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WHAT IS SEL?

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WHY SEL?

Extensive research shows a correlation between the skills taught in SEL programs and academic achievement, positive behavior, and healthier life choices.

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When kids are equipped with social-emotional skills, they’re better able to learn and contribute to a positive school climate.

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WHY SEL IN SCHOOL?

  • Social-emotional learning (SEL) helps improve kids’ academic performance, curtail bullying, reduce dropout rates, and build character.
  • Well-implemented SEL programs positively affect students’ success in school. Studies show that social-emotional skills—such as problem-solving, self-regulation, impulse control, and empathy—help improve academics, reduce negative social behaviors like bullying, and create positive classroom climates.
  • Social-emotional skills also help kids successfully manage everyday life. They help students focus, make good decisions, and become supportive members of their community well beyond school.

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HOW TO ADDRESS SEL DURING THE SCHOOL DAY

  • Embed SEL into everyday lessons
  • Intentionally address SEL topics
  • Focus on skill-building and teaching
  • Ongoing
  • Build relationships with scholars

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“Either we spend time meeting children’s emotional needs by filling their love cup or we will spend time dealing with behaviors caused by their unmet needs. Either way we spend the time.”

~Pam Leo, Author

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OUR PLAN FOR INCLUDING SEL

  • Start the year with a 2 week SEL Boot Camp
  • Be Good People
  • Continue to implement SEL once per week throughout the year
  • Focus on Respect and Rapport/Classroom Culture

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Regulation Station

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WHAT IS SELF REGULATION?

  • The ability to regulate one’s thinking, emotions, and behavior.
  • Children translate experiences into information they can use to regulate:
    • Mom’s soothing voice, cuddles calm an infant.
  • Children develop self-regulation from birth-5.
  • Children can be taught self regulation.

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WHY REGULATE?

  • Thinking and emotion affect each other.
    • If you can regulate your emotions, you can engage and learn.
  • Regulation helps children replace thoughts of inadequacy (I’m not good at this) with positive thoughts (This is hard, but I can do it if I try).
  • Young children who engage in intentional self-regulation learn more and go further in their education.
  • Intentional self-regulation predicts school success.

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EXAMPLES OF SELF REGULATING

In Toddlers

  • Thumb sucking
  • Holding stuffed animal
  • Rubbing fabric
  • Breaking/Tearing things
  • Sensory items

In Elementary Aged Children

  • Wiggling
  • Chewing
  • Getting up
  • Humming
  • Breaking/Tearing things
  • Sensory items

In Teens

  • Listening to Music
  • Electronics
  • Fidgeting
  • Humming
  • Breaking/Tearing things

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WHAT IS A REGULATION KIT?

A Regulation Kit is a group of tools that provide sensory strategies and emotional steps to help scholars regulate their bodies and emotions so that they can regain control of their brains and bodies and return to a productive academic setting.

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ITEMS IN A REGULATION KIT

  • Squeeze ball
  • Sensory/Lava Bottle
  • Breathing Cards
  • Regulation Social Story
  • Regulation Strategy Cards
  • Feelings Identifier
  • Crayons/ Coloring sheets
  • Mirror
  • Fidgets
  • Feelings Books
  • Calming Picture
  • Playdough

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GIVE CHILDREN WAYS TO EXPRESS STRONG EMOTIONS

  • What are acceptable & safe ways to express strong emotions for children?
    • In your classroom?
    • In the home?
  • Many children need to physically release the energy or adrenaline from the emotion
  • We can help guide this release

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WHEN TO TAKE A BREAK?

  • Take a Break spots are NOT time out areas
  • Children should go when they are on the brink of losing emotional control or when regaining control
    • NOT in the middle of a melt down- TOO LATE!

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EMOTION REGULATION: �MANAGING STRONG EMOTIONS

  • All pieces of the kit are important
    • Learning how to recognize your own feelings
      • Feelings identifier
    • Learning appropriate ways to express strong emotions
      • Fidgets and Strategy Options
    • Learning how to calm down, self-regulate
      • Strategy cards
      • Breathing visual
      • Bottle or squeeze ball

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FEELINGS IDENTIFIER

  • Connecting the feeling with expression strengthens the “staircase in the mind”

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    • The downstairs brain is where strong emotions begin
    • The upstairs brain monitors strong emotions and helps regulate emotions, reactions, and impulses

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CALM DOWN SOCIAL STORY

Social Stories explain:

  • routines with which a child is having difficulty or is unfamiliar
  • expectations
  • social behaviors that are acceptable
  • replacement behavior options

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BREATHING VISUALS

  • Gives our scholars a visual to guide breathing

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SQUEEZING/PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES

  • What happens to your body when you are upset or stressed?
    • Stimulates your limbic brain
    • Burst of energy for fight or flight
  • How to get rid of the energy?
    • Squeeze ball
    • Play dough
    • Activity cards for movement

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CALM DOWN BOTTLE

  • Allows time for reflection and mindfulness
  • Takes your mind off the problem
  • Meditative without steps

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REGULATION STRATEGIES CARDS

  • Aid in helping scholars remember a wide variety of strategies- higher probability that something will work for them!
  • Visual aids for our emergent readers

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REGULATION KIT

How to use effectively:

  • Present the items and process for the Regulation Station before emotions ever run high
  • Discuss items and strategies provided
  • Regularly TEACH Social Emotional Skills
  • Regularly DISCUSS Social Emotional topics
  • Be positive and patient
  • Include parents

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THE KEY TO A SUCCESSFUL REGULATION STATION

TEACH proper use of station

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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES