There's still time to sign up for tomorrow’s workshop: Introduction to Culturally Affirming Social and Emotional Learning. We've had a great time and participants from coaches to caretakers report relevant takeaways with our first two workshops and we'd love to see you there!
Below you'll find an activity on fear for Halloween, as well as a couple of SEL Tips to use in your classrooms anytime!
And in case you missed it: there's a job opening at Morningside Center's PAZ After-School program. Please share with anyone you think might be interested.
In this workshop, participants explore and engage in activities around the Who, What, Where, When, and—most importantly—Why of culturally affirming SEL and how to integrate it into as well as take it beyond academic spaces. Participants have an opportunity to share their experience(s)/knowledge of SEL and then discuss cultural competency and knowledge holes that may exist in their current understandings.
This classroom activity uses Halloween as a taking off point for students to share their experiences of being fearful, explore how fear is a normal part of life, and share ways we can handle our fear. The activity is structured as a circle, but can be adapted for other formats.
In this activity, students share their reflections about the power of storytelling to build community, tell some stories themselves, and perhaps make a plan for regular storytelling sessions.
Using a “power pose” can help young people and adults increase their confidence before anxiety-producing activities. Taking an assertive and expansive stance for even a minute or two can help people feel more capable of taking on a challenge. Here's a step by step process to help students develop the practice.
“No matter how good that curriculum or that math program or reading curriculum is, if a child is feeling unsafe or anxious or stressed out or frustrated or embarrassed, they’re not available to receive the instruction, however great that teacher might be.” By Jill Barshay at the Hechinger Report
“Through interactive, hands-on experiences like nature hikes, cooperative challenges, and team-building, our 4th and 5th grade students learn how to manage emotions, show empathy, build relationships, and make responsible, caring decisions.” By Aleksandra Appleton at Chalkbeat
"Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Walk beside me and be my friend."
—Albert Camus, Algerian philosopher, author, and journalist based in France
