Did you say anxious moments? So many times teachers and students alike experience stress in at school and home. Thankfully, there are proven ways to relax and stay calm. Read HELPING STUDENTS WITH ANXIOUS MOMENTS to start using them today!
I have so much to do! My eye is starting to twitch. Let me practice my elevator breathing. Breathe in slowly for five seconds as my abdomen rises. Pause for five seconds to ‘let passengers out’. Then, exhale for five seconds allowing my abdomen to slowly go back down. Repeat. That’s better. I’m happy to report my eye has stopped twitching and it’s looking ‘sunny with no chance of rain’ for me today!
But seriously, with all the chaos surrounding us today, aren’t we all just trying to gain some sense of normalcy? That’s why this year, it’s SO important to consider the benefits of SEL as shared by the CASEL Framework.
What is the CASEL Framework? Well, let’s backtrack a little. For starters, CASEL stands for Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning. Basically, it’s a community for the community! As noted on their site, CASEL is “driven by a vision of all children and adults as self-aware, caring, responsible, engaged and lifelong learners who work together to achieve their goals.”
CASEL’s framework, in turn, champions five competencies to help students do just that:
- Social Awareness
- Relationship Skills
- Responsible Decision-Making
So what does that really mean or look like? It means helping students become more aware of how many times they blurt out loud without raising their hand. It means helping students to consider that their choices can result in good or bad consequences. It means helping students to respect and appreciate others who may be different from them. It means helping students to find just the right words to stand up for themselves while at the same time collaborating with peers. In a nutshell, it means helping the community lift each other up!
We rise by lifting others. – Robert Ingersoll, lawyer 1800s
In fact, this quote can be found in one of the SEL Rockin Resources below that aim to help students be the best they can be:
• SEL Daily Journal that follows the five CASEL competencies with daily check-ins, Mindful Moment calming strategies, inspirational quotes with reflection opportunities, practical ‘Today I Can’ goals, vocabulary development for emotional expression and more! (Available for Grades 1-6)
• SEL Nameplates for daily and real-time social-emotional reinforcement right on student desks
• SEL Mindful Moments Posters and Cards for spur-of-the-moment ‘change of plan’ calming and coping practice
Yes, stress happens. However, take some time in class to decompress and renew. We, here at Rockin Resources, know how hard you’re working. We want this year to absolutely ROCK for both you and your students! So, come explore the SEL resources we’ve created. They’re unlike anything you’ve seen before.
Read more about the Casel Framework here: https://casel.org/fundamentals-of-sel/what-is-the-casel-framework/