Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
Ms. McQ’s Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Resources
Ms. McQuarrie is working this year as our SEL Coordinator/Head Teacher. SEL is so important because it teaches us to better understand ourselves and how to interact with others is positive, healthy ways! Ms. McQ will be creating weekly SEL lesson plans for teachers, leading mini SEL lessons in classes, running friendship circles for students, and teaming with families to continue conversations at home.
What is social emotional learning?
“Social and emotional learning (SEL) is an integral part of education and human development. SEL is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions.” – CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning)
What will that look like at Adams?
Teacher Support
One of the biggest projects I will be tackling this year is to create a cohesive, comprehensive SEL Scope & Sequence for teachers to use for years to come. We will focus on monthly topics such as identity, anti-racism, activism, empathy, and responsibility, and each week I will compile a one-page document for teachers linking book lists, resources, lessons, activities, morning meeting questions, journal prompts, and a blurb for their weekly class newsletters. The goal is for teachers to be able to maintain classroom autonomy while feeling supported – some teachers may opt to focus on the topic five days a week, some teachers may need to address something specific to their class, and some may prefer to use the time for different community building activities.
Student Support
Once things are up and running from a logistical standpoint, I intend to run social groups, lead mini-lessons in classrooms that focus on SEL, facilitate conflict resolutions, and support students who need more 1-on-1 social/emotional support during this transition. I will also be assisting our MTSS team in supporting our Tier 2 kids who may not qualify for an IEP but need some strategies and intervention.
Family Support
I will also be serving in a family engagement role. This includes getting food & health resources to families and providing materials to help support the continuation of in-class conversations at home.
Room 201
Eventually, I hope to use my classroom as a calm down space and a space for friendship groups. More to come on that!
Want to support?
Read alouds are incredible tools to help start conversations about feelings & other hard topics, and I am working slowly but surely to build to a library of resources for teachers & that I can utilize for in-class pop-in lessons!! Check out my wish list if you’d like to send a book! (And recommendations always welcome!)
Amazon SEL & Social Justice Book Wishlist