October 2020 Newsletter
Our Mission: SEL4IA exists to support building capacity for districts to sustain social emotional learning practices by advocating for legislation, building local and statewide awareness and promoting community to ensure equitable outcomes for students across Iowa.
SEL4IA Updates
SEL4IA is here and ready to support schools and districts with SEL implementation as we return to the 2020-21 SY. We know districts across the state are implementing a variety of plans to support the needs of students. If you are interested in SEL4IA doing consulting work and helping support the tiered implementation of social emotional learning email us at maria.lantz7@gmail.com.
Adult SEL
Resources here are designed for educators/adults who want to take steps to enhance their own social emotional competencies. If you are interested in any SEL webinar series to support adult SEL email sel4ia@gmail.com.
SEL Resources for Educators
Updated CASEL definition of SEL: CASEL recently updated the definition of social emotional learning and added to each competency.
CASEL SEL Framework: Explore the updated competencies and SEL framework from CASEL.
Microlessons. These are short professional development lessons made for all adults in the school building, focusing on each of the four areas (cultural responsiveness, emotional wellness, belonging, and voice/choice/empowerment) from the guidance document above. (Here is a short video explaining the microlessons.) Find the microlesson site linked in the document above or here. Thanks to our friends at SEL4OR for this resource.
SEL Spotlight:
This month we are spotlighting the work of Jill Schutjer and the staff at Lucia Wallace Elementary School in Algona, Iowa. Lucia Wallace began the journey of implementing restorative practices and social emotional learning last year with ongoing professional development. This year the staff has really dug into the use of circles. Students in every classroom engage in all sorts of circles from community building to academic. Many classrooms do this daily, or multiple times a day. The students are experts in self awareness and recognizing their emotions and it’s only October! The students really love participating in them as well. The staff do a really great job of building the SEL competencies into the circle work. The staff will continue to learn and grow by embedding social emotional learning into the academic day and by building in adult SEL.