Educator Experience

Jan 2 2018

Turning Your Class into a Team: Perspectives from Teachers of the Year

By |2023-05-09T12:32:42-04:00January 2nd, 2018|

The learning and life benefits of social and emotional learning (SEL) are well-established (see CASEL research for a few of the most recent SEL research studies). In schools, classroom teachers have opportunities to build SEL competencies and skills — especially in the areas of collaboration, cooperation, and teamwork. Here are some ideas from the National Network of State Teachers of the Year (NNSTOY) SEL Fellows for classroom teachers interested in creating classroom environments that support relationship skills with peers.

Dec 13 2017

Finding Time: Leveraging After School and Summer Programs’ Social and Emotional Expertise

By |2023-05-09T12:32:42-04:00December 13th, 2017|

“It turns out that the learning that happens in the 80% of waking hours that are spent out of school (between the ages of 5-18) has as much to do with achievement gaps that show up in school as anything in the school. We can’t expect a 20% solution to solve 100% of the problem; we’ve got to address the inequalities of enrichment and stimulating activities outside of school.” - Professor Paul Reville, Harvard University Graduate School of Education / Education Redesign Lab

Oct 13 2017

Rubber Bracelets, Birthdays, and Wonder

By |2023-05-09T12:32:44-04:00October 13th, 2017|

What does social emotional learning look like in the elementary school classroom? How do students develop the mindsets, essential skills and habits necessary for success in school, and in life? Social emotional learning is everywhere. It is all the time. It is invisible, yet you can see it everywhere you turn. And it is essential. Social emotional learning unfolded during the first 20 days of the school year for me and my 3rd graders in Wilmington, Delaware in many ways.

Nov 10 2015

Teaching the Whole Child

By |2023-05-09T12:32:45-04:00November 10th, 2015|

As a Black woman who grew up in Hartford, I know all too well the potentially fracturing effects of not teaching the Whole Child. I was mistakenly labeled as a special education student instead of having my social and emotional needs addressed. After discussions about my home life (being separated from my parents and siblings and placed in foster care), being taught social skills, ethics and coping mechanisms, I began to flourish...

Oct 20 2015

MESH and Students Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Can they learn these essential life ingredients?

By |2023-05-09T12:32:46-04:00October 20th, 2015|

Students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may be the last group of students one would think of when thinking about teaching MESH (Mindsets, Essential Skills & Habits) or the first depending upon one’s perspective. For me, the answer to the question, “Can we students’ diagnosed with ASD learn MESH is a resounding YES!  Therefore, we must teach MESH to all students! MESH involves teaching children about the mindsets, essential skills and habits they need to succeed in school, work and life...

Sep 9 2015

Growth Mindset: Embracing Struggle

By |2023-05-09T12:32:46-04:00September 9th, 2015|

Around the end of May of last year, when spring seemed it might actually be arriving, Kate found herself in the midst of a heated conference with one of our students, Jordan. The 7th graders were drafting their responses to personal essay questions commonly seen on independent school applications. The question they were working on that day was, “Considering all your classes, what has been the most difficult topic that you studied this year? Why was it difficult and what did you learn from the experience?”

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