Plus, a new job opening & our Getting to Know You guide Morningside Center NEWSLETTER Dear Morningside Center friends, We're looking for a new director for our highly rated, SEL-focused PAZ After-School Program at PS 24 in Brooklyn's Sunset Park. Please spread the word! Here's the Job Description. Also in this issue: A new lesson that has students discuss the summer's news - and how they can impact what happens in the world. Plus, our Getting to Know You Guide, a collection of activities to start the year off right. Also: good stuff to read and an update on our social media. New on TeachableMoment Ubuntu: Reflecting on this Summer’s News - and Its Impact Ubunto is the concept that “you are connected and what you do affects the whole world.” In this activity, students consider the summer's news stories, discuss their impact, and think about what kind of impact they themselves would like to have on the community and the world. This Year, Creating a Caring Classroom is Extra Important In the wake of recent shootings and other upsetting events, how can we foster a classroom climate where every student feels supported - and where we can talk about what is happening and what to do about it? Here are some ideas. What Would the 2020 Candidates Do About the Climate Crisis? Where do the 2020 presidential candidates stand on climate change? And why is the issue getting more attention in 2020 than in past elections? Students explore the issue, the candidates, and the social movements that are helping to drive the debate through readings, discussion, and activities. Getting to Know You: Classroom Activities for Starting Off the School Year As a new school year begins, teachers and students renew relationships after the long summer break, see new faces, and establish their routines for the year. The activities in this 38-page PDF packet will help you get the year off to a good start by engaging you and your students in getting to know each other, practicing listening skills, and discussing the values that will shape your classroom community. What We're Reading & Watching Opinion: Many teachers see social-emotional learning as the ‘missing link’ in student success "The Missing Piece, a 2013 nationally representative survey of pre-K to grade 12 teachers, revealed that 95 percent believed SEL skills were teachable. Additionally, 97 percent believed that students from all backgrounds could benefit from SEL." By Saiying Steenbergen-Hu at the Hechinger Report Using Dance to Promote SEL Skills "For most students, permission to move—especially with music—offers considerable stress relief and an immediate boost to their sense of optimism and joy." By Margot Toppen at Edutopia Intersectional Identities: Do Educators Empower or Oppress? "As a black, female Muslim, I have been caught in this battle of choosing which identity is acceptable to present in certain contexts. Here, I am only black. Over there, I am just a woman. And over there, I am solely Muslim." By Maryam Asenuga at Teaching Tolerance Dr. Stephanie Jones, who helped lead our 4Rs research study, lays out some of the reasons why SEL is so important. Reading guides, activities, and other resources on the 400th anniversary of slavery from the New York Times: The 1619 Project Curriculum Social update! You probably know that we're on Facebook and Twitter. Now you can find us on Instagram as well! Come find us across social media. We'd love to see you! Instagram Facebook Twitter "We think of ourselves far too frequently as just individuals, separated from one another, whereas you are connected and what you do affects the whole world. When you do well, it spreads out. It is for the whole of humanity.”  - Archbishop Desmond Tutu (see our Ubuntu lesson) Donate Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility www.morningsidecenter.org ‌ ‌ ‌ Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility | 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 550, New York, NY 10115 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | About Constant Contact Sent by [email protected]