Integration into Academics: Social-Emotional Academic Environment

Introduction to Best Practices Integrating SEL in the Classroom

SEL is best adopted when it is weaved in seamlessly through the school day and cultural identity of the school. There are an infinite number of creative ways to implement integrating SEL at your school. Here, we offer just a few best practices that you can try at your school.

Click here to learn more about the 3 top strategies recommended by CASEL and which has inspired this page: https://casel.org/casel_sel-3-signature-practices-playbook-v3/

Morning Meetings

Morning meetings are a great way to start the school day off with SEL practices that make students feel heard and engaged with others in the classroom. These meetings allow the teacher to address any issues that may inhibit learning throughout the school, reducing frustration for all parties later on. To learn more about morning meetings, please follow the links below.

Learn More about Morning Meetings

What Is Morning Meeting?Responsive Classroom Morning Meeting is an engaging way to start each day, build a strong sense of community, and set children up for success socially and academically. Each morning, students Read More »

Why Choose Morning Meetings

Morning Meetings: Cultivating a Culture of Care and SafetyMorning meetings are a school-wide classroom management practice used to address students' social-emotional learning needs on a daily basis.

Calming Corners in Classrooms

Not all breaks are created equal: some are active, such as during recess, and some are passive. An example of a passive break is taking time with soothing music, comfy surroundings and just resting one's mind and body. These calming corners can be created right in the classroom. Learn more about how to create a calming corner in your classroom by following the link below:

6 Ways to Make a Calm Corner WorkSocial Emotional Workshop offers practical tools for social emotional learning and counseling.

Other Strategies

Other strategies for integrating SEL into the school day and familiar academic setting are:

Greetings at the door: welcoming all students individually and by name into the school really sets the tone for an environment that is inclusive, individualized and uniquely caring to each person.
Building in breaks throughout the day: transitions are a crucial time for students to take guided, directed breaks
Ending the day in reflection: otherwise known as "optimistic closures." It gives the class the opportunity to process what has happened throughout the day as a community. The Roche Center recommends making use of the Daily Examen as a helpful framework of daily reflection.

Additional Page Sources

How to Embed SEL Into Your InstructionCareful explanation of the “why” behind social and emotional learning can prime students to build their communication and collaboration skills.

5d-SELPlanningTool.pdf

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