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Hello May!
Welcome to this month's edition of our SEL Momentum Monthly newsletter. As we embrace the blossoming month of May, we continue our journey of nurturing the hearts and minds of our students, fostering empathy, resilience, and positive relationships within our school district.
Throughout this month, we advocate for a dynamic approach to SEL, embracing change, adaptation, and innovation as vital aspects of our journey. Additionally, we ephasize the importance of integrity in all aspects, fostering a culture of honesty, accountability, and ethical behavior.
This month, we stand in deep gratitude and admiration for our exceptional educators as we honor Teacher Appreciation Month. We extend our heartfelt thanks to our teachers for their tireless dedication in creating supportive learning environments, where every student feels valued, respected, and empowered to succeed.
Each day, you bring creativity, enthusiasm, and a genuine love for teaching into our classrooms, inspiring curiosity and igniting a thirst for knowledge within our students. Teachers, thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for everything you do. Your impact is immeasurable, and your dedication is truly appreciated.
As we approach the close of another school year, we reflect on the memories created, the successes achieved, and the growth experienced by each member of our district.
As summer draws near, we wish everyone in the EPISD family, a wonderful season filled with rest, rejuvenation, and fun. May this time be an opportunity to recharge your spirits, spend quality time with loved ones, and create cherished memories that will last a lifetime.
Until next school year.
It Starts With Us!
Inspire Empower Thrive
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Events of Celebration for May
National Physical Fitness & Sports Month
Mental Health Month
National Bike Month
World Press Freedom Day
May 3
May the 4th Be With You
May 4
Cinco de Mayo
May 5
National Teacher Appreciation Week
May 6-10
National Nurse's Week
May 6-12
Mother's Day
May 12
Armed Forces Day
May 18
Memorial Day
May 27
Last Day of School
June 6
EOY Panorama SEL Student Perception Survey
Grades 3-12 - Window Opens May 6-17
Click Image Above to Access Links
Random Acts of Kindness
May Work Place Calendar
SEL Lessons for May
SEL Lessons for May
Random Acts of Kindness-RAK
Random Acts of Kindness is a CASEL approved, highly effective, evidence-based, Tier 1, social emotional learning curriculum designed to help schools create a culture of kindness. This engaging, relatable, and inclusive curriculum focuses on equity, teacher self-care, and digital citizenship. Each unit teaches six core kindness concepts: Respect, Caring, Inclusiveness, Integrity, Responsibility, and Courage.
Our theme for the month of May is Integrity We encourage you to integrate these lessons in meaningful ways throughout the day to create a supportive welcoming instructional climate in your classroom. Use the links below to access the lessons, posters and activities.
Social Emotional Learning Competencies
Social and emotional learning (SEL) is an integral part of education and human development. SEL is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions.
Three Signature SEL Practices
The Three Signature SEL Practices create the conditions for student learning and are a powerful way create supportive learning environments. The three practices include beginning the day with an inclusive welcome to establish safety, predictability and support student voice and inclusivity. Incorporating engaging practices throughout the day can foster relationships, collaboration and empowerment. Ending the day with an optimistic closure through reflection and optimism provides positive closure, reinforces learning, and creates a moment of looking forward to returning the next school day. Establishing these routines in our classrooms and school communities is beneficial for every child, and absolutely essential for some.
Community Collaboration Courtesy
Integrity Empathy Empowerment Joy
Click HERE to learn more about the Three Signature SEL Practices
May SEL Cool Tools
SEL Comprehension Questions
SEL Comprehension Questions
Self-Awareness
Why do you think [character] fears trying something new?
What can [character] learn from their mistake?
Self-Management
What strategies do you use to self-manage your emotions or behavior?
What makes it difficult for you (or others) to self-manage?
Social Awareness
How could [character] have understood the feelings of [character] more sympathetically?
How could [character & character] have dealt with their differences in a better way?
Relationship Skills
What characteristics was [character] looking for in a friend?
Why was it important that [character] cooperated with [character]?
Responsible Decision Making
Did [character] think about the consequences of their decision? What could they have done?
Could [character] have made a better decision? Why?
SEL Academic Integration
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is the quality of being present and fully engaged with whatever we’re doing at the moment - free from distraction or judgment, and aware of our thoughts and feelings without getting caught up in them.
Positive Behavior Intervention and Support
PBIS is a powerful proactive framework that shapes a school community and promotes a positive and inclusive learning environment for every student. PBIS is founded on several key principles:
Prevention, Data-Driven Decision Making, Positive Reinforcement, Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS), and Collaboration
PBIS helps create safe, respectful, and inclusive environments where individuals can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
PBIS Shout Out
SEL Book of the Month
"Always Tell the Truth" by Wonder Grove Kids Production is a captivating children's book that teaches the timeless lesson of honesty in a fun and engaging way. Through colorful illustrations and relatable characters, young readers embark on a delightful journey where they discover the importance of telling the truth, even when it's difficult. With a charming narrative and valuable life lessons woven throughout, this book sparks meaningful conversations about integrity, trust, and the power of honesty.
SEL Libraries
Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS)
The Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) is a collaborative, evidence-based, approach to differentiating and personalizing instruction and intervention- across academics, social emotional learning, and behavior for all students-so that every student can achieve academic and life success.
-BRANCHING MINDS
Instructional Climate Systems to Guarantee Behavioral Support
Establishing an optimal instructional climate is a cornerstone of effective teaching and learning. The climate sets the stage for an environment where students can thrive academically and develop vital social emotional skills.
Self-Care
In the hustle and bustle of our daily responsibilities, it's easy to overlook the most vital asset in our educational community – YOU. This section is dedicated to a topic close to our hearts: self-care.
We understand the passion and dedication you pour into your work, but it's equally crucial to invest in your well-being. In the articles to follow, we will explore the importance of self-care, share practical tips, and highlight the positive impact it can have on both personal and professional lives.
Remember, by taking care of yourself, you become even better equipped to nurture the minds and hearts of our students. So, let's embark on this journey of self-discovery, rejuvenation, and self-care, knowing that it's not selfish; it's an investment in our collective success.
Thank you for all that you do, and here's to a healthier, happier you!
Family Partnerships
Families are children’s first teachers and essential to promoting social and emotional learning (SEL) throughout a child’s life. When educators and families work together, they can build strong connections with each other that reinforce social and emotional skills developed in the home, in schools, and in their communities. When families feel valued as partners in the school, they can also learn how to support and build on school-wide SEL practices in their homes. Research suggests that evidence-based SEL programs are more effective when they extend into young people’s home lives (Albright & Weissberg, 2010).
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