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Building Adult SEL Competence
Building Adult SEL Competence
On the most recent professional development day for teachers, teachers participated in a workshop focussed on developing adult social emotional skills.
During the ninety minute training session, teachers explored how their own emotions showed up in their day to day work.
We also looked at how our own social-emotional skills impact the students and their learning. We concluded that if we don’t consider WHO is doing the learning, and focus only on WHAT is being learned, then we are only considering half of the picture. (Ginott, H. (1972). Between teacher and child: A book for parents and teachers. Avon. (pp. 13).)
Teachers were given time to reflect on these social-emotional competencies, before then discussing key ideas with their colleagues.
It’s not often that the busy school days afford us time and space to talk to each other on a more personal level. “It was great to take time and reflect on our own personal SEL needs, as a staff, knowing we are not alone and we are all in this together.” Pak Jon, our Athletics Director and Year 11 Advisory Teacher.
Research tells us that, as teachers’ SEL competence increases, their ability to build relationships with students is enhanced and their capacity to create environments where students feel safe is improved.
It stands to reason then, that there is an argument for parents to also work on strengthening their own social and emotional skills. Parents also need to ensure that the home environment feels like a safe space and that they continue to work on and nurture their relationship with their child.
Transformingeducation.org is an American based company who are working to transform the education system by focusing on the whole child.
In their ‘SEL for Educators’ webinar series, they describe five areas that teachers can work on in order to develop their SEL skills. Furthermore, they share practical strategies that educators can apply in pursuit of personal development.
Parents might also want to check out the following exercises in support of developing their own SEL competencies. You could even try them out with your children or use them as discussion points around the dinner table:
An emotion mapping exercise where you are encouraged to pause and consider how emotions manifest themselves physically in the body.
An emotion wheel exercise where you work to identify different labels for feelings. The thinking here is that if you are able to name the feeling you are better able to ‘tame’ that feeling.
A mindfulness body scan exercise that helps to increase awareness of the physical body state and supports self-management by encouraging us to be present and in the moment.
As a part of the workshop on Fri 11th Feb, teachers also experimented with these strategies. The plan was that they would help to support personal SEL development for teachers. The hope was that teachers would take away practical strategies that they could bring into their classrooms and try out with students.
Ibu Mel plans to try out one of the activities she learned in the workshop, "I thought the emotional body scan was fascinating - and actually plan to use it with my advisory class."
For more information about how parents can develop their own social emotional skills in order to be a more effective support for their child, join us for a live Instagram discussion on Wednesday March 16th, 7pm.
International Women’s Day #Breakthebias
International Women’s Day #Breakthebias
A viral and sensational book from South Korea, "Kim Jyoung born 1982," explores how society inadvertently treats women and men differently. The book discusses the desire of parents to have sons rather than daughters. It touches on the plight of school girls whose responsibility it is to take care of household chores as well as keep up with school work.
The book paints a grim picture about the kinds of fates awaiting females; As girls grow older, they can look forward to a future where they do not earn as much as men holding the same position as them; Where their leadership skills are called into question; Where their parenting skills are judged and found lacking.
Maybe this book exaggerates how disadvantaged women's lives are, but there is no denying that there is still far to go with regards to gender equality in the world.
This year, the world celebrates international women's day on Tuesday March 8th. The theme for 2022 is
#breakthebias. Their mission is to have a gender equal world, free from bias, sterotype and discrimination. A world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated (https://www.internationalwomensday.com/).
They have a responsibility to challenge this bias, whether in school, the workplace and even in the family. #breakthebias reminds us all to respect others, whatever the gender or family background.
#breakthebias also opens our eyes to the idea that everybody should have equal access to opportunities in life, whatever their adversity, mental health issue, educational experience or socio-economic status. Everybody deserves to have the opportunity to make their dreams come true and to achieve their goals in life.
#breakthebias won't change the world instantly. It is not an easy job to challenge long held bias in pursuit of equity. However, little by little and with one person at a time, we can gradually begin chipping away at the bias and start moving towards a more equitable world. With every one person that is treated with respect and compassion, the hope is that they too, will pay it forward until a chain reaction has begun.
As a school community, we have a responsibility to educate the leaders of tomorrow. As a school, we are committed to equity and inclusion and ensuring that every student feels valued, included and seen.
#breakthebias today means that together as a community, we can make a change in the future and empower students to be adults who believe in equality, diversity, and inclusion. Making a change today changes the future.
Reference: https://www.internationalwomensday.com/Theme.
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