Social Emotional Learning
December can bring excitement for those who may be taking time off for the holiday season to visit with friends and family. If you love winter activities and snow, you may be filled with joy and eagerness. The holidays and the shorter daylight may also be a time of anxiety, sadness, and stress for adults and students alike. We know that there have been challenging times over the last several years. These have an impact. This month, OSPI is offering a webinar and resources on “countering the Winter Blues.”
Teachers who have positive social emotional competencies are more likely to connect with students, build positive relationships with peers, and model SEL practices that readily relate to all students. SEL supports positive mental and behavioral health by leveraging SEL skills that help navigate stress. Washington Educators attended the first Network Webinar, Exploring the Relationship Between Mental Health and Social Emotional Learning, learning how SEL supports positive mental and behavioral health through an inclusive and responsive environment. Acknowledging educator fatigue and the reality of workforce secondary traumatic stress, experts shared valuable resources that encourage student and educator well-being.
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The first Peer-to-Peer Exchange opportunity brought together multiple district teams to explore SEL implementation challenges. Staff from Hoquiam, Kennewick, North Thurston, Richland, Granite Falls, La Conner, Seattle Public Schools, Snoqualmie Valley, and ESD 189 came together to explore current SEL implementation practices, provide problem-solving feedback, and share resources. Thank you for the incredible leadership and skills shared during this event. Additional resources will be available on the webpage.
The SEL Professional Learning Network continues to support student and educator well-being by sharing learning opportunities that uplift and create community among educational leaders in Washington.
Save the dates!!
Peer-to-Peer Exchange
February 15 | Beyond SEL Time: Exploring Challenges and Successes with Integrating and Embedding SEL in the Learning Environment
Webinars
March 9 | Engaging Students, Families, and Communities in Social Emotional Learning
May 2 | Practical Strategies for Primary
May 4 |Practical Strategies for Secondary
Peer-to-Peer Learning Series
January 26 | Integrating Social Emotional Learning within a Multi-tiered System of Support, Part 1
February 23 | Integrating Social Emotional Learning within a Multi-tiered System of Support, Part 2
April 17 | SEL, Equity, Trauma-Informed, and Culturally Responsive Social Emotional Learning
Wishing everyone health and happiness,
Debra Parker, ESSER SEL Project Supervisor
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Wednesday, January 11, 2023, from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM (PT)
Join OSPI and Washington’s PBS affiliate stations for their second “Learn & Plan with PBS” virtual educator workshop: Promoting Culturally Responsive and Social-Emotional Learning in Early Education
We will explore PBS LearningMedia and how you can utilize our thousands of FREE, curriculum-targeted digital educational resources for your classroom. In this workshop, we will focus on the fundamentals of Cultural Responsiveness through the lens of Social and Emotional Learning and explore the SEL resources for our youngest learners, pre-K through 3rd grade.
Participants will be able to return to their educational settings and promote enrichment, curiosity, and extended learning opportunities by using the website resources as a supplement to their prescribed curriculum.
One Clock Hour Is Available For Participation.
Click here to register.
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Arlie Neskahi, Diné Nation
Arlie Neskahi and our Office of Native Education, remind us all the importance of tradition with the turning of the season.
In our Indigenous Nations across the lands, the Winter season has always been a holy time. Many sacred ceremonies that could not be held during the summer season arise and sacred helpers and caregivers visit the People in their smokehouses, longhouses, dance grounds, hogans, pit houses, kivas and innumerable ceremonial centers. The daylight hours give way to longer nights, and it is a time of great prayers, healing and energy given to help bring about the “renewal” of the coming Spring. In many tribes it is time to tell Creation Stories which are not allowed during the summer months.
In my life, I have gathered many memories and gifts. Like, as a young man I went on my first hunts with my father and older brothers. Warm summer days had given way to the increasing chill, frost, and later ice and snow. Early in the dark before dawn we would rise, leaving the warmth of our house as our ancestors did to take the Hunt. Continue reading...
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The next SEL Advisory Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 24, 2023, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM via Zoom. The public is welcome to attend and there will be a five-minute public comment period toward the end of the meeting. You can join the meeting on this link.
If you can’t make the meeting, but would still like to provide public comment, you may do that here.
If you have any questions, please contact us.
The SEL Advisory Committee would like to thank the speakers who presented at our December 6 meeting
Lee Schultz, Director of Advocacy & Engagement, Randy Spaulding, Executive Director, and Andrew Parr, Research Director from The Washington State Board of Education held a discussion on School Climate Measurement.
David Osher, Vice President and Institute Fellow at AIR gave a presentation and discussion with us regarding the intersection of school climate and SEL.
We are grateful for the time they spent with us and the knowledge they shared!
The SEL Advisory Committee is looking for new members!
We are actively looking for applications for the following legislatively defined slots in the SEL Advisory Committee:
- One member to represent tribal educational interests from the east of the crest of the Cascade mountains (tribal membership required)
- One representative from a coalition of youth-serving organizations working together to improve outcomes for young people
- One school counselor
If you would like to apply for one of these positions, please fill out the SEL Advisory Committee Membership Application.
Please contact Tammy Bolen or Diane Stead with any questions.
Specialty Endorsements Subcommittee
The SEL Advisory Committee will be holding a subcommittee meeting regarding Specialty Endorsements in January. The public will be allowed to listen, although there will not be a public comment period in the meeting.
We will announce the date in our January newsletter.
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