Social-Emotional Learning
Middle School | September 2021
What is Social-Emotional Learning?
Social-Emotional Learning is often referred to as 'SEL'. SEL is all about human development and how we as individuals learn and grow. It's all about getting to know who we are as people from the inside out to better understand how we learn, and how we function inside of different environments, groups of people and within different communities.
CASEL is the collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning and is an excellent resource for all things SEL!
CASEL defines SEL as the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to:
✌️Develop healthy identities
✌️Manage Emotions
✌️Achieve personal goals
✌️Achieve goals as a part of a group
✌️Feel & show empathy for others and self
✌️Establish & maintain relationships
✌️Make responsible & caring decisions
Studying SEL helps us interact better with others, but also with our internal selves.
Community Circles
The facilitator, often the teacher, will pose a quick and easy question that every single person has an opportunity to respond to. There are some "rules" or protocols that go with community circles to make sure that everyone feels safe and secure and is able to have their voice heard.
- One speaker at a time (in the old days we used a speaking item to pass around so we know who the speaker is) (we'll get back to it one day without all the hand sanitizer)
- Make eye contact with the speaker
- Use nonverbal hand signals or facial expressions to tell the speaker you agree, or are connecting to them over what they have said
Sometimes, community circles are done slightly different to save time, or because we are on the computer instead of in person. Each newsletter will pose a community circle question for you and your students to discuss during dinner, in the car, or even during the commercial break of your favorite show. Each question will be posed on a Jamboard and you and your students can post your family's response by adding a sticky note.
How to Participate
Sara J Bourne ||| Middle School SEL, EQUITY AND STUDENT DEVELOPMENT C&I SPECIALIST
Email: sbourne@rlas-116.org
Website: https://www.rlas-116.org/Page/7941