Free Social-Emotional Learning Resources Guide
Reading everyone’s #ARMMEWITH statements has helped me recharge and feel motivated upon returning from break. One thing that I’ve really appreciated is every single statement I’ve read, there is no blame placed on the students or their families. My students are often the ones that stereo-typically burn teachers out. They make us question our teaching skills and exhaust our strategies. We just can’t help them, we aren’t equipped too.
I see more than ever that as a community of teachers, our hearts are equipped too, but we have to fight a gigantic list of every day barriers. I don’t know how general education teachers have the capacity to get everything done they are expected to do. I have read so many inspiring statements from teachers asking for social-emotional resources and the time to teach it. I’m sitting here, my last night in Italy, scrambling to put this post together… because I know of a couple resources that might help get the social-emotional ball rolling.
I wanted to share some of my favorite SEL resources that I use daily when working with students who qualify for specially designed instruction in the areas of behavior, social-emotional, and social skills. Every single one of my academic groups has an SEL focus– math, writing, reading… everything. It’s what my students need. I’ve been working on tuning up a lot of my resources… because I usually throw things together within 10 minutes at work to match exactly what my kids need… but I’m hoping to get those edited and posted.
Every day I am trying to undo negative learned behaviors, self-perceptions, and their truths, all while trying to teach them grade level common core standards and build new SEL/behavior skills. Sometimes when I actually sit down and think about what I do each day, it’s so complex but that’s just the way I’ve learned to operate through a social-emotional lens. I’m hoping that slowly, I will be able to share my experiences, resources, and tools to help arm our community with what our kids need.
What works for me, might not work for you, but it’s a starting place when trying to meet the needs of your students. Like I’ve shared before, so much of my work with students is remaining calm during challenging times, believing and practicing that every day is truly a new day, and through unconditional love, not allowing their behavior to shake me.
Explaining my practice is an area that I am working hard on and I appreciate you all being apart of my journey. In the meantime, here are some of my favorite free SEL resources and sources of inspiration. Oh! A couple weeks ago when I asked for common behaviors you see in your classrooms that you’re struggling with– I am ALMOST finished with part 1 of 3 of that series… I AM SO EXCITED. Please know that is coming 🙂
Free Curriculum
https://www.sanfordharmony.org/
My school districts amazing social-emotional specialist had our summer school program pilot this free program and it’s AMAZING. It was created for teachers by teachers and truly encompasses the most important social-emotional skills. It comes in K-6th and is culturally relevant, gender sensitive, and non-linear. My favorite part of this curriculum is how it focuses on school-wide and classroom-wide community building and acceptance. During summer school, I used the 2nd grade curriculum and was able to jump around the different units to meet the needs of students I had only known for a couple days.
You can request a free set here! It comes with all the parts J If you’re not comfortable or familiar with teaching social-emotional learning, no worries at all. This is a prep free curriculum that can be taught AS IS or modified/accommodated however you would like. For more information, click here!
Facebook Groups
Social-Emotional Learning is a public facebook group that shares everything social-emotional related. The admin, Randi, is a school district social-emotional learning specialists and is constantly sharing great practical resources, lesson ideas, and current SEL resources and best practices. I highly recommend joining this group. Click here to join!
Free Teacher Dress Code Resources
Social-Emotional Book Series
–Julia Cook and Trudy Ludwig are my go-to social-emotional literature authors. These series aren’t technically free, but you could fundraise! I fund-raised a donorschoose project over the summer to create an SEL library for my classroom. You can find a list of the book I have in my social-emotional library here! I’m actually thinking about doing another donors choose project to expand my library. It’s worth it. Over the next couple of weeks, I promise to upload the different worksheets and resources I have created to go with each one.
Free Social-Emotional Resources
Class Dojo has an phenomenal set of classroom lesson plans and videos for social-emotional learning. I’ve used these videos with 1st thru 8th grade. When I taught middle school, my first period class LOVED the growth mindset lessons. You can find lesson plans and videos for teaching growth mindset, perseverance, empathy, gratitude, and mindfulness!
I will be updating this resource with additional SEL resources as soon as I get back to the states. If you have any additional resources, please let me know and I will add them to this list! It’s just the start!
TEACHERS. You are all amazing. I feel fortunate to be on this journey with all of you. If you have any questions, please let me know!
P.S- I apologize for all the spelling and grammar errors (definitely more than usual) but I wanted to crank this out so everyone can join the facebook group and begin the Sanford Harmony Curriculum process! AH! My husband just gave me the look… CAN’T WAIT TO TALK TO YOU ALL SOON!!! Happy Teaching!
