Category: Uncategorized

  • Fluency: Partner Reading with SEL

    This fluency lesson is focused on the strategy: Partner Reading. Partner Reading lends itself easily to social-emotional learning (SEL) as students will need to take turns reading aloud, listen, and provide feedback. Many SEL competencies can be taught with this strategy. The SEL competency highlighted in this lesson is Self-Management and the target is Self-Discipline…

  • Lesson Plan Template for Literacy and SEL

    A suggested lesson plan template could make it easier to intentionally blend social-emotional learning with literacy instruction. Explicit instruction is a proven teaching pedagogy whether literacy, mathematics, or SEL. It must be an essential component in any lesson plan. It is seldom linear, but may be more zigzag. When the teacher is guiding students with…

  • Using Children’s Books to Teach SEL: A Value Added Endeavor

    A quality children’s picture book brings so much enthusiasm and engagement to any child. The rich vocabulary, the imaginative ideas, and the beautiful illustrations sends a clear message to a child of any age: reading can be fun and meaningful.  These books below (and many more) do all of the above and can be integrated…

  • The Connection Between SEL and Literacy Instruction: A Bridge Not Too Far

    Classrooms that regularly integrate SEL (social-emotional learning) include supportive classroom climate, integration of SEL into academic instruction, and explicit SEL instruction. This blog will focus on the second: integration of SEL into literacy instruction.  Integration of SEL into academic instruction Integration of SEL with literacy instruction provides opportunities for students to practice and reflect on…

  • What is the Science of Reading and Why Does It Matter?

    Regardless of the educators with whom you teach or the school in which you are employed, you likely heard the term science of reading (SoR). If you have listened to the newly released podcast, Sold the Story, one might think SoR is synonymous with the three cueing system, it is not. Generally speaking, SoR is…

  • MTSS: The Oil for Literacy and SEL 

    MTSS (Multi-tiered System of Supports) has been an integral part of many schools which includes core instruction as well as interventions. Literacy and Math instruction are main staples of MTSS throughout the day. SEL (Social-emotional Learning) should be part of MTSS as well.  In 2021 the Council of Chief State School Officers with collaboration with…

  • Two is Better Than One

    Years ago, I was trained in SIOP (Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol) which provides specific instructional features shown to be effective with second language learners. One of the features included writing content and language objectives within each lesson. Similarly, when implementing SEL (social-emotional learning) strategies, we need to become accustomed to using content and SEL lesson…

  • The Best of Both Worlds Based on Science

    Although Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) began in the 1960s at the Yale School of Medicine in its Child Study Center, the topic resurfaced with fervor globally in schools since the pandemic. According to CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning), SEL includes building competence in the areas of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and…

  • Perfect Match: Literacy Strategies and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)

    When I first started my career in education many years ago, creating interdisciplinary units was the rage. The idea was appealing; why teach subjects in silos when life outside the 4 walls of school is seldom expressed in isolated subjects? Since pandemic lockdowns are behind us and schools are back in full session, it seems…