Our classrooms are more diverse than ever before, and the ways we teach students are changing. A sweeping effort is being made to deliver a high-quality education to all students regardless of factors like race, ethnicity, income, disability, or learning styles. As we embrace the goal of equity and helping all students achieve, we must [...]
Afterschool and out-of-school programs are more than a safe place for students to go when their parents are at work. Quality programs can reduce risky behaviors and promote healthy well-being while encouraging students to learn, create and express themselves in a flexible environment that encourages exploration. Because of this flexible environment, afterschool and out-of-school programs [...]
Some say the Internet is like “a world passing notes in a classroom.” But unlike the classroom, what gets posted online is permanent, highly visible, and easily traced back to an author. In today’s digital world, students are constantly making decisions about how to behave online. Teaching them to be responsible digital citizens can ensure [...]
Freshman year can be an exciting time for students, with a new school, opportunities to make new friends, and increasing independence. But it also can be stressful. Rigorous instruction, less structure, and increasing pressures to succeed can become barriers to students’ ability to keep up. Research tells us that the transition from middle to high [...]
Got five minutes before your next lesson starts? Use it to teach social and emotional learning (SEL)! There are many ways to incorporate SEL into your daily practice — even during those few minutes between lessons. Try out these bite-size SEL activities to make good use of free time and promote students’ social and emotional [...]
Traumatic events — mass shootings, environmental disasters, reports of neglect and abuse — constantly make top news headlines these days. Many students across our nation are affected by trauma every day. This trauma can have deep and lasting impacts on students’ core beliefs about others, their environment, and themselves. Now more than ever, schools must [...]
Back-to-school can be exciting — and nerve-racking — for students. Will I like my teachers? Will I make new friends? Will I be able to keep up with the course material? Anxiety felt by students can quickly become overwhelming. Social and emotional learning (SEL) can teach students to effectively manage their emotions and reduce insecurities. [...]
Schools and out-of-school programs across the nation are prioritizing social and emotional learning (SEL) to build the critical skills students need to succeed in school and beyond. Research shows that effective SEL programming can lead to improved grades, higher attendance rates, and better behavior. But with ever-tightening budgets, district and program leaders often wonder — [...]
