I hope you engage in activities that celebrate Black contributions, love, care, and positive relationships.
Learn more about Aileen Mokuria, SEL PD Manager here.
This Month's Focus: Love & Care
While building positive, caring relationships with those around us, we practice perspective-taking, empathy, and communication, among other valuable skills.
Black History Month Resources for Morning Meetings / Community Meetings
In collaboration with the Racial Equity Office, the Social and Emotional Learning Department has created daily resources for morning meetings and community meetings during Black History Month:
Each school day in February has a dedicated slide in these decks featuring a Greeting, Sharing Activity, and Optimistic Closure. Also on each slide, is a video filmed of a Dallas student highlighting a lesser-known figure in Black History.
We hope that these activities will show our children the richness of Black life in America and help them connect to American history.
Find more resources at dallasisd.org/blackhistorymonth
SEL Competencies EDU
This in-depth study of the SEL Competencies will deepen adult understanding of SEL and enable all staff members to:
- build resilience in order to meet today’s challenges
- gain knowledge needed in order to begin teaching SEL lessons and skills
Watch the informational video to get started and check out the first section on self-awareness!
Kindness and Empathy Activity Using Padlet
Thank you, Ms. Read and Sunset High School students! Their class used Padlet to collect kindness messages for everyone to see!
This activity is great for a positive welcoming (as students are entering class / virtual classrooms), community circles, advisory time, an optimistic closing, staff meetings, or as another emotional support opportunity for students and staff.
Random Acts of Kindness: 2021 Workplace Kindness Calendar
Random Acts of Kindness Day - February 17, 2021
We know everyone can use more kindness in their lives. Scientific evidence shows us the positive effects of doing kind acts for others as well as receiving or even witnessing kindness. Even the smallest act of kindness can change a life. In 2021, we encourage everyone to Explore the Good and Make Kindness the Norm by participating in Random Acts of Kindness. Visit the following link for inspiration.
Upcoming Activities:
2/14 - Kindness Jar
2/15 - Love Note
2/16 - Blessing Bag
2/17 - Kindness Worksheet
We hope you spend this year finding ways to share kindness with others while also reflecting on all the good that’s happening around you. Click on the following link to access calendars for the entire year.
Share your stories with us at #keepdallaskind
Additional Resources
Love and Kindness Meditation
Strengthen feelings of kindness and connection toward others.
Book List
24 Books That Teach About Social Justice (and Compassion)
Boost your classroom lessons this month with literature that addresses themes of kindness and caring across the grade bands and across the content curriculum.
Training & Learning Opportunities
Online SEL Training (Spring 2021)
Our SEL Team will offer multiple live virtual training sessions (via Zoom) throughout February & March for Dallas ISD staff members to learn more about key SEL practices.
Download our training flyer and remember to register in Cornerstone!
Dallas ISD: Panel of Black Professionals Webinars
Webinars will be held on Feb. 2nd, 9th, 16th, and 23rd (all from 12PM - 12:30PM).
During these 30-minute informational webinars, attendees will hear from professionals, as well as gain more knowledge as to what is required to pursue different career paths. Following the career panel there will be a question and answer session with the speakers.
Visit dallasisd.org/blackhistorymonth to register for a webinar and find the Zoom meeting links!
Live Free Yoga for Dallas ISD Staff Members
Remember to register in advance!
On the same website, CASEL also shares recordings of past webinars including:
- A Five-Part Series on "SEL as a Lever for Equity"
- "Permission To Feel for Adults: Healthy Emotion Regulation During Uncertain and Stressful Times"
"Permission To Feel for Kids: How Adults can Support Children in Managing Emotions During Challenging Times"
"Return to School During COVID 19: Helping Children and Families Manage Stress and Build Resilience"
And many other topics!
Resources for SEL Explicit Skills Instruction
Sanford Harmony (Elementary School)
Random Acts of Kindness (Middle School)
Facing History and Ourselves (High School)
Family & Caregiver Resources
Visit our SEL for Parents/Caregivers website for resources and information! www.dallasisd.org/selfamilies
¡Visite nuestro sitio de web Aprendizaje Social y Emocional (ASE) para padres/cuidadores para obtener recursos e información! www.dallasisd.org/asefamilias
SEL Family Discussion Series
As part of the SEL Dallas partnership, join Dallas ISD’s SEL Department for a series of 1-hour family-focused virtual sessions to learn about social and emotional learning (SEL) and important SEL skills. Parents and caregivers are welcome to join any session or the entire series, and a Spanish translator will be available!
Our next session (Parent-Teacher Conversations) is scheduled for Wednesday, February 17th. Remember to register with our English registration form or our Spanish registration form.
Podcasts For Kids
Explore Kidevolve for stories that double as smart guided practices, tackling a unique challenge or opportunity and helping kids with different social-emotional skills. for kids ages 6-12
How the Pandemic Can Teach Kids About Compassion
The Compassion Project: Try, Tye Again
Books to Encourage Empathy
Sign Up for Our Upcoming Family Newsletter!
Parents and caregivers can submit their contact information via our sign-up form. We also have a Spanish version of the sign-up form as well!
Please share both language versions widely with any parents who may be interested in signing up for our family-focused newsletter!
SEL Dallas
See our SEL Dallas January newsletter for more information!
SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING DEPARTMENT
Email: SEL@dallasisd.org
Website: Dallasisd.org/sel
Location: 9400 N Central Expy, Dallas, TX, USA
Phone: 972-925-8951
Twitter: @DallasisdSEL