08/19/2026
Dear Friends,
Whether you are aware of it or not, you are teaching social-emotional learning (SEL). Your students are watching and learning from everything you do and say. They are learning how to deal with stress and conflict, how to relate to others similar and different, how to organize their tasks and time and so much more. According to the Collaborative for Academic and Social-Emotional Learning (CASEL), there are five SEL competencies, which are self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision-making, relationship skills and social awareness. As an educator, you have a choice whether or not to teach these competencies and skills intentionally.
Teaching SEL in today’s 21st-century classroom means examining both content and practice in order to find ways to integrate SEL into our daily experience. Are we using relevant and engaging content for Morning Meeting or Advisory Period? As students reading texts in ELA and Social Studies, are life lessons being highlighted and connected to SEL? Are cooperative learning opportunities that give place for student voice, such as class discussions and project-based learning, being utilized? Are we using a punitive or restorative approach to discipline? The bottom-line is to build relationships and connect with kids.
5 Strategies for Strengthening Classroom Culture
1. Establish a common language. Define and communicate your SEL vocabulary. It is not enough to say, “Be responsible!” or “Be kind!” What does responsibility mean? Responsibility is owning what you do and say. What does kindness mean? Kindness is treating others the way you want to be treated.
2. Institute classroom norms. Be sure to use positive and motivating language along with your SEL vocabulary, such as “I can be Respectful – value myself and others. I will listen when someone is talking because I may learn something.”
3. Schedule conversations. Whether part of Morning Meeting, Advisory Period, ELA, or Social Studies, take time to hear what students are thinking and feeling. Let them know that their thoughts and experiences matter.
4. Incorporate interdisciplinary activities. Give students an opportunity to work in groups and create – a book, a comic, a website, a game, a poster, a service project, a song…you name it! They are more inclined to engage and work diligently when given a clear deliverable.
5. Focus on relationships. You have heard the old saying, “People won’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Let your students know that you care about them as human beings, not just data points. Get to know their likes and dislikes. Be intentional about downtime in the classroom, such as game time once a month or lunch with the teacher once a week.
SEL is helping kids identify what is going on in their heads and in their hearts so they can use their hands to build up and not tear down. As one of my heroes, Mister Rogers said, “Knowing that we can be loved exactly as we are gives us all the best opportunity for growing into the healthiest of people.”
Click link in bio to read the FULL ARTICLE and download a FREE lesson about Courage.
Love,
Tamara
[email protected]
RESOURCES
The start of the school year is the perfect time to talk with students about practicing Courage.
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