| By: Melissa Benaroya Experience Required: The Key to Early Brain Development You've probably heard it a million times: A child's brain needs stimulation to help it develop. Actually, it’s not that simple. What a young child’s developing brain really needs is interaction. Although some brain development is genetic, much of it is influenced by experience and interactions. The brain needs and relies on experience. Children learn to process information through relationships with parents and caregivers, especially in the early years. That's why watching an educational show is not as enriching or stimulating as one might think. Read More
| By: Melissa Benaroya Self-Esteem: Can We Hand It to Our Kids on a Silver Platter? Happy National Boost-Your-Self-Esteem Month! How are you celebrating? I've decided to mark the occasion by exploring where the self-esteem “movement” is today. First, though, some thoughts on self-esteem boosting in my own family. Read More
| By: Kim Gulbrandson It’s Here! The Amazing Principal Toolkit How can you tell if an SEL curriculum is going to be successful? Look at the principal! Our new Second Step Principal Toolkit was developed due to this insight and gives school leaders ready-made resources such as meeting agendas, activities, and handouts for staff orientation, monthly staff kick-off meetings, and weekly staff meetings. Blogger Kim Gulbrandson reviews. Read More
| By: Kim Gulbrandson How Environment Can Foster Social-Emotional Well-Being Environment can be just as important as skill development in fostering social-emotional well-being. Blogger Kim Gulbrandson provides real-life tips to connect the natural world to teaching skills such as empathy, emotion management, and executive function. Read More
| By: Committee for Children Prevent Bullying With Social-Emotional Learning Join us to learn about the three components of school bullying prevention: policies and procedures, staff response training, and SEL and bullying education. We'll discuss how an SEL curriculum can support improved outcomes for victims, children who bully, and bystanders. And we'll share how the Second Step program aligns with New York's Dignity for All Act.Read More
| By: Committee for Children IL SEL and Discipline Reform: One District’s Transformation Social-emotional learning can be an integral component of any district's efforts to support the whole child and create a safe environment for learning. Illinois state legislation sets a high bar for educators in these areas, especially with their own SEL standards and approval of the new Senate Bill 100 (effective fall 2016). Join Patricia Johnson as she shares her district's success, what she's learned in implementing their systems, and how SEL has helped meet their district goals. Co-Presenter: Patricia Johnson District PBIS and SEL Coach Evergreen Park SD #124 An experienced professional in student behavioral supports, Patty has been instrumental in her district's efforts to comply with state legislation while improving student outcomes and school climate. Read More
| By: Committee for Children Crazy About SEL I confess that when it comes to social-emotional learning (SEL), one might consider me passionate, enthusiastic, or even somewhat fanatical. As a psychologist, I have always believed it is important to meet children’s emotional needs and helRead More
| By: Committee for Children Sexting: The Anonymity Irony As parents, teachers, and children navigate our quickly evolving cyberscape, with its continents and oceans of Internet, texting, blogs, instant messaging, and social networking sites, not to mention whole new dialects and norms, we find both limitless possibility and opportunity for trouble. Although in many ways it is the young people who are leading this expedition, it is up to the adults to balance sharing our wisdom and experience with allowing our progeny to find their own way. Read More
| By: Committee for Children A Parent’s Guide to Role-Playing Bullying Reports Bullying is serious. Make sure your child knows that it is important to practice reporting the way he or she would do it in real life. When you and your child practice giving and receiving reports, you’ll have the skills and confidence to handle bullying if it really happens. When your child reports bullying, it is most important to really listen and ensure your child’s safety. The following are steps you can take when your child comes to you about a bullying situation. Read More
| By: Kim Gulbrandson Expand Your Bullying Prevention Toolkit with Social-Emotional Learning Every year schools and communities across the country unite in their bullying prevention efforts during the month of October for National Bullying Prevention Month. Does this mean that if you focus on bullying prevention for one month you’re done? Not at all! This month is meant to jump-start continued efforts to prevent bullying. And social-emotional learning can make a great addition to the toolkit that helps you do this.Read More