Starting SEL Strong

Effective educators know how important it is to set up a positive classroom culture right from the start. The beginning of the school year is a crucial time to establish structures and routines that promote a safe and inclusive learning environment where students feel valued and respected.

A positive culture promotes stronger student-teacher relationships, leading to increased engagement and better academic performance. Moreover, a supportive classroom climate enhances students’ social and emotional development, fostering skills such as self-awareness, self-management, empathy, and conflict resolution, which are essential for their overall well-being and future success.

A classroom that integrates Social Emotional Learning (SEL) principles and practices not only teaches HEART skills explicitly but also integrates key classroom strategies that create opportunities for students to use and practice these essential life skills.

If you are not familiar with the HEART in Mind model, grab a copy of Teaching with the HEART in Mind and host a book club at your school, AND make sure you take the adult SEL program, Growing Your HEART Skills.

Let’s explore five classroom strategies that align with the HEART in Mind model and promote the development of a positive classroom culture.

Morning Check-ins

At the start of each day, allocate a few minutes for students to share their feelings and how they are doing in your class. This practice encourages students to name and honor their emotions, a foundational skill to develop emotional intelligence and increase emotion regulation. Use a feelings chart to help students articulate their emotions with accuracy and increase their emotional literacy. You can combine or replace this morning check-in with student journaling to deepen their self-awareness, or when you are short of time.

HEART in Mind Connection:

The first skill in the HEART in Mind model, Honor Your Emotions, emphasizes the importance of recognizing and validating emotions. By incorporating morning check-ins, educators teach students to acknowledge their feelings without judgment. This practice creates a sense of emotional safety and encourages self-awareness and empathy towards oneself and others.

Mindful Response Cards

Create a set of mindful response cards with different strategies for handling difficult emotions and addressing conflicts. When a student faces a challenging situation, allow them to pick a response card to guide their actions. These cards might include options like taking deep breaths, seeking support from a friend, or requesting a break to cool down. You can have students brainstorm effective strategies to navigate challenging emotions and help you create the cards.

HEART in Mind Connection:

Elect Your Responses, the second skill in the HEART in Mind model, empowers students to choose how they respond to situations. By providing mindful response cards, educators equip students with practical tools for emotional regulation and decision-making. This strategy nurtures self-management, responsible decision-making, and empathy, as students learn to consider the impact of their responses on themselves and others.

Circle of Empathy

Hold regular circles of empathy in the classroom where students can openly share their experiences, challenges, and triumphs. During these sessions, encourage active listening and respectful feedback from peers. This practice builds a sense of community and empathy among students, fostering a culture of support and understanding.

HEART in Mind Connection:

Apply Empathy encourages students to put themselves in others’ shoes and understand their perspectives. Through Circles of Empathy, educators facilitate opportunities for students to practice active listening, perspective-taking, and compassionate communication. This circle can also promote self-empathy, as students start to realize that many of their experiences and feelings are shared by others.

Collaborative Projects

Assign collaborative projects that require students to work together in small groups. These projects can be both academic and community-oriented, such as planning a school event or participating in a service-learning initiative. Working collaboratively provides students with an opportunity to practice their social and communication skills, while growing positive relationships within the classroom.

HEART in Mind Connection:

Reignite Your Relationships focuses on building and maintaining positive connections with others. Collaborative projects provide students with opportunities to strengthen their relationships by working towards common goals. When teamwork is intentionally integrated into the life of the classroom, students experience opportunities to navigate communication challenges, disagreements, conflicts, and other common challenges while receiving support and guidance from the teacher.

Goal-Setting and Reflection

At the beginning of the school year, guide your students through the process of setting personal and academic goals. Encourage them to identify specific targets they wish to achieve and the steps required to reach those goals. Throughout the year, hold regular reflection sessions, where students can assess their progress, celebrate successes, and adapt their strategies if needed.

HEART in Mind Connection:

Transform with Purpose emphasizes the importance of growth and continuous improvement. By engaging students in goal-setting and reflective practices, educators help students to start developing a sense of purpose and direction. This strategy fosters self-awareness, self-regulation, and a growth mindset, as students learn to persevere, adapt, and transform themselves to achieve their goals.

Investing time and effort in these strategies at the beginning of the school year will lay the foundation for a caring and inclusive classroom community, benefitting students not only academically but also emotionally and socially. By honoring emotions, empowering students to choose mindful responses, applying empathy, reigniting relationships, and aligning actions with purpose, educators can empower students with invaluable skills that extend far beyond the classroom.

Let your classroom be a place where HEART thrives, and watch your students flourish!