Educators
Welcome! Please click one of the buttons below to access helpful resources.
Toolkits
"One-stop-shops" designed to support SEL at each level of a Multi-Tiered System of Supports. It's all here — no more hunting in Google Drive!
Our Curriculum
Our locally developed K-12 SEL curriculum. Designed to minimize prep and to be usable by educators who have little-to-no experience with explicit SEL instruction.
External Curriculums
Information about other SEL curriculums, many of which are free and instantly available. The page also includes an index of storybooks and chapter books.
Self-Care
Self-care is essential — you have to put on your oxygen mask first. This page offers podcasts, videos, apps, and more tools to help you take care of you.
Basics of Behavior
This page breaks down how to analyze behavior and understand why it's getting "better" or "worse." These principles guide SEL at every level of a MTSS.
Student Engagement (COVID-19)
A teacher-friendly tip sheet of strategies specific to engaging students in a distance learning or hybrid model.
Our Podcast
The A Slice of SEL podcast was created specifically for local educators with the intention of promoting self-care and all things SEL from an adult perspective.
Website Updates Log
April 2021
(4/19/21) In the Intervention Edition of Be Good People, "In this lesson..." preview slides were added, which replace the previous learning target slides. Because of this added detail early in the lesson sequence, a slide with all of the skill steps written out was moved from before the "Why?" section to the beginning of the "How?" section.
(4/12/21) In the Core Edition of Be Good People, role play reflection questions were removed from the "Activity" section and "Skip to end" buttons were added to all the practice scenario slides.
(4/5/21) We've created a separate Core Edition of Be Good People with lessons designed to fit into 20-25 minutes, the typical allotted instructional time that schools have available at Tier 1. All of the materials you're familiar with continue to be available, and we're now referring to them as "Intervention Edition" to make the distinction clear. They will continue to support Tier 2, Tier 3, and SpEd interventionists. This video explains more about the new Core Edition, as well as providing guidance for developing a unique Tier 1 instructional sequence.
March 2021
(3/23/21) Smiling Mind released a major app update.
(3/23/21) New basics of behavior video added to that page that explains that content in video form.
(3/23/21) Four new A Slice of SEL podcast episodes about pre-correction prompts, praise, time/energy management tips for educators, and emotional intelligence tools/visuals (e.g., Yale's Mood Meter, Zones of Regulation, etc.).
February 2021
(2/22/21) New A Slice of SEL podcast episode about setting up rules that work for you and your students. Whether it’s bringing rules to a single classroom, co-developing rules with students, sharing rules across a school (e.g., PBIS), they cover it and talk pros and cons of each approach.
(2/15/21) Mindful STOP poster (page 2) added to the Calming Strategies Toolbox. "Mindfulness" might sound fancy or intimidating, like something you have to set aside time to do, but this poster shows how you can have a "mindful moment" — literally a moment. It's simple, easy and could help anyone: students, educators, and families.
(2/15/21) New A Slice of SEL podcast episode where our team shares many examples of how to build students' Responsible Decision Making skills during academic instruction via integrated SEL instruction.
(2/8/21) New A Slice of SEL podcast episode where our team shares many examples of how to build students' Relationship Skills during academic instruction via integrated SEL instruction.
(2/1/21) New A Slice of SEL podcast episode where our team shares many examples of how to build students' Social Awareness skills during academic instruction via integrated SEL instruction.
January 2021
(1/28/21) Added to Universal SEL Toolkit: Equity, Diversity, and Human Rights Lesson Plans A 12-lesson sequence created for secondary students by the Equality and Human Rights Commission. Downloadable lesson slides, worksheets, videos, etc. — everything is prepped.
(1/25/21) New Headspace Guide to Meditation (8-episode Netflix series) linked from Parent, Student, and Educator pages.
(1/25/21) SAMHSA Treatment Locator added to Mental Health Services page. This allows you to search for mental health providers by ZIP code, city, etc.
(1/25/21) New A Slice of SEL podcast episode where our team shares many examples of how to build students' self-management skills during academic instruction via integrated SEL instruction.
(1/18/21) New A Slice of SEL podcast episode about integrated SEL instruction. Our SEL team chats about many examples of how teachers can build students’ self-awareness skills during academic instruction.
