| By: Kim Gulbrandson Character Education and SEL: What You Should Know Are you wondering whether character education and social-emotional learning (SEL) are the same? You’re not the only one. Learn their differences and how to tell them apart. Read More
| By: Kim Gulbrandson How SEL Supports Your MTSS Efforts (Part 2) As we dig deeper into how to implement both social-emotional learning (SEL) and MTSS, both of which are about explicit teaching, learn how students benefit from explicit instruction in social skills and behavioral development. Read More
| By: Committee for Children Implementing Responsive Classroom and Second Step in an Elementary School This Virginia school district implements and integrates these programs to help students develop important social-emotional skills. Responsive Classroom (RC) and Second Step are both evidence-based programs that focus on the strong relationship between academic success and social-emotional learning (SEL). Together, they provide tools for a safe and welcoming learning community, and for important academic, social, and emotional skills. Read More
| By: Kim Gulbrandson Want to Implement Both SEL and Restorative Practices? Read This Are you currently implementing a restorative practices or social-emotional learning (SEL) program and now considering implementing both? Learn from our examples and tips on how to integrate and maximize the benefits of both. Read More
| By: Kim Gulbrandson Don’t Miss These Connections Between SEL and Trauma-Informed Practice When we cannot know for sure whether children have experienced trauma, the use of trauma-informed practices and supports becomes more important in creating safe learning environments. Social-emotional learning and competencies are key in carrying out these practices so that kids feel supported and can thrive. Read More
| By: Jordan Posamentier Exclusionary Discipline in Schools One of our priorities at Committee for Children is working to ensure that lawmakers are supporting the work that teachers and principals are doing in schools. Through bill-tracking, our Policy & Advocacy team has noticed that lawmakers were seeing a connection between SEL and school discipline reform, and we thought it would be beneficial to analyze the state-level legislative landscape for trends in this area. Read More
| By: Barry Landry Growth Mindset Webinar Offers Engaging, Informative Lessons for Teachers Hosted by the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE), this webinar centers on how a growth mindset can help teachers positively shape student-teacher relationships. Teacher Rachel Kamb and school counselor Tammy Fisher present a spirited, highly informative, and helpful session that communicates complex policy and research issues in simple, intriguing, and entertaining ways. Read More
| By: Committee for Children Listen: Why SEL is Integral to Workforce Preparedness (Podcast) Committee for Children’s Senior Policy & Advocacy Manager, Jordan Posamentier, recently sat down with WorkMinus for a podcast to discuss why social-emotional skills are in high demand and how social-emotional learning (SEL) helps students prepare for work and life. Read More
| By: Committee for Children SEL Assessment Doesn’t Have to Be Hard The question we’re often asked is: “How can we tell if Second Step is working?” When it comes to assessing social-emotional learning (SEL), there is a spectrum of complexity, but there are easier and more economical ways to check whether or not learning goals are being met. Read More
| By: Committee for Children How the Second Step Program Got Its Name People always ask us, “Why do you call your program Second Step?” The answer lies in our organization’s history. Our social-emotional learning curriculum, Second Step, is a product of nearly forty years of experience and dedication. Read More