“Great things are done

by a series of small
things brought
together.”
-Vincent Van Gogh
Who has impacted Send
that
perso
n
you an educator? a text
!
Southern Regional Varsity Girls Swim
Team, EST 2000
Brody, 2004
age 5 weeks
Southern PAWS Program
● Pets Assisting Willing Students
● Started in 2005 in response to student & staff suicides
and deaths
● Currently 6 teacher/handler-dog teams in district
● Dogs follow teachers’ daily schedules
● Interact with students in class & the halls
● Teams active in crisis management & intervention
SAGE AND BRODY-WHAT AN ADDITION TO A SCHOOL, COUNSELING GROUP OR A
CLASSROOM. I HAD THE GREAT PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH LESLIE GARDNER-
LONGO AND KATIE BAKER IN BRINGING THESE TWO WONDERFUL CANINE
COUNSELORS INTO MY SUPPORT GROUPS AT SOUTHERN AND AT OCEAN’S HARBOR
HOUSE. THERAPY DOGS DO FOR KIDS WHAT TRAINED GROUP FACILITATORS CANNOT
DO. THESE WONDERFUL ANIMALS, OR GROUP CO-FACILITATORS, OPEN CLOSED
MINDS, SOOTHE HURT FEELINGS, NURTURE ACCEPTANCE AND HELP CHILDREN FIND
THEIR WAY-ALL WITHOUT SAYING A WORD. THOUGH I KNOW AND USE MANY
“TRICKS OF THE TRADE” TO GET KIDS ENGAGED, TALKING AND FEELING, THESE DOGS
REALLY HAVE TAUGHT ME A THING OR TWO. ONE: PETTING A DOG WILL OPEN THE
HEART OF A CHILD THAT NEEDS TO TALK. AND TWO: THAT WHEN THE HEART IS
OPEN, THE WORDS WILL COME EASILY. WOW. IT JUST COST A BISCUIT!

-Bob Dolan, Student Assistance Counselor (SAC)

Southern Regional High School
 What is Social and Emotional Learning?

“The process through which people learn to recognize and manage

emotions, care about others, make good decisions, behave ethically
and responsibly, develop positive relationships, and avoid negative
behaviors. Such skills are critical components of the success of all
schools.”
Elias, 2007
According to CASEL:
● Systemic SEL is promoted
across multiple contexts
every day.
● 5 Core Competencies are
prioritized across a range of
settings.
● Interwoven into learning,
not special lesson.
What my students say about school:

School always I get stressed a lot Mental health issues

stresses me out and because I feel that stress me out cause
it makes me want to teachers give super we seem to be in an
stay in my bed and unnecessary busy “epidemic” and I
eat a pint of Ben work… It’s so super hate that. I just want
and Jerry’s ice annoying and I wish everyone to be well.
-9th grade student, SRHS
cream. they wouldn’t do that.
-9th grade student, SRHS
-9th grade student, SRHS
Maslow’s
Hierarchy
of Needs
Agenda &
Due Dates Student work displayed
Student
painted
murals

Group seating for collaboration

What makes a comfortable
classroom environment?
Reply to posts
with digital
stickers by
attaching a jpg or
png file
Everyday Class Opportunities
Culture for for mindfulness
& autonomous
SEL
Student learning
work / art
displayed

Daily, Weekly,
Opportunities to
Monthly
practice
interpersonal
Agendas visible
skills with in class &
flexible seating online
What is the current
LEARNING
ECOSYSTEM
of your classroom?
Secluded Island
● Closed community
● Basic needs met
● May lack additional
resources
● Lack interaction with
others outside of
community
● May wish for
connectivity
Hopping from island to island?
Walled Garden
● Enclosed
● Rigid
● By choice or forced
together
● Has internal
resources, but may
not realize what is
missing
● May be fearful of
outside forces
World’s Fair
● Open
● Flexible
● Collaborative
● Worldview
● Hub of
connections
● Influences and is
influenced by
interactions
Community Focused Learning

Utilize Flipped- Create a PLN Nurture

Blended Learning Experience Relationships
Combine paper and Expand the walls of Provide interactions
digital tools to support the classroom and get & tasks that nurture
student efficacy. students to connected. relationships.
● Support Digital
Citizenship
● Framework for
innovation in education
● Help educators and
education leaders
worldwide prepare
learners to thrive in
work and life
Student Engagement
Class PLN
• Name your class with the school year
• Add all class periods of the same level to the
Edmodo / LMS Class

• This provides students with an online personal

learning network experience as they interact
with students who they do not see face to face.
Edmodo Small Group for Sharing Space

● Within your Edmodo Class,

create a small group to use a
digital bulletin board space.

● Students post a copy of their

work to this small group so that
their classmates can see what has
been created.
 for Collaboration
Adapted by
Kate Baker @KtBkr4

Feedback, Accolades,
Recognition, Affirmation

Team Building, Peer

Mentorship & Modeling

Norms, Protocols

Resources, People,
Equipment, Location
Students can post textual or
multimedia files for peer
feedback.
Flip
Back to
School Night /
Open House
Include Community Members in Extension Assignments
Community Focused Learning
Action Plan
Incorporate Encourage Create unique
routines that student voice by opportunities
allow students creating where students
to practice opportunities for can connect with
autonomy, interaction online others outside of
mindfulness and & in - person the classroom
reflection walls

#bettertogether
Wisdom begins in
wonder.
Socrates
As is the microcosm,
so is the macrocosm.
As is the atom,
so is the universe.
As is the human mind,
so is the cosmic mind.
-Deepak Chopra
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As is the classroom,
so is the world.
-Kate Baker, teacher

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