A Slice of SEL

This week, we're talking about the relationship between SEL and PBIS, but we're also addressing initiative fatigue and sharing about what we're doing to try to make it ancient history. (4:00) "What's filling our buckets?" segment. (5:30) Nic shares a personal story about what he’s learned in his career about initiative fatigue with behavior efforts. (13:30) We dig deep: What are the main pieces of PBIS and how do they overlap with SEL? (30:30) We share a bit about the pieces of SEL that don’t fit into the more narrow scope of PBIS. (33:30) Takeaways.

This week, we're covering a highly-requested training topic for the three of us: verbal de-escalation techniques. (2:00) "What's filling our buckets?" segment. (3:45) We introduce our topic and talk about situations where verbal de-escalation is useful. (7:45) We share a bit about our experiences using verbal de-escalation strategies. (10:15) We talk about things that can make-or-break your success with verbal de-escalation: your non-verbals and your relationship with the student. (13:15) Praise or empathy statements. (17:15) Reality statements. (18:45) Coupling statements. (23:15) Choice statements. (24:45) Offering a calm down break. (26:15) Takeaways.

Tools we talk about: Lanyard badges

This week, Courtney gets to share about her experiences with class meetings as a high school teacher. This is a great approach for collaboratively solving problems and keeping your class climate positive. (1:00) "What's filling our buckets?" segment. (3:30) We introduce our topic and compare class meetings to family meetings. (5:30) We interview Courtney about her experiences with class meetings and the why/how/when of class meetings. (27:45) Takeaways.

Tools we talk about: Decision making windows + Consensus ladder

Need some easy, fun, flexible, and repeatable games and activities that you can pepper into your SEL instruction? This week, we walk through five go-to options that Nic developed and refined over a two year period. (2:45) "What's filling our buckets?" segment. (5:30) We offer a bit of context about these activities, such as where they can fit in the MTSS framework and how they can work with different SEL curriculums. (8:45) #1 - Matching Game — AKA "Apples to Apples for SEL." (17:20) #2 - Decision Making Scenarios. (24:45) #3 - SEL Skill Projects. (31:00) #4 - Comic Strip Worksheet. (35:30) #5 - Movie/TV Show Scavenger Hunt. (38:15) Takeaways.

Tools we talk about: Games and activities we discuss

This week, we were lucky enough to be joined by David Jackson, School Social Worker, to talk about Motivational Interviewing (MI) and his experience using MI during Truancy Prevention Meetings. (2:00) "What's filling our buckets?" segment. (4:00) David shares about who he is, what he does, and his first exposure to MI. (8:30) We talk about why, when, and by whom MI is used in schools. (11:15) David shared about the main ingredients of MI and the spirit of the practice. (14:00) We talk through the main tools of MI: the OARS. (23:30) David explains what "change talk" is and how we evoke it using MI. (26:30) David walks us through a Truancy Prevention Meeting protocol from Pine City that involves MI. (30:30) We talk about the relationship between MI and Restorative Practices. (33:00) David shares advice about potential pitfalls with MI and how to handle them. (38:30) We talk about the pre-meeting and follow-up aspects of a successful Truancy Prevention Meeting. (43:15) Takeaways.

Tools we talk about: Demo Video and Outline of Truancy Prevention Meeting Using MI

This week, join us for a buffet of tips put together by teacher Elizabeth Mulvahill! (1:00) "What's filling our buckets?" segment. (2:35) We dig into the 25 tips. (26:15) Takeaways.

Tools we talk about: Source Article from We Are Teachers

Corrective/restorative/informal chats help us to get a student back on track and to avoid vicious cycles of ill will and repeated misbehavior. But how do you go about having one of these chats? (1:00) "What's filling our buckets?" segment. (3:15) Nic shares a story about his first experience having a corrective chat with a student. (6:15) We explain where these chats fit in the context of our other tools for responding to student misbehavior. (9:15) We talk about where these chats happen in the classroom and how to make space for them when we're also responsible for the rest of our class. (14:30) We walk through four steps for having a successful corrective chat. (23:15) How can these chats look when we are having them after a discipline referral and we're trying to "clear the air" before the student returns to class? (31:30) Takeaways.

This week, we're talking about the buzzword "mindfulness." What the heck is it? Is it any good? How do you do it? (1:30) "What's filling our buckets?" segment. (2:30) We answer the question: "What the heck is mindfulness?" (7:30) We chat briefly about the research on mindfulness practices. (9:45) We explain how to do a few mindfulness techniques, such as body scans, anchoring to your breath, and the STOP technique. (13:45) Takeaways.

Tools we talk about: University of Minnesota Article: "What is Mindfulness?", Mindful STOP Poster

This week we're explaining the features/similarities/differences of several tools that schools use to foster emotional intelligence (e.g., Yale's Mood Meter, the Zones of Regulation, the 5 Point Scale, the emotions wheel). (1:15) "What's filling our buckets?" segment. (2:30) We talk about why emotional intelligence is critical to student success. (5:40) Simple lists of emotional vocabulary words. (6:45) Yale University's Mood Meter. (10:45) The Zones of Regulation. (14:00) The 5 Point Scale. (15:45) The emotions wheel. (18:30) We share about how these tools are used in schools day-to-day: embedded into academic learning, ritual mood check-ins, and de-escalation. (25:10) Takeaways.

Tools we talk about: Emotion Visuals

This week we're sharing 10 time/energy management tips from former teacher/current instructional coach Elena Aguilar. (1:00) "What's filling our buckets?" segment. (1:50) We briefly introduce the topic and share Elena's six tips for time management. (10:00) We share Elena's four tips for managing energy. (14:55) Takeaways.