SEL Tips

The beginning of the year is the ideal time to set out on the path toward “restorative discipline,” a holistic, relational approach to discipline that requires us as educators to be in community with…

As educators, we know that asking questions and guiding students through their own learning process is ultimately more beneficial than pointing out mistakes and lowering students’ grades accordingly…

To be happy and effective in the world, we need ways to express what we want and need, set limits respectfully, and stand up for ourselves and others.  Assertiveness allows us to do all this. There…

Students have many reasons to be distracted. Maybe they’ve just come from differently structured activities like phys ed, music, or lunch, and are finding it hard to refocus.  A hallway between…

Empathy isn’t just a quality – it’s a skill that can be learned. Here’s an activity to help students practice their empathy skills.   Empathy is a popular word these days. Politicians, talk show…

We all have self-talk. Fortunately, we, and our students, can learn to shape what that self-talk is.   As we go about our daily lives we are constantly interpreting the situations in which we find…

An “I Need Message” is a short and sweet way for students to be assertive and get their needs met, even with people they don’t know well.    The “I Message” is a staple of social and emotional…

Taking a deep breath isn’t just for difficult moments. This simple soothing strategy can help us and our students any time we need it.   Our 4Rs curriculum includes a popular activity called Stop-…

Begin by asking students, "What do you need to feel safe, comfortable, and excited to learn?" The beginning of the school year is the ideal time to start building a positive classroom climate. One…

Instead of jumping ahead to brainstorming solutions, first explore why a problem is occurring. An important part of social and emotional learning is encouraging students to solve their own problems…