By Tammy Brecht Dunbar, M.Ed., STEM, The Tech-Savvy Online Educator
Grading, Behavior issues, Attendance, Curriculum, Standardized testing, Professional Development … Let’s face it, fellow teachers, our plates are full, especially at the start of a new school year!
But Social Emotional Learning should NOT be another thing added to your plate … Because Social-Emotional Learning is the WHOLE PLATE!
SEL isn’t a program or package: SEL is the relationships we build with our students and their families. And you can only build relationships by putting in the work. Here are five things you can do to set the table well:
P is Preparation. Putting thought into how you will structure your educational day to best engage and elevate your learners – starting with greetings, thoughts for the day, puzzlers and Number Talks, when small groups are meeting and who is in each group, ending the day with gratitude and reflection. Structure your daily routines as well as weekly and long-term calendars. Create multiple ways to convey your agenda and expectations. Communicate them to students and families digitally, so everyone can access it and important information doesn’t get lost in the bottom of a backpack! Your preparation and organization allow everyone to be comfortable with expectations and assignments – and that comfort is vital to SEL, because when students and families are not worrying about what, when and where things are due, everyone can just focus on the learning.
L is Listening. Everyone wants to be heard, and when we listen, we can provide empathy and flexibility. When students have ideas for how they can best learn, listen! “We’d like to do our Breakouts in Breakout Rooms!” Great idea! Let’s do it! “May we write an article for our local newspaper to promote our global project to feed our community through a canned food drive?” Students asking if THEY can write something? Yes, please! “May we design a QR code that goes to our literacy website for our Minecraft Education world?” Absolutely! Because now you’ll learn a QR code is 27 X 27 blocks and draw it out on graph paper first. Priceless!
And listen when a student is having a bad day and in frustration cuts the knotted yarn of his Quipu counting rope to express a math equation in his own way. Listen to the hidden message and respond compassionately. Laughter and understanding make everything better.
A is Accessibility. Use every technology necessary and available to make learning possible – and don’t overlook old technologies!
I had a blind student two years ago. I combined a Brailler (invented 75 years ago that types out Braille) with Microsoft’s Reading Progress, a new AI technology that measures fluency. We were able to measure Angelina’s fluency through her fingers, not her eyes. What can’t be measured was the joy she felt at being included in the same tech and lessons as her friends.
Accessibility also means YOU must be accessible. Have multiple ways students and families can get ahold of you – and don’t be surprised when they reach out after 10pm! A late message is better than no message at all! Be sure responses are timely and kind.
T is Training. We can’t expect students (or their families) to be comfortable using technologies unless we train them. Take the first weeks of school teaching students the programs and apps you will be using and record those sessions for students who join your class later in the year.
Hold online sessions to train families. Bringing families into the equation by showing them how to access the lessons, the homework and YOU increases student success, because now they know what’s expected, when it’s due and whether or not it’s been turned in!
And keep training yourselves! You’ve all come here to the NCCE blog to be inspired and learn new practices & programs to help your students. Great job! Keep looking for educators and conferences (especially NCCE 2025!) and podcasts to help you stay fresh, invigorated and ready to serve.
E is Enthusiasm. Have you noticed that when you are happy to see your students, they are also happy and much more engaged in lessons? Kids don’t learn from people they don’t like. Model what you expect. Celebrate successes and failures.
Follow your passions! My alter-ego, Dr. Dunbar, greets students on the second day of school every year and lights carbon paper on fire! Will she burn down the school or teach the Scientific Method? Create memorable moments. Let them know there is joy in learning!