I work in a district that has been focuses on SEL for the past 3 years now and I have adopted some of the practices into my classroom on a regular basis. I am a middle school science teacher and often times have students working in pairs or in small groups. At the beginning of the year we model what good group work should look like. I tell my students remember the three R's (Respectful, Responsible & Responsive). Students must be respectful to themselves by understanding their self worth and know that they have valuable things to contribute to the class and to a group setting. Students must be responsible for their own learning by understanding that it is up to them to write down due dates, to come to class on time and prepared, Students must also be responsive in their learning, they have to respond to myself and their peers. This means providing words of praise, advice or constructive criticism.
Students in my homeroom also participate in community circles and they understand that they are being active listeners and do not interject unless they are holding the talking piece. This has been a nice way to build rapport between students that may not have necessarily crossed paths otherwise. I make it a priority to establish a community in homeroom and the idea that we are all in this together.
I plan on continuing to incorporate new ideas and new ways for students to practice their SEL skills in my classroom regularly.
Students in my homeroom also participate in community circles and they understand that they are being active listeners and do not interject unless they are holding the talking piece. This has been a nice way to build rapport between students that may not have necessarily crossed paths otherwise. I make it a priority to establish a community in homeroom and the idea that we are all in this together.
I plan on continuing to incorporate new ideas and new ways for students to practice their SEL skills in my classroom regularly.