Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. CASEL
The social and emotional well-being of our students has always been of tremendous import to educators. Today, SEL is, perhaps more important than ever. As many educators and health professionals have reminded us, this is not ‘online’ learning that we are currently conducting – it is emergency remote learning. Taking it slow and connecting with students, ensuring they are ‘ok’ and providing learning opportunities (with a focus, at least initially, on literacy and numeracy) is our current goal in BC Education. Follow #bcedchat on Twitter for some valuable commentary and resources on this and other aspects of COVID-19 response from the BC Education community.
Below are some selected resources to support the development of SEL. Also linked via the main ‘remote learning’ resource page on the Scarfe Sandbox Blog are (or will be) specific examples of lessons or activities that can support the development of a positive ‘class climate’ and the social emotional wellbeing of your students.
- Child and youth friendly resources for learning/talking about Corona Virus (CASEL Covid Resources)
- Everyday Anxiety Resources for Educators (EASE): addressing anxiety with students K through 7 (BC government). Downloadable PDF lessons and prompts for parents, caregivers and educators.
- Article: How to Talk to Kids and Teens About the Coronavirus: advice geared to different developmental levels from pre-school to teens. (includes links to podcasts, comics and other resources
- The Happiness Experience: aimed at Gr. 7 – 12 includes Digital lesson bundle, classroom activity ideas, virtual field trips, video resources, infographics
- Keep Learning – Open School BC: includes ‘staying healthy’ resources and suggestions for how to develop literacy and numeracy at home.
- Article via Edutopia: Your school climate – 7 ways to maintain relationships during COVID
Educators, you already know that we are in unprecedented times. Packets and comprehension questions are not going to save education. ~ Joe Truss
Joe Truss is a San Francisco based principal who worked with multiple colleagues to co-develop a Google doc as an online resource to support cross-curricular project based learning with the intention of supporting students social emotional well-being by engaging them in meaningful learning. I learned about Joe through the twitter feed of a Vancouver principal, Dave Truss, with whom I’m acquainted. Not sure if Joe and Dave are related but they definitely seem like minded.
