New Teacher Induction

Strengthening Community Through SEL

Jackson Public Schools

November 3, 2021

Tech Etiquette

YN

Why today matters

• Continue to build community as a group of new teachers in Jackson
• Develop strategies to promote SEL through instruction

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Introduce yourself and where/what you teach.

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Share your personal and professional best moments from the past week.

Community

Last month, we discussed building community. What have you done in the past month to help build community for yourself or others?

*updated* Definition of SEL

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.

SEL advances educational equity and excellence through authentic school-family-community partnerships to establish learning environments and experiences that feature trusting and collaborative relationships, rigorous and meaningful curriculum and instruction, and ongoing evaluation. SEL can help address various forms of inequity and empower young people and adults to co-create thriving schools and contribute to safe, healthy, and just communities.

3 Signature Practices

3 Signature Practices

• Welcoming Rituals
• Engaging Strategies
• Optimistic Closure

Welcoming Rituals

Open each class period, meeting, or professional learning experience with a WELCOMING INCLUSION ACTIVITY, ROUTINE, OR RITUAL that builds community and connects to the work ahead.

Welcoming Rituals

• Smile warmly and greet each person by their preferred name
• Whole-group greeting activities
• Morning meeting
• Interactive “do-nows”
• Routines
• Check-ins

1

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

10

9

Engaging Strategies

Embed ENGAGING STRATEGIES, including brain breaks to anchor thinking and learning, throughout the experience. Engagement and learning individually (e.g., “turn-to-your-partner”) and collectively (e.g., “Socratic Seminar” and “Jigsaw”) are supported by intentionally chosen strategies and activities with sequenced steps that suit your group’s current needs. Build in a balance of interactive and reflective experiences to meet the needs of all participants.

Engaging Strategies

• Think, Ink, Pair, Share (silent time to reflect; time to write; partner discussions; close with a group share out)
• Breakout rooms with common and random grouping
• Private think-time (facilitator wait-time)
• Mindful Minute Brain Break (a calming activity, promoting focus and readiness to learn)
• Annotating the screen
• Draw and share
• Virtual White Boards
• Text Protocols

Meaningful relationships can be built in a virtual setting.

Optimistic Closure

Close each experience in an intentional way. An OPTIMISTIC CLOSURE is not necessarily a “cheery ending,” but rather highlights an individual and shared understanding of the importance of the work, and can provide a sense of accomplishment and support forward-thinking. The closing activity may be reflective of the learning, help identify next steps, or make connections to one’s own work.

Optimistic Closure

Closing

Shout Outs!

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Share a shout out to a colleague who has pushed your thinking or shared something helpful today!

In Action

Considering the 3 Signature Practices...

• What do you think you naturally do well?
• What is something you want to focus on in your teaching practice?

Closing

Choose one of the following prompts and put your response in the chat:

• Something I learned today…
• I am looking forward to tomorrow because...
• Something I’ll do as a result of this meeting is...
• Something I still question...