District SEL Best Practices: Cultivating Shared Leadership for Schoolwide SEL

A district SEL leader from Austin, TX describes their leadership structure and approach to supporting SEL implementation through district SEL specialists who provide coaching and training for cohorts of school-based SEL leaders who in turn work with an SEL steering committee that is representative of the broader school community. This model has been shown to significantly improve implementation.

TAGS implementation support SEL coaching for staff implementation plan

Classroom Guide for using the SEL Competencies Posters

Oakland produced a set of classroom posters featuring the 5 SEL competencies, and provided this guide for teachers to build learning experiences around each poster.

TAGS lesson planning teacher tool social awareness self awareness self management relationship skills responsible decision making SEL competence SEL overview advisory/homeroom communications instructional practices classroom level

AIR’s Social and Emotional Learning Coaching Toolkit

A toolkit for instructional coaches, administrators, and district leaders to support teachers in integrating SEL into daily practices, through planning, observation and feedback.

TAGS implementation support toolkit SEL coaching for staff instructional practices professional learning

CASEL Program Guide: Effective Social and Emotional Learning Programs

To support educators in selecting a high-quality SEL program, our Program Guide serves as a Consumer report-style product that showcases well-designed, evidence-based SEL programs (pre-kindergarten through high school) and the impact they have on student and/or teacher outcomes.

TAGS evidence-based programs elementary school grades classroom level SEL leadership

Selecting an Evidence-Based Program

This tool offers guiding questions and a rating table template to determine whether an evidence-based program answers the needs of your students, families, teachers, school, and district.

TAGS culturally responsive implementation plan evidence-based programs planning SEL leadership

The Basics of Student-Led Conferences

Memo for teachers to explain the purpose and logistics for student-led conferences.

Student-Led Conferencing Faculty Handbook (Nashville)

Nashville's handbook for student-led conferences describes in detail the role of students, teachers, families, and the school in making the conferences successful, student-centered, and useful.

Student Script and Agenda for a Student-Led Conference

Tool for students to prepare to lead conferences with their parents and teachers, including a checklist and sample script for students to talk about their strengths, challenges, and work portfolio.

Completed Sample – SEL Integrated Lesson Plan Template

Sample of a brainstorming activity that could be used in any academic content area, with clear SEL skill building and teacher sentence stems to debrief.

TAGS SEL and Academic Integration english/language arts math social studies lesson planning teacher tool middle school grades high school grades instructional practices classroom level

How to Integrate Social-Emotional Learning into Common Core

Brief article describes how SEL goals are implicitly woven into the Common Core Standards, with several specific examples from math and ELA. Useful for teacher/administrator audiences.

TAGS SEL and Academic Integration english/language arts math SEL standards mindfulness lesson planning social awareness self awareness self management relationship skills responsible decision making reading lists - staff CCSS instructional practices integrate with district priorities building buy-in for SEL