(1/14/21) New video: Educator Self-Care Resources on the Cross-District SEL Website. The first 5 minutes explain chronic/toxic stress from a biological perspective and emphasizes that "self-care is not selfish." The second half walks through various resources on the website that are meant to support educators. This video was put together for a training in one of our districts, and it could be used in other districts via a synchronous training, asynchronous email/newsletter push-out, etc.
(1/11/21) New A Slice of SEL podcast episode about empathetic listening techniques (AKA "listening with intention," "compassionate listening," "active listening"). This skill set is foundational — if we want teachers, paraprofessionals, etc. to be able to navigate conversations with students about tough topics, be "support people" for students (or colleagues), have successful 1:1 corrective chats with students, etc. this is a listening skill set they need.
(1/7/21) Two 2-minute videos added to the Challenging Talks page that help parents know how to talk to their children about COVID-related financial stress and coping skills, respectively.
(1/7/21) Added to Universal SEL Toolkit: Top 10 Tips handout and two videos (one for educators and one specific to school-based mental health professionals) all on the subject of supporting students with grief and difficulty adjusting during the pandemic. To access, click the link > open dropdown > look for ★ that indicates COVID-19 specific resources.
(1/7/21) Added to Universal SEL Toolkit: Video added that helps peer leaders know how to respond to peers in distress. To access, click the link > open dropdown > look for ★ that indicates COVID-19 specific resources.
(1/7/21) Life Kit: Parenting podcast added to General Parent Resources page. They just released a relevant episode: "What to Tell Kids When the News is Scary."
December 2020
(12/22/20) Mood Meter with #'d GIFs added to DL Student Engagement page. About 50 different versions to cater to student interests. Great check-in ritual!
(12/22/20) 'This or That' and 'Sign Off' question templates added to DL Student Engagement page.
(12/22/20) Examples of virtual classroom rules slides added to DL Student Engagement page.
(12/22/20) Breakout room support options template added to DL Student Engagement page.
(12/21/20) Mood Meter Jamboard template added to DL Student Engagement page. Great temperature-check ritual, and because Google now lets you set a Jamboard background, students can't edit/delete the Mood Meter, they can only mark over it.
(12/21/20) New A Slice of SEL podcast episode about student engagement. We present a 3-part teacher-centered formula for lighting the "inner fire" of intrinsic motivation.
(12/21/20) Added new "Learning from Home" tip sheet & video to General Parent Support page.
(12/14/20) New A Slice of SEL podcast episode about holiday season self-care.
(12/10/20) Tip sheet added to the Challenging Talks page to help parents talk to children about a loved one/important person with a serious medical issue.
(12/9/20) Free self-paced self-care course, Managing Emotions in Times of Uncertainty and Stress, now available. It's designed to help school staff better manage their emotions and create supportive learning environments for students. The course was created by Marc Brackett/Yale University, folks whose work we are big fans of.
(12/7/20) New A Slice of SEL podcast episode about self-care/resilience. We talk about learning to "use our energy where it counts" and discern what we control vs. influence vs. everything else.
(12/1/20) Posters added to the Calming Strategies Toolbox for Practice Gratitude and Focus Your Energy Where It Counts (i.e., Spheres of Control). These are designed to be hung in a learning space (at home or at school), kitchen fridge, adult work space, etc. Anywhere they can remind students/families/educators of these resilience-promoting strategies.
November 2020
(11/30/20) New A Slice of SEL podcast episode: We were joined by Nicole Woodward, Director of SpEd, to discuss resilience for educators and SCRED's theme for the year: Grace. Grit. Growth.
(11/30/20) Video + template added to DL engagement page re: visual hexagonal discussion activity.
(11/18/20) More DL student engagement micro-PD videos+tools added: (A) 5 tips for creating moments of connection w/ students virtually, (B) leave audio feedback on student work, (C) use student interest surveys, and (D) very quickly accomplish community building w/ icebreaker questions.
(11/18/20) Micro-PD video and tools added to DL Student Engagement page re: mood check-in rituals.
(11/17/20) Balance app added to Mobile Apps page. Offering a free one-year trial because of COVID-19. Personalized meditation exercises, and you can choose the length.
(11/15/20) Video added to the Mental Health Services page that explains what it's like to set up and attend your first therapy appointment.
(11/1/20) Video added to the General Parent Support page that explains 9 tips for homework/learning from home.
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