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
How Parents Teach Emotional Intelligence to Kids
What do a French philosopher, a modern neurologist, and trees have to do with emotional intelligence?
First, that we must stop trying to understand and teach emotional intelligence through the lens of thought alone.
Top 5 SEL Books for Teachers to Read
Happy summer! For most teachers, school is out, and you’re about to enjoy a few months of sun, fun, and relaxation. And if you’re like many...
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...
Mindfulness in the Classroom Articles
Positive Affirmations for Kindergarteners
Trying to teach kindergarteners positive self-talk? Turn "I think I can..." into "I CAN!" with positive affirmations. It’s important to...
Activities for Kids During Social Distancing
4 COVID-Friendly Games (And Printable Online Alternatives) For Kids As more experts recommend social distancing in classrooms, parents wonder what...
A Mindful Approach to New Year’s Resolutions
As the days begin to grow longer and we welcome the next calendar year, many are looking toward this new year with a familiar mixture of hope,...
School-Based Mindfulness – Examining the Evidence
The past several decades have seen a marked increase in the use of mindfulness-based interventions to promote psychological health and well-being....
Social-emotional Learning for Teachers Integral to Developing “Deep Practices”
“Educational institutions are full of divisive structures, of course, but blaming them for our brokenness perpetuates the myth that the outer...
Trauma-Informed Teaching Articles
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.
Trauma Informed Teaching Part 4 of 4: The Mindfulness Solution
The simple practice of turning your attention to the present moment – your breath, the sounds you hear, the sensations you feel – can actually physically change the structure of your brain and counteract the effects of stress and trauma in less than 8 weeks. Studies are now revealing that mindfulness-based therapy is more effective than anti-depressants and cognitive behavioral therapy combined in treating PTSD. Even better, the results are permanent as long as participants continue to practice mindfulness in their daily lives
Trauma Informed Teaching Part 3 of 4: Adverse Childhood Experiences
“Remember: Everyone in the classroom has a story that leads to misbehavior or defiance. Nine times out of ten, the story behind the misbehavior won’t make you angry. It will break your heart.” —Annette Breaux
The Fight-or-Flight Response
Teachers and parents are often by perplexed explosive outbursts, emotional volatility, and temper tantrums that seem out of proportion to the actual event. It is important to remember, however, that children (and adults) who have experienced traumatic events are not necessarily responding to events in the present moment.