As teachers and caregivers look to support the social-emotional needs of their students, there are many strategies that can be implement.
1. Keep responsibilities manageable
1. Keep responsibilities manageable
Set realistic expectations for student work. It is suggested that, as students are likely confronting a range of emotions, adults should be realistic about their expectations for student work. “Many of our students simply cannot engage with academic curriculum at this time and instead need opportunities for support, relationships, and connection,”.
Create routines and schedules. To help alleviate the anxiety, it is also recommended that teachers and families create predictable routines and list their daily and weekly responsibilities.
2. Identify and address emotions
2. Identify and address emotions
Have students start a journal. Students may be navigating intense emotions during this time, so to help them process, several Teacher-Authors suggest having students keep a journal where they can express and reflect upon their feelings.
Check in and reach out. Create a way for students to tell you how they are doing, and if they are not doing well, reach out.
Identify coping strategies. Another recommendation is having students identify one to three different strategies they can use to respond to emotions they’d like to better control. “For example, they might feel unfocused and worried. They can take a break and take some deep breaths,” she says.
Create a calm-down corner. For moments when students feel overwhelmed, designate a safe space at home where they can go to calm down. “They can include fidget tools, calming music, comfy pillows, coloring pages and books,”
3. Practice mindfulness and gratitude
3. Practice mindfulness and gratitude
Practice gratitude together. There are benefits of a gratitude practice for both students and adults during these times. “In difficult situations, like the one we’re all dealing with, it’s important to be thankful for what we do have. It’s such a healthy activity to practice together,”
Explore mindfulness videos. To help students learn mindfulness techniques, recommend trying mindfulness and breathing exercise videos on our Virtual Relaxation Room “A mindful approach to stressful situations can lower or eliminate toxic cortisol from [students’] online learning.”
4. Build social skills
4. Build social skills
Connect one-on-one. Active communication with students will help continue building relationships. Take advantage of school resources. There are multiple support services within the building that are readily available to assist.
Encourage empathy and social responsibility. Conversations about the coronavirus can be an opportunity to explore empathy and learn about social responsibility. You can discuss why we’re social distancing and how it’s helping the community.
Play games to practice social skills. Board games require students to implement a range of social skills. “Lots of board games are also a helpful way to work on skills like turn-taking, respect, conversations, and sportsmanship.”
https://blog.teacherspayteachers.com/distance-learning-a-critical-time-for-sel/
SEL Activities
SEL Activities
SEL Read Alouds
Skills targeted: All SEL skills (varies depending on book)
How to try it: Choose any read aloud. As you read through the book, stop and discuss the social emotional skills embedded in the book. One skill that carries across all picture books, for example, is empathy. You can talk about how the character might feel, what they might be thinking, and how you can tell. Depending on which book you choose, many different social emotional skills can be discussed from confidence to decision-making and beyond.
Board Games
Skills targeted: Turn-Taking, Sportsmanship
How to try it: Use any board games you have on hand, such as Monopoly or Candy Land. These games can help support a number of skills, including taking turns, having conversations, and showing good sportsmanship. Check here for some other ideas for social emotional games you can use.
Mindful Coloring
Skills targeted: Mindfulness, Coping Skills
How to try it: Set the tone with some calming music. Have kids color or doodle quietly as they breathe in and out. Note that you can use any coloring pages or books on hand, or grab these free printable mindful coloring pages to start.
Journal Writing
Skills targeted: Emotions, Self-Regulation, Self-Awareness
How to try it: Explain that writing in a journal can help express our feelings and thoughts. Set the timer for 5 or 10 minutes, and have each person just write what is on their mind. Give time for kids to share their thoughts afterward if they want. Another option is to use open-ended prompts for kids to write about. You can learn more about mindful journaling here as well.
Inspirational Quotes
Skills targeted: Kindness, Perseverance, and many more
How to try it: Find a couple examples of your favorite inspirational quotes. This will vary depending on the age level of the children. For example, you might read, “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” Discuss the quote and what it means. Then, give a topic and have kids find or create their own quotes on that topic. Have them write them down and share them. You can even have kids design their own posters for the quote.
Practice Positive Affirmations
Skills targeted: Positive Thinking, Confidence, Self-Love
How to try it: Explain that positive affirmations are kind and supportive words we say to ourselves to lift us up. For example, before a big test, we might say, “I can do this!” Ask kids to think of their own positive words they might say. Use this free printable positive affirmations list to have kids find their favorite positive self-talk statements. Practice saying them, writing them down, and creating cards for each of their favorites.
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