FOCUS: Social-Emotional Learning
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If you have been following school counselors on social media you will find that many have been promoting social-emotional learning (SEL) virtual lessons to their students. Events such as Mindfulness Mondays and Wellness Wednesdays are creative ways to remind students that school counselors are still available, even in a virtual setting.
SEL lessons can be implemented in the classroom by teachers, counselors, or other administrators with the assistance of guidance lessons associated with each presentation. They are short lessons to check in with students, see how they are doing, and provide students the opportunity to discuss topics relevant to their everyday life.
What is important to note is that SEL is different from meeting the social-emotional needs of our students. SEL i
s geared toward the development of a student's mental, physical, and social well-being, covering topics such as bullying, empathy, coping skills, and even social media awareness. Counseling students through difficult social-emotional issues and providing appropriate referrals is something only a credentialed school counselor or mental health specialist should provide.
Schools that successfully implement and bridge SEL lessons in the classroom with support from school counselors create powerful learning for students. If you are looking to assist with or begin SEL lessons in your district or school site, the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) has provided resources to get you started.
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THIS WEEK's FOCUS: Social-Emotional Learning
By Felicia Singleton and Melissa Spadin
directors of the System of Support department, SDCOE
“Social-emotional learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.”
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Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL)
Infusing SEL into teaching and distance learning is intended to create safe spaces for learning and help address the global trauma we are experiencing, but is not a substitute for crisis counseling by a school counselor or mental health specialist. Schools should develop and share clear processes for teachers when a student or family needs follow-up support, including points of contact for referral.
SDCOE SEL COVID-19 Resources
The resources SDCOE is sharing are focused on helping kids and adults relieve anxiety, build relationships, and prioritize a focus on physical and emotional well-being. Educators should focus on small practical actions, infuse the SEL competencies into the academic content, and establish routines and structures that create a safe space for students.
SDCOE COVID-19 SEL Resources
have been vetted by SDCOE staff, however local educational agencies should ensure that they are implemented in alignment with current policies and expectations. Resources may appear in more than one category. SDCOE does not endorse any specific organization or product. Audiences for the resources are categorized into five groups:
- Teacher — a classroom teacher
- Educator — an education professional such as a school counselor, school social worker, administrator, coach, or teaching assistant
- District Office
- Parents — guardian or family of a school-aged student
- Adults — any adult, no matter their affiliation
Categories:
Additional School Counseling SEL Resources
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California's First Student Mental Health Week
The California Association of School Counselors (CASC) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) are hosting California’s first Student Mental Health Week (SMHW) May 4 to 8.
This week is an advocacy effort designed to create attention to mental health issues facing California's youth and draw a parallel between student mental health and the work school counselors do every day to support mental wellness in our students. Organizers encourage all to use this week as a platform to talk about mental health and use the hashtag #CA4studentwellness with events and activities.
Proposed workshops:
Workshop details along with toolkits by grade-level to promote SMHW, are now available on the
CASC SMHW webpage.
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LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
CASC Free Two-Part Webinar
Explore resources for SMHW on May 4-8, 2020 and take a deeper look into the new co-sponsored web resource found on
CASC's COVID-19 website.
This two-part, 90-minute practical webinar will be held from 2 to 3 p.m. April 28.
Part I:
This segment of the webinar will provide an overview of events and resources associated with SMHW. The first-annual SMHW is an advocacy effort designed to draw attention to mental health issues facing California youth. With lessons, activities, and social media posts available for downloading.
Part II:
Join members of the COVID-19 Emergency Task Force as they introduce key resources on the recently launched COVID-19 website. Presenters will do a deep dive into this complete and ready-to-use resources for administrators, school counselors, caregivers and students.
RCEC School Counselor On-the-Go Webinar Series
All webinars are all scheduled from 11 a.m. to noon.
As school districts move toward distance learning in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Riverside County Education Collaborative (
RCEC) College and Career Readiness unit is offering the free School Counselor On-the-Go webinar series virtually in April and May to meet current needs.
To ensure the technology security of each webinar and in order to track needs for future topics, RCEC asks participants to register for each session through the related OMS link by 5 p.m. the day before the scheduled webinar. You will then receive an e-mail with the Zoom link to use for the webinar or you may also dial in.
*To access RCEC webinars and resources, follow these
directions to create a free account.
Strive Virtual College Exploration Week Extended to May 8
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NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE AND RESOURCES
The weekly newsletter and resources created by SDCOE have been posted on the
SDCOE COVID-19 website
on the "Resources for School Counselor and School Social Workers" tab under "District Resources." They are also published each week in this newsletter.
The following communication tools and resource guides have been created for districts and school sites to distribute and use:
Important websites for school counselors:
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If you have any questions or comments on the
Counselor Network
newsletter, please contact Tanya Bulette, Counseling Coordinator
at
tanya.bulette@sdcoe.net
.
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Get up-to-the-minute information about what's happening at SDCOE and in our districts across the county.
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