Optimistic Closures to Build Classroom SEL

Photo by Katerina Holmes from Pexels

If you have been around here for a while, you know I have a heart for social emotional learning. A matter of fact, I have 12 posts on this blog that center on this very important topic. If you are interested, I suggest checking out this one and this one.

Today, I want to take a slightly different approach. As we continue to hear our marching orders of, “Remediate, remediate, catch these kids up,” we must also remember that learning can be empty and often not fruitful without relationship. The best social emotional learning and relationship building takes place when it is an embedded part of our day, not presented as another worksheet.

Back in 1996 as I was beginning my teaching career, I was consciously carving out time for community circle with my middle schoolers. And, to this day, that is the comment I hear most frequently from my former students. They may not recall our interesting field trip or fascinating project, but community circle never leaves their minds. SEL is worth your time. I highly suggest you carve out the less than three minutes it will take to watch this video. Have your pen and paper or device ready to capture some notes on these ideas. I promise you will find some that interest you.

Enjoy!

:) Brandy