1 MINUTE IDEAS FOR SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING–FREE Year Long SEL Guide

Social emotional learning is and always has been (even before the SEL label) an important component in classrooms.  As teachers we’ve always known this even if the people making the curriculum decisions forgot. There had been a push to place academics at the forefront at the expense of both student and teacher well-being. We’re seeing the effects of those decisions especially now following a global pandemic.

In today’s teaching we know and understand that being able to provide opportunities for students and teachers to know and practice CASEL’s 5 SEL competencies extends far beyond a stand alone lesson. And if you didn’t, well it’s time you understand the full picture of what TRUE SEL is. I’ve created an ever growing FREE Year Long SEL Guide that you can grab to help you in seeing everyday opportunities. Keep reading for more about SEL and 1 minute ideas.

WHAT IS SEL?

According to CASEL:

“SEL is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions.

SEL advances educational equity and excellence through authentic school-family-community partnerships to establish learning environments and experiences that feature trusting and collaborative relationships, rigorous and meaningful curriculum and instruction, and ongoing evaluation. SEL can help address various forms of inequity and empower young people and adults to co-create thriving schools and contribute to safe, healthy, and just communities.“

Self Awareness:

Recognizing your strengths and emotions, building confidence and tapping into your accurate self. This is where you understand how your emotions, values, thoughts, and experiences can influence the actions you take.

Self Management:

Where you learn to regulate and control your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. Being able to self-reflect as a way to adjust and take further actions.

Social Awareness:

Being able to empathize with others and see things from their point of view. This includes your awareness of diverse cultures and your ability to be inclusive and treat others fairly.

Relationship Skills:

Your ability to make positive connections with others. This includes taking into account their emotions and interactions to create a mutual relationship. Listening and communication skills along with understanding appropriate and inappropriate beaviors in social settings falls under this component.

Responsible Decision Making

Ability to use all pieces of information to formulate positive and constructive choices both big and small. Being able to think about the consequences of the various actions that could be taken prior to acting is an important skill in responsible decision making. This component includes a person’s pursuit of personal goals and the choices needed to reach them.

All of these areas are unique and also connected to each other. The 5 components are meant to extend into all areas of life…not just the individual, classroom, or school…but rather to families and the community at large.

PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE…IRL

So here’s the thing… on paper and in theory all of this is amazing. I believe in and live and grow as best I can in these 5 areas. The problem is this type of work is personal development and that takes more than a 15 minute lesson taught in isolation a few times a week. Which is how many schools and teachers approach SEL…because SEL as a whole is NOT practiced as a systemic model. We see this clear as teacher burnout is at an all time high and the work-load continues to increase without an increase in pay.

Teachers do not get personal development. We are bombarded with professional development to the point of gagging, but never given the time to understand our own personal connection and development to make the SEL classroom the space talked about on the paper. 

Teacher personal development is SO important to the success of student personal development. Teachers that practice these personal development concepts in and out of the classroom have a better understanding of how to fully integrate the learning for all.

This type of SEL personal development can begin to happen when we think about it from an approach of minute by minute all throughout the day. It also is something we are ALL working on together…or should be. Teachers and adults in the school are human and come with their own issues, baggage, and limiting beliefs. Expecting students to behave or make decisions based on a canned SEL lesson just because you’ve designated the time isn’t as impactful as creating an environment that lives and breathes SEL all the time.

What simple actions can you do now?

Today I want to share with you some simple, practical ways that you as a busy, possibly burned out teacher, can start implementing in your classroom that promotes a TRUE SEL practice for you and your students.

These are all things you can do planned or unplanned. For example, if you are feeling tired, more than likely your students are, too. Stop for a minute and do one of the actions from this list. Another possibility would be to build it into your schedule. For instance, if after recess or lunch is high, out of control energy, plan one of my calming suggestions.

HOW TO CONNECT A 1 MINUTE TASK TO EACH OF THE COMPONENTS:

Self-Awareness

• Say or write affirmations for 1 min. Example: I am _____________. Connect SEL naturally with a text such as I Am Enough by Grace Byers or Susan Verde’s I AM series.

Self-Management

• Reflect by saying I feel___________. Then determine what you can do in that moment. I will do ______________. Being able to identify emotions helps with self management. Try Emotions Bingo or Emotions Play Dough Blank Faces and Emojis for PreK-2

Social Awareness

• Do a turn and talk focusing on how each of you are feeling. 1 person goes for 30 seconds and says I feel _______. Then switch. Not a time for further discussion if you don’t want. Just being there to understand where each person is at.

Relationship Skills

• 1 minute to write, text, or say something kind to someone that is close to you.

Responsible Decision Making

• For 1 minute STOP. BREATHE. ASK-What can I do right now to support myself and those around me? TAKE ACTION. Don’t over think or place judgement. Just keep it simple and do it.

1-MINUTE WAYS TO CONNECT TO THE 6 AREAS OF SELF NURTURING:

PHYSICAL SELF:

• Take a water break
• Do an exercise for 1 minute
• Stretch
• Eat a healthy snack

SOCIAL SELF:

• Text a friend
• Turn off all devices for 1 minute
• Give someone a compliment

SPIRITUAL SELF:

• Put on calming music and breathe for 1 minute
• Open window and use your senses for 1 minute
• Do a nature watch.

YOUR SURROUNDINGS/ENVIRONMENT:

• Do a 1 minute tidy
• Turn off the lights for 1 minute
• Put some essential oils into the air

EMOTIONAL SELF:

• Write a gratitude
• Write an acknowledgment for yourself
• Look up an inspiring quote

PROFESSIONAL SELF:

• Stop working or teaching for 1 minute and breathe
• Ask someone to come into your room so you can walk the hall for 1 minute
• Take the first minute before your lunch to be by yourself

The main thing to remember is that taking 1 minute is not going to distroy the learning or success of your day. Think about this…what if taking that minute actually created the space for an environment that gave you more engaged teaching and learning throughout the day? Wouldn’t that minute be worth it?

Start looking at your entire day from the lens of social emotional learning because at the heart of it we are social emotional humans learning to live our best versions of ourselves. That cannot be confined to one 15 minute lesson a few times a week.

And, if you’re required to teach a specific SEL lesson from a curriculum. I would ask myself:

• What are the objectives in this lesson?
• Can they be implemented throughout the day?
• What story are we reading that could highlight a certain piece of the lesson?
• Could I do a quick intro and then keep the practice happening throughout the day?

Curriculum or not, you can find 1 minute moments to show students how to connect with themselves and others during the day. Some of my favorites are the unique card decks for in and out of the classroom. You can find them here: The Self Nurtured Teacher Card Decks

It’s the small things done consistently that will create the bigger change.

For more ideas, tips, and resources for adults head over to The Self Nurtured Teacher™ or @TheSelfNurturedTeacher on IG

Looking for Everyday SEL tips and resources for students? Connect with me on IG @TheSelfNurturedClassroom