Teacher Resources

• Anti-Racist Resources - a focus on transformational SEL from Committee for Children

• What is Anti-bias Education? - NAEYC

• Anti-bias Education - Teaching for Change with book recommendations  

• Ms. Baltren's Library - In the top left corner, select a collection from the drop down to view: 

  • • Kids books Ms. Baltren owns on a variety of topics ("Counseling Library")

    • Classroom and professional development resources ("Professional Library")

• Book lists from Second Step: 

  • • K-2

    • 3-5

• Activities that Prime the Brain for Learning

• Brain-based Learning Strategies - from Marcia Tate

• Give Me a Break - the types of breaks we need and why

• Hattie Effect Size List

• The Science of Brain Development - Stress and the brain, from Turnaround for Children

• Learning Brain vs. Survival Brain - Video

• Why do We Lose Control of Our Emotions? - Video

• A Quiet Place for Rough Moments - from Responsive Classroom

• Calm Down Corners - A how-to from Safe Schools NOLA 

• Restorative Reflection Sheet

• Tucker Turtle - social story

• What to Put in a Calm Down Box

  • Grounding Technique Cards

  • Deep Breathing Cards - tactile

• Video: Interactive modeling of a calm down spot

• Brain Breaks

• Developmental traits by age - From Responsive Classroom

• Erikson's Theory of Social-emotional Development

• Learned Helplessness Debunked 

• Power of Play - from Playworks

• Progression of Play Styles

• Sexual Development in Children - Common and uncommon behaviors (from SARSSM)

• Stages of Friendship Development

• Occupational Outlook Handbook - explore careers by education, salary, growth, type of job, and more

• CA Career Zone - explore and learn about jobs

• O*Net - explore related jobs, skills needed, average salaries

• CPI’s Top 10 De-Escalation Tips

• Co-regulation presentation from Breathe staff

• Do Not Talk More than Necessary

• Supportive Stance

• Types of Nonverbal Communication

• Verbal De-Escalation Techniques to Use with Students

• What about the Other Kids in the Room - article

• 31 Ways of Teaching Mindfulness

• Calm.com - free for teachers

• Mind Yeti - Guided mindfulness practices (from Committee for Children)

  • Mind Yeti Youtube channel

• Mindful Schools - Research on Mindfulness

• Why Mindfulness and Trauma-Informed Teaching Don't Always Go Together - article

Greeting. Why? Every student feels seen.

• Make it quick: Everyone says good morning to the person on both sides of them at the same time. 

• Here are some other ways to change it up developmentally or academically (from Responsive Classroom)

Share. Why? Students feel heard. Students develop empathy. Develop speaking and listening skills. 

• Make it quick: consider a turn and talk, but only 3 students share out what their partner said. 

• Here is a list of prompts for every Second Step topic

Activity. Why? Every student feels included. Practice SEL skills. Practice academic skills. Play! 

• Make it quick: set a timer

• Here's a few more ideas

Morning Message. Why? Predictability. Review the schedule. Transition to academics. 

• Here's some ways to keep your message fresh (from Responsive Classroom)

• Morning Meeting - How to

• Videos: Morning Meeting at Reiche School

• Behavior: 

  • Reasons for Misbehavior (and how to address them) - from Safe and Civil Schools

  • Responding to Misbehavior - from Responsive Classroom

  • Supporting and Responding to Behavior: Evidence-based Classroom Strategies

  • Problem Solving Worksheet - collaborating with a student about problematic behavior

  • Video: 4:1 Ratio Explained

  • Video: 4:1 Ratio in the Classroom

  • Video: Non-verbal reminders in the classroom

  • Positive Phone Calls Home

• PBIS.org

  • • What is PBIS? FAQ

    • What is "school-wide PBIS"?

    • PBIS in the classroom

• Responsive Classroom and MTSS alignment

• Observation Form - Tier 1, ratio of interactions, time on task, etc

• STOIC Checklist - self-assessment of classroom routines and management, from Safe and Civil Schools

• Tapping into Compassion with Students Push Your Buttons - article

• High Reliability Schools

• Responsive Classroom Website

  • Principles and Practices of Responsive Classroom

    • Calm Down / Quiet Spot

    • Closing Circle

    • Logical Consequences - 3 types

    • Logical Consequences vs. Punishment

    • Morning Meeting during Covid - lesson plans from Responsive Classroom

    • Responding to Misbehavior

• Responsive Classroom AND Second Step - How the two compliment each other

• Responsive Classroom AND PBIS

• Videos: Responsive Classroom Youtube channel

• Alignment of SEL and Restorative Practices - From CASEL

• Circle Practice in the Classroom

• Elements of Restorative Practices Aligned with Second Step Lessons

• Power of the Circle - through indigenous teachings

• Reflection Sheet - Restorative questions (for offender)

• Video: Restorative circle in early elementary classroom

• ASCA Mindsets and Behaviors for Student Success - School Counseling teaching standards

• Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL)

  • SEL Competencies

• Emotional Intelligence Starts with Adults - article

• Second Step: 

  • Teacher Login

  • Teacher's Guide Part 1: Making a Strong Start

  • Second Step Covid Resources

• For use in your classroom: 

  • SEL Activities - List of 90 activities, filter by skill

  • Feelings Wheel - Vocabulary

  • Lesson: Active Listening

  • Lesson: Actions and Consequences

  • Lesson: Tattling vs. Telling

  • Tucker Turtle - a social story

• Brain Breaks

• Hattie Effect Size List

• High Reliability Organizations

• Relationship Building is Key to Discipline Reform

• Trauma-informed Teaching through a pandemic

• Understanding Trauma: Learning Brain vs. Survival Brain - Video

• 7 Tips for a Trauma-informed School

• What about the Other Kids in the Room - article 

• Why Mindfulness and Trauma-Informed Teaching Don't Always Go Together - article

• Give Me a Break - Why we take breaks

• Professional Quality of Life Scale - self assessment for work satisfaction, risk for burnout and secondary trauma

• Evidence for Mindfulness - Impact on the wellbeing and performance of school staff

• Coping with Stress and Isolation - from John Hopkins

• How the Stress of COVID Scrambles Your Brain - Psychology Today