Social-Emotional Learning: Self-Awareness

Recently I have been volunteering to support a resiliency training and realized that the biggest change, the most necessary one is about our own perception.

In the classroom, how do we perceive students? Are they acting out or manipulative and naughty? Or, are they just emotionally dysregulated and trying to get their needs met with  the only tools they have learned to use? 

How can we understand ourselves better, so that we can help our students?

Social-Emotional Learning: Responsible Decision-Making

Making decisions is not always easy. Making responsible decisions is an important skill to learn - like to realize when it is safe to go fast, or when we need to slow down. Literally or figuratively. Just because the consequences of NOT slowing down would be scary.

I learned to drive in Finland, where we had winter conditions for too many months (to my liking). It IS very beautiful, of course! But one must be very mindful about the icy roads being very slippery. 

Sometimes we have too much on our plate, and that forces us to slow down. My students often have too much on their plates: studies, work, family, and so on... and I get to remind them that I care for their safety. 

I don't perceive students as disengaged or uncaring, but overwhelmed.  And I am there to help them with their studies.

Social-Emotional Learning: Self-Management

Nature never ceases to amaze me! We can learn so very much from our immediate environment, but also travelling has helped me to greatly appreciate the diversity of our home planet and how very resilient plants can be. They grow everywhere! Even on the cracked earth!

NCS2017 Iceland

Both Hawaii and Iceland are amazing places, and I have had the opportunity visit them both. Observing how quickly vegetation starts growing after lava has cooled is almost unbelievable. 

Humans are very resilient, too. Or, at least we CAN be, if we choose to. According to APA:

Resilience is the process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or 

challenging life experiences, especially through mental, emotional, and 

behavioral flexibility and adjustment to external and internal demands.

Managing our emotions and behaviors is an important SEL skill. What do you want to try this week? 

Social-Emotional Learning: Making Responsible Decisions

The first item mentioned in the CASEL wheel under Responsible Decision Making is "Demonstrating curiosity and open-mindedness."

Curiosity is the most critical metaskill to thrive in a fast-changing world. Unlike adults, kids learning process is driven by curiosity, wonder and joy of exploration (until they get schooled out of it). Yet, learning IS the force for change.

NCS2022  Path to Cape Flattery, WA.

As adults we need to rekindle our curiosity every now and then. It is a great idea to wander into new places, physically and mentally, and virtually or in the nature to feed out own curiosity. It builds out learning mindset! 

More information:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-adaptive-mind/201905/curiosity-the-metaskill-thrive-in-the-21st-century

Social-Emotional Learning: Self-Management

My students often discuss procrastination. I don't like the label, because it has such a negative tone, suggesting that we are not able to manage our time well enough, or can't self-regulate. Researchers actually suggest to focus more on mood regulation than self-control. Just because it is easier to regulate than suppress emotions.  A great way to do this is to be nice to yourself! Do something you like! 

Image: HT2022

To support our own learning habits, this may mean building a study spot with something we like - beautiful items, relaxing scents, calming music. A place that is comfortable helps us to feel better and focus on what we want to (need to) do. Distractions are okay - rewarding ourselves with a break to watch TV or engage social media can help. Just remember to have a plan for getting back to your studying!

More information:

https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_to_regulate_your_emotions_without_suppressing_them

 https://www.self.com/story/emotional-regulation-skills

Social-Emotional Learning: Responsible Decision-Making

Responsible Decision-Making is a core competency for educators: we are making so many decisions every day. Our choices impact our students' learning experiences and learning environment. This is why the ability to make caring and constructive choices about personal behavior and social interactions is so important! (CASEL) 

We also must make good decisions about our own professional learning and focus on durable learning, not something that is forgotten by next month or school year. There is so much information about the science of learning. This is one of the most important ones:  “Learning is not an event, but rather a process that unfolds over time.” [1] Choosing to focus on durable learning is a great choice!

NCS2021 Hurricane Ridge

This picture is from the Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park, WA. It is such a beautiful place, but too often people get lost in the mountains. Sometimes we teachers get lost in what is important in education. It is not the test scores! The most important duty for every teacher is empowering students to focus on durable learning and keep learning on their own - so that they can make responsible decisions for their own lives in the future.

[1] Stahl, S. M., Davis, R. L., Kim, D. H., Lowe, N. G., Carlson, R. E., Fountain, K., & Grady, M. M. (2010). Play it again: The master psychopharmacology program as an example of interval learning in bite-sized portions. CNS spectrums, 15(8), 491-504.

Social-Emotional Learning: Self-Awareness

The beauty of the nature helps me grow. Visiting the Lake Crescent last weekend and seeing all the beauty of an old groth forest and the lake was amazing. I have learned that I need to make time to focus on the beauty of the nature as a part of my self-care. 

NCS2022 Lake Crescent, WA

Taking care of one's own wellbeing starts from having self-compassion. Being kind to myself includes visiting beautiful places, and we have plenty of those in Washington state, Taking time to enjoy them is important. The research of self-compassion states there are three components:self-kindness, common humanity and mindfulness. [1] I find the nature walks to soothe my soul and help me be a better me.

[1] Neff, Kristin D. "Self‐compassion, self‐esteem, and well‐being." Social and personality psychology compass 5.1 (2011): 1-12. https://self-compassion.org/the-three-elements-of-self-compassion-2/

 https://self-compassion.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/SC.SE_.Well-being.pdf