3 Best Practices for Nurturing a Positive School Climate Virtually
Summary: In this article, the author suggests three ways to support a positive climate during remote or hybrid learning. These include encouraging and honoring student, family and staff feedback, setting standard routines for safe online learning, and providing SEL support for educators. There are also links to resources that are provided by Panorama Education.
Source: Nick Woolf, Panorama Education, December 9, 2020
Developing Professional Relationships That Work
Summary: This article shares reflections on the importance of developing positive professional relationships with colleagues and supervisors, offering some “guiding principles” on developing a positive climate.
Source: Carl Draeger, Education Week, September 27, 2017
Categories: Positive Relationships, School Culture/Climate, Teacher Collaboration, Emotional Intelligence
New Poll: Safe and Positive School Environment More Important Than Higher Test Scores
Summary: This article reports on a poll of registered voters in California concerning school performance. The article breaks down the results of the poll and reports that creating a safe and positive school environment was one of the top priorities that should be addressed.
Source: Louis Freedberg, John Fensterwald, and Theresa Harrington, EdSource, October 4, 2017
Categories: School Culture/Climate, School Health, School Safety
Positive Words Go a Long Way
Summary: This article talks about the long lasting effects of positive language and support for student effort. The author suggests five ways that positive language can be used to empower students.
Source: Alissa Nucaro, Edutopia, October 2, 2017
Categories: Classroom Practice, Positive Relationships, School Culture/Climate
Social-Emotional Learning Can Begin on the Bus Ride
Summary: This article reports on a project at Butler University where bus drivers were trained on how to form positive relationships with students during their rides to and from school and how to teach them ways to cope with stressful situations at home or during the school day.
Source: Amelia Harper, Education DIVE, October 10, 2017
Categories: SEL Basics, Emotional Intelligence, School Culture/Climate, Positive Relationships
The School Climate Problem (and What We Can Do About It)
Summary: This article makes the point about a positive school climate being about every student. The author stresses the point that “All means all” saying that every student must feel connected to the school regardless of background, needs to be acted upon in practice in the school. It needs to more than just a saying.
Source: Peter DeWitt, Education Week Commentary, September 21, 2017
Categories: School Culture/Climate, Educational Equity, Student Engagement, Empathy
What’s the Best Way to Prepare for an Emergency — and How Can SEL Help?
Summary: This article touches on how schools prepare for crisis situations and how to build resilience to deal with trauma before, during, and after an emergency incident occurs. The author contends that SEL and building relationships is an important step in the process.
Source: Amelia Harper, Education Dive, September 18, 2017
Categories: School Safety, School Culture/Climate, School Health, Mental Health, SEL Basics, Positive Relationships
Scientists to Schools: Social, Emotional Development Crucial for Learning
Summary: This article reports on a research brief – the product of a year of work by 28 academic researchers who study issues like student motivation, school climate, and social-emotional learning. The panel, known as the council of distinguished scientists, was organized by the Aspen Institute’s National Commission on Social, Emotional, and Academic Development, which has set out to bring together educators, scientists, policy makers, and philanthropists to clarify a vision for social-emotional learning in schools.-
Source: Evie Blad, Education Week, September 13, 2017
Categories: SEL Basics, SEL Research, School Culture/Climate, Core Values, Performance Values
Embedding Social-Emotional Learning in High School Classrooms
Summary: This white paper is the result of 20 years of experience working with secondary school leaders and classroom teachers. Engaging Schools advocates that embedding SEL instruction and support into classroom learning is foundational to reaching all students every day.
Source: Larry Dieringer, Engaging Schools, September 12, 2017
Categories: SEL Basics, SEL Research, School Culture/Climate, Classroom Practice
Students Learn Leadership, Soft Skills with Genius Hours
Summary: This article talks about the use of “Genius Hours” as a way to personalize learning and develop a sense of community in the classroom. Students have the opportunity to come up with creative questions and then answer that question through project-based learning.
Source: Amelia Harper, Education DIVE, September 6, 2017
Categories: Student-Centered Learning, Classroom Practice, Student Achievement, School Culture/Climate