[Video] Social Emotional Learning: Incorporating Best Practices During Times of Change

Children and families are still experiencing trauma about isolation, health, survival and disparities amid the uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic. The recent police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks, and numerous others, as well as the associated unrest across the nation and the world, have compounded this trauma. These difficult and complex issues will have long-lasting impacts on students’ emotional, mental, and academic well-being. It is important that school communities begin to implement trauma-informed responses, including Social Emotional Learning, into remote learning settings and have a plan to continue this work in the fall. To do this, educators must understand and develop instructional practices that support students’ social-emotional competencies and provide coping mechanisms to deal with their trauma. In this session, educators will explore strategies to help students acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, behaviors, and skills necessary to manage emotions, set and achieve goals, demonstrate empathy, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.