SEL in Service of Belonging
Creating Welcoming & Affirming Spaces for Learning & Working
January 2023
January is a time to take a satellite view the possibilities a new year can bring. What places can you bring your knowledge of SEL where you have influence for change?
With Gratitude & Grace
Liane & Kate
Check Out the Revised SEL Benchmarks!
With a focus on identity, agency and belonging, adults are invited to develop and practice their own SEL competencies so they are able to teach, model and support students grow toward the following goals:
- Young people develop a self-awareness that nurtures and affirms a strong sense of identity, informs decisions about their actions, and builds a sense of agency.
- Young people use social awareness and interpersonal skills to establish, navigate, and maintain mutually supportive relationships with individuals and groups that nurture a strong sense of belonging.
- Young people demonstrate intentional decision-making skills and behaviors that consider social, emotional, and physical safety and well-being in personal, school, and community contexts.
The New York State Center for School Safety
The attitude or collective mood of the people in the school particularly as it relates to their sense of safety and acceptance. School Climate is an overarching experience or “feel” of the school. It is a critical determinant of the ability of people in the school to focus on the tasks of teaching and learning.
There is an abundance of resources available related to school climate to get you started in your sphere of influence. Check here for their latest resources.
A Feelings Walking Tour: Surveying Your School Culture and Climate
Where does one begin to consider culture and climate? Edutopia offers a mindful, symbolic walk-through of your school to explore where growth can happen.
Self-Guided Meditation Retreat for Rest and Restoration
May this curated retreat offer some relief, to collectively nourish our awareness, so that we have the opportunity to build authentic, trusting relationships, and from there, work together to create a kinder world.
4-Minute Guided Meditation for Embracing Change & New Beginnings (Motivational Wisdom) | davidji