Social Emotional Learning
15 weeks 17 hours ago
from Ginger Cook
This semester I'm going "back to school" myself and taking part in a course that I guess you could categorize as personal growth. I'm learning so much about myself but I also find the themes in our readings, conversations, and homework completely relevant to the work I get to do at DSC.
In our last assignment we explored the amazing work of Paul Polak. Have you heard of him? He...
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19 weeks 4 days ago
from Paul Houston
This time of the year is really the best time for educators. It is a time that reminds us of the unique opportunity we have to start anew. The beginning of school—which used to be in early September but has increasingly moved to August—for many districts was a time for a little adrenaline rush as we faced the possibilities and perils of a new year. But it is also the time for us to...
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23 weeks 4 days ago
from Ginger Cook
This is one in a series of Teaching Tips for the Caring School Community program. You can read other tips about Teambuilding and Facilitation Techniques.
If you’re like me, you like to start the year with a sense of how all the various aspects of your curriculum will fit together into the day. We know that there are many demands on your instructional time as you start off the year...
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25 weeks 1 day ago
from Ginger Cook
I fielded this question from a principal in a district new to Caring School Community® (CSC). I shared what principals who have implemented CSC for a year or more have said when I asked them the same question. Here’s what they said someone might see in CSC classrooms:
Class Meeting rules are posted in each classroom (e.g., "One person talks at a time," "Look at the...
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25 weeks 4 days ago
from Ginger Cook
Welcome back to school! As you are getting back into the swing of things with your students, there are many ways that the Caring School Community (CSC) program can support the beginning of the year. One of the most important ways is through teambuilders.
Much of what we’re trying to help you accomplish with CSC is a sense of community for students and teachers alike. A key aspect of this is...
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26 weeks 3 days ago
from Ginger Cook
Cross-age buddies can provide one of the quickest and largest shifts in the feel of a school, but getting through the set-up and logistics of setting up the pairs can seem like a lot of work. Here are some places you can find support to help get buddies started:
The Cross-Age Buddies Activities Book includes a lot of support tips around getting started (see page 22). Topics include:
Planning for...
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36 weeks 4 days ago
from Kenni Smith
In The Lesson Planning Handbook, Peter Brunn reacts to the terrifying statistical prevalence of bullying and violence at one urban elementary school. "Does anyone think for a minute that students' thinking and in-school behavior are not affected by this climate?" he asks. He goes on to explain the implications and to describe the critical role community and relationship building...
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38 weeks 5 days ago
from Patrick Graham
It's the end of the school year and your students have had 9 months of making friends and learning to get along with and respect each other. Now is the perfect time to hold an activity where that community is expressed with something the students can take home for summer vacation. Try this activity, adapted from our Caring School Community® Class Meetings "Appreciation Cards"...
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39 weeks 2 days ago
from Isabel McLean
As professional developers, the real issue we face is helping educators understand WHY it is important to teach students to engage with one another socially. We want teachers to understand the true power of collaboration—the importance of collaboration is thinking. There is a real academic reason to work together, not just a social need. Learning occurs when we have the opportunity to think...
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1 year 1 week ago
from Peter Brunn
This is the time of the year when we can get a bit lax with our attention to community-building. Testing is coming in the spring, we have lots of content to cover, we often can’t find the time to do a class meeting or buddies activity. We know it is important and are always looking for ways to fit it in. So when my wife told me the following story from her own teaching, I thought it might...
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