SEL Blog
Articles about Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), Mindfulness in the Classroom, and Trauma-Informed Teaching
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SEL and Racial Equity
SEL teaches children the lessons they need to understand and practice racial equity. Social emotional learning starts with bringing an end to racism and injustice. But how do we have these tough conversations with young people?
Funding Sources for SEL
You’re a school administrator, you’re already stretched thin. You may want to implement social-emotional learning, but you don’t have the money! Here are some creative ways you can fund your SEL program.
We Joined Generation Schools Network
We are happy to announce that Empowering Education is merging with Generation Schools Network, a fellow education non-profit that has 15 years of experience supporting schools across the country.
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Articles
Social Skills & Relationships
All things exist in relationship. We cannot expect to understand the health of a plant, or a human, without understanding the context in which it lives, breathes and grows. In the same way, we cannot expect to implement effective educational reform without understanding the equally intricate web of relationships present in a classroom, school, and community.
Dual Language Education
The Need for Dual Language Resources in Schools Over ten percent of students in the US are English Language Learners (ELL). ELLs are students who...
SEL in Florida
Florida SEL Standards In the past few years, Florida has set out to expand and improve social and emotional learning in the state. However, there...
Transitioning Back to In-Person School
Supporting Students with the Return to School Despite the rise in Covid-19 cases, our increased understanding of how to protect children and staff...
Fair vs. Equal
The Band-Aid Lesson: Explaining Fair Versus Equal A typical refrain in elementary school classrooms is, “That’s not fair!” Whether in response to...
‘I Miss School’ – What Students Miss Most about the Classroom
The COVID-19 pandemic has made both teachers and students miss the classroom environment. With all the advantages online classes provide,...
Mindfulness in the Classroom Articles
How the Brain Grows, Neuroplasticity Elementary Students
A Brief Introduction to Supporting Brain Growth of Elementary Students Did you know throughout our lives our brain grows? This is called...
Self-Care for Teachers During COVID-19
Self-Care for Teachers During the Coronavirus Pandemic A Guest Post by Anne Brunette, LCSW, Psychotherapist Self-care for teachers has always been...
Drop Your Anchor
Drop Your Anchor: A Hands-On Mindfulness Activity The basis of the drop your anchor metaphor is this: Your brain can be thought of as a boat sailing...
Mindfulness in Kindergarten
How do I teach mindfulness to kindergarteners? We already know the benefits of mindfulness for kids, but how exactly should you get your youngest...
How to Explain Mindfulness to a Child
Mindful Kids: Explaining Mindfulness to a Child I contributed this post to Empowering Education because it can be challenging to explain mindfulness...
Benefits of Mindfulness for Children
Benefits of Mindfulness for Kids If you're the type of educator like I was a number of years ago, you might immediately feel like mindfulness isn't...
Trauma-Informed Teaching Articles
Resilience in Isolation
Dr. Adelia Moore shares insight into parenting for resilience, even in social isolation. Being a more confident parent – being the grownup – strengthens your child’s resolve. Many parents are understandably worried about the effects of extended social distancing on children’s well-being. Your emotional state is contagious, for better or worse. Let’s make it for the better.
SEL and Racial Equity
SEL teaches children the lessons they need to understand racial equity. Social emotional learning starts with bringing an end to racism and injustice. But how do we have these tough conversations with young people? We compiled a list of resources, books, and activities to help adults and kids talk about race.
Teacher Tips for Online Learning
Create a virtual classroom from home: how you can build an online class using these 6 distance learning tips.
Talking to Kids about the Coronavirus: 4 Tips
As coronavirus continues to affect each of us, we would like to provide resources and tips in response to student questions regarding the virus and school closures, in addition to providing activities that students can do at home to stay engaged.
Tips for the Trauma Informed Educator: Stress & Trauma as Resilience Factors
Being a trauma-informed educator does not mean that we need to protect our students from all possible stressors and difficult experiences, rather, it means we have a deeper understanding of our students’ emotional states and we work to empower them to respond effectively to challenges and stressors….If we as parents and educators remove all stress from a child’s life we are robbing them of their richest opportunities for growth.
5 Ways to Support Children (& Ourselves) in the Wake of Tragedy
When students feel unsafe they don’t learn. So, how can we support students in the face of such global tension? Is there anything that we can do as educators and parents to create a sense of safety?
Absolutely. The same principles for effective treatment and prevention of trauma hold true here. Here are five practices to support your students (and yourself) following a tragic event.