SEL Ideas:

Set up a routine, work as a team, check in with students, and be flexible!

• Have students journal and then post answers to daily writing prompts.

• Engage in “what’s going on” interactive discussions to get groups of students to notice and wonder about images and ideas.

• Breathing strategies and mindfulness practices. Post videos or instruction on taking mindfulness breaks.

• Write down, rip up, and throw away your stress.

• SEL for online learning:

  • Set the tone

  • Create the environment

  • Embed the expectations

  • Model

  • Review, Reteach, Remodel

  • Be consistent

• Quick wins to keep in mind while teaching on a digital platform:

  • If on video remember to smile and find ways to stay calm

  • Have clear expectations and guidelines

  • Be culturally aware and culturally reciprocal

  • Avoid mocking or embarrassing students who may be anxious or nervous about the pandemic.

  • Give students choice and respect their wishes

• Self-assessment and self-reflection activities

• Encourage kids and families to set up a peace place in their home where learning can take place and/or where kids can take a mindful break.

• Send out positive reminders, quotes of the day, sayings, and videos to students.

• Have students upload pictures of their daily activities such as things they see on their daily walks.

• Encourage expression through art!

• End each day with a check out.

How parents can help:

Restorative discipline is a way of looking at wrongdoing not simply as a violation of rules, but most importantly as a violation of real people. Restorative discipline asks two basic questions:

• • • • • "What was the harm that was done?”

        • “How can you repair that harm?”

1. Focus on non-punitive solutions to the problem. Punishment (and rewards) may work in the short term but it builds resentment (and dependence) in the long term.

2. If your child is caught breaking a rule help them focus on how they have harmed others (teachers, other students, themselves, etc.) rather than simply on what rules they broke.

3. If your child breaks someone’s property, ask them how they can “make things right” or “repair the harm” they caused.

4. If your child gets into a fight, encourage them to find creative ways to restore right relationships with those they have harmed.

5. Always have your child take direct responsibility for their actions through apologies, financial restitution, community service, etc.

6. Make sure the consequences of wrongdoing are connected directly with the behavior and to those people who were directly harmed.

Building Relationships:

• All staff is encouraged to continue to build relationships with students and families while providing supplemental lessons and through individual contacts.

• Social Emotional/positive relationships included in story time.

• Start the day with a video check in to make personal connections. Show and tell: Introduce your pet, family members, and/or tour your home office to continue to make connections to your students.

• Work in partnerships or groups. Set up digital teams or have students be virtual buddies.

• Assign interview projects. Have student video chat and interview someone.

• Virtual pen pal with another class in your school.

School Climate Reading List:

Restorative Practice Books:

• Boyes-Watson, C., & Pranis, K. (2015). Circle forward: Building a restorative school community. Living Justice Press.

• Costello, B., Wachtel, J., & Wachtel, T. (2019). The restorative practices handbook: For teachers, disciplinarians and administrators. International Institute for Restorative Practices.

• Gossen, D. C. (1992). Restitution: Restructuring school discipline. New View Publications.

• Hopkins, B. (2003). Just schools: A whole school approach to restorative justice. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

• Jones, T. S., & Compton, R. (Eds.). (2002). Kids working it out: Stories and strategies for making peace in our schools. John Wiley & Sons.

• Kohn, A. (2006). Beyond discipline: From compliance to community. ASCD.

• Maynard, N. & Weinstein, B. ( 2019). Hacking school discipline: 9 ways to create a culture of empathy and responsibility using restorative justice. Times 10 Publications.

• Meyer, L. H., & Evans, I. M. (2012). The school leader’s guide to restorative school discipline. Corwin Press.

• Riestenberg, N. (2013). Circle in the square: Building community and repairing harm in school. Living Justice Press.

• Smith, D., Fisher, D., & Frey, N. (2015). Better than carrots or sticks: Restorative practices for positive classroom management. ASCD.

• Stutzman Amstutz, L., & Mullet, J. H. (2005). The little book of restorative discipline for schools: Teaching responsibility; creating caring climates.

• Thorsborne, M., & Blood, P. (2013). Implementing restorative practices in schools: A practical guide to transforming school communities. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

• Weaver, L., & Wilding, M. (2013). The 5 dimensions of engaged teaching: A practical guide for educators. Solution Tree Press.

Social Emotional Learning Books:

• Frey, N., Fisher, D., & Smith, D. (2019). All learning is social and emotional: Helping students develop essential skills for the classroom and beyond. ASCD.

• Philibert, C. T. (2017). Everyday SEL in Elementary School: Integrating Social-Emotional Learning and Mindfulness Into Your Classroom. Routledge.

• Philibert, C. T. (2017). Everyday SEL in Middle School: Integrating Social-Emotional Learning and Mindfulness Into Your Classroom. Routledge.

• Philibert, C. T. (2017). Everyday SEL in High School: Integrating Social-Emotional Learning and Mindfulness Into Your Classroom. Routledge.

Trauma Sensitive Teaching:

• Perry, B. D., & Szalavitz, M. (2017). The boy who was raised as a dog: And other stories from a child psychiatrist's notebook--What traumatized children can teach us about loss, love, and healing. Basic Books.

• Sapolsky, R. M. (2004). Why zebras don't get ulcers: The acclaimed guide to stress, stress-related diseases, and coping-now revised and updated. Holt paperbacks

• Souers, K., & Hall, P. (2016). Fostering resilient learners: Strategies for creating a trauma-sensitive classroom. ASCD.

• Souers, K. V. M., & Hall, P. (2018). Relationship, Responsibility, and Regulation: Trauma-Invested Practices for Fostering Resilient Learners. ASCD.