September 2022 - Back To School Month
Welcome back to school! Back to school month is usually very exciting for the kids, the parents and the teachers. After two long years being online, its exciting to be back in the classroom and interactions with our fellow classmates! There are some things to keep in mind, such as still maintaining social distances, ensuring open flow of communication with parents, incorporating Social Emotional Learning in the classrooms and overall having a wonderful school year! Here at the SECD Lab, we wanted to provide some back to school tips and how to make this year spectacular!
What is SEL?
SEL stands for Social emotional Learning and is used to help teach students mange their emotions themselves and create positive behaviors that can be used in the future.
Social emotional Learning has 5 compentienes:
Self-Awareness,
Self Management,
Social Awareness,
Relations skills
and Responsible Decision Making.
Social Emotional Learning is essential for facilitating positive behaviors and helping with a students academic achievements!
Please check out this article on How social-emotional learning became a frontline in the battle against CRT
Teacher-Parent Communication Strategies
Communication is one element that is essential to healthy relationships and decrease any confusion that can occur.
Parent-teacher communication can be challenging but studies suggest that with more parentantal involvement in a students academics, the more academic gains the child can have. We wanted to share a few tips to help.
Opening reliable Channels of Communication
Add a personalized touch, such as embedding a introduction video in emails!
Your child in a million words or less. Teachers would ask care-givers to tell them everything she would need to know about their child, any restrictions, etc.
Establish back and forth communication: Encouraging healthy exchange of information between parents and teachers.
Check out the article for more tips:
Teacher-Parent Communication Strategies to Start the Year Off Right | Edutopia— By prioritizing communication with families at the start of the school year, educators can foster strong parent engagement, break down barriers, and provide support for all students.
Meaning-full Questions Guardians Should Ask
The best part of healthy communication between student and teachers, Guardian and teacher, Guardian and student, is an increase engagement in school and higher academic achievements.
If you are a first time Guardian, or someone who’s not sure how to involve yourself in a students academic career, here are some questions that could be asked:
To the Teachers:
Do you focus on strengths or weaknesses?
How exactly is learning personalized in your classroom? In the school?
How do you measure academic progress?
What are the most common instructional or literacy strategies you will use this year?
How will you respond if or when my child struggles in class?
How is education changing?
For more tips, check out : Parents: 19 Meaningful Questions You Should Ask Your Child's Teacher | Edutopia
Back to School Resources:
Distance Learning Strategies to Bring Back to the Classroom | Edutopia—When schools closed, teachers were forced to get creative—and they’ve learned things they can use when they’re back at school.
Back to School Stress: Establishing Good Habits | Edutopia—
Teachers: 5 Ways to Ease Back into School | Edutopia—
Next Generation Learning: Bringing Student Agency Back to Schooling | Edutopia— The internet has enabled students to follow their passions toward self-directed learning. How can we, as educators, fold that learning back into their schooling experience?
Back-to-School Night: The Ultimate Conversation Starter for a Successful School Year | Edutopia— When establishing that first contact with parents on back-to-school night, start the year right by being transparent, direct, and consistent.
Summer Prep for Back to School: Resources for School Leaders | Edutopia— Explore resources from Edutopia and the web that support school leaders -- including principals and other administrators -- as they guide school communities into a new school year.