Session 1 reviews research and introduces the core competencies of SEL. Today more than ever, students are struggling and are ill-equipped to handle life’s ups and downs. But when students develop SEL skills, they feel more successful, confident and resilient in life. Relevant research on mental illness, as well as connection strategies and the importance of life skills will be reviewed to demonstrate the need for SEL interventions. Participants will learn how to recognize SEL skills both within their students and within themselves.

Session 2 focuses on child development, specifically how a solid sense of self enables students to find meaning and application to the course content you teach. A strong sense of self complements the acquisition, development and continued use of SEL skills and academic learning. A student with a weak sense of self (one that is riddled with insecurities and trauma) may face particular challenges learning and applying new information. This is why the self is the framework for SEL success. Likewise, a teacher with a strong sense of self and well oiled SEL skills has the capacity to move from being a good teacher to a great one. That is why this session begins the course-long self-reflective journey of understanding one’s own strengths and weaknesses in the classroom. To aid this journey, SEL strategies that focus on compassion and connection rather than on shame and punishment are introduced. When you prioritize connection, you not only support the growth of your students’ sense of self, their intrinsic motivation and self-management skills but you also bring your best self into the classroom. Theory, connection strategies and role-play will accompany this and all subsequent sessions.

Knowing basic brain structure and function allows us to capitalize on windows of opportunity and to teach toward targeted skills. This is especially relevant when social and emotional skills are involved: by understanding how the brain wires we can help facilitate the formation of life long positive social and emotional habits in our students. Thus, brain systems involved in the construction and functioning of the social self, emotional self, cognitive self and the safe self will be examined enabling you to teach in a manner that optimizes learning and emotional competencies while continually building a strong and resilient self within your students.

Student behavior impacts the classroom environment and therefore learning potential. Defense mechanisms are at the heart of misbehavior, but unfortunately the often used recourse to this poor behavior, punishment, only reinforces the negative self-concept contributing to the behavior. Building connections mitigates disruptions and provides an opportunity to foster emotion management, a core SEL skill that reduces disruptions. Promoting the stages of emotion management – recognizing, labeling, sourcing and regulating emotions – is a central focus of this session and key to self-control, a characteristic linked to living a more robust and productive life.

Today, more and more children eat alone, ride the bus in silent smartphone distraction, and consider social media as a preferred form of personal interaction. Basic social skills are increasingly lacking while empathy is declining. Yet, to connect with others and to understand their emotions is a key factor in advancing our humanity. Thus, the need to support the social self is of paramount importance, especially during the teen years when the self is evolving based on a teen’s interactions with you and others in their lives. Learning how to model and promote social skills is central to this session.

Exercise, nutrition, sleep and the mind body connection impact learning and are an essential part of an SEL education. Without a healthy body, all social, emotional and cognitive skills are thwarted: the mind can not learn optimally without proper sleep, nutrition and physical activity. Moreover, stress and mental illness affect the ability to stay focused and on task. Yet, today’s students are experiencing high levels of stress without the resources to develop coping skills and positive habits. As such, this session walks participants through the intimate connection between the physical self and all other aspects of SEL, helping them to foster a healthy mind and body for each student. Don’t miss the relevant and timely correlation between a healthy body and strong social and emotional competencies.

SEL-Specific PD = $5,750. plus travel and accommodations.

Note: This price includes up to 25 guides depending on the number of participants. Participation numbers are not limited, but an additional fee of $15 per participant is added after 25 participants to cover the cost of each additional guide. Below is the Table of contents for the guide.

• Session One: Why SEL? Why Now?
• Session Two: The SELF: The SEL Framework for Success
• Session Three: The Cognitive Self: Neuroscience In a Nutshell
• Session Four: The Emotional Self: Learn The Language of Emotions
• Session Five: The Social Self: Promote and Embody Pro-Social Behaviors
• Session Six: The Physical Self: Healthy Body, Healthy Mind
• Draw Your Core Container sheets
• Lenses of the World
• YSS Curriculum Overview
• YSS SEL Professional Development Overview
• Feedback Form (thank you!)