ApertureEd.com

Strategies for a Successful School Year

2019 Back toSchool Guide

The best social and

emotional learning (SEL)

programs involve all school staff.

Whether you are a new or veteran teacher, a

school or district leader, or out-of-school staff, you

play an important role in supporting student success.

This back-to-school guide is jam-packed with helpful

information for all educators. The articles are organized so

you can quickly locate tips and strategies relevant to your role.

Start by referencing the Job Description Key below and

make a note of which icon is most applicable to you. As you

flip through this guide, pay particular attention to the articles

labeled with your job icon.

Job Description Key

LeadershipDistrict Administrators,

Principals, Assistant Principals,

Out-Of-School Leadership

All EducatorsTeachers, Afterschool Instructors/Coaches,

Summer School Educators

Instructors and Support StaffTeachers, Afterschool Instructors/Coaches,

Summer School Educators, Counselors,

Intervention/Behavioral Specialists,

Special Education Coordinators

Introduction .................................................................................page 4

Story of Aperture ........................................................................page 5

All Educators ................................................................................page 65 SEL Activities That Can Reduce Bullying Incidents in Your School .......................................................................... page 7

Reduce Chronic Absenteeism with a Quality SEL Program ......................................................................................... page 9

Promoting Educational Equity Through PBIS and SEL ................................................................................................page 11

3 Ways SEL Can Support Trauma-Informed Practices ................................................................................................ page 13

SEL Goals for IEPs: Why They Are Important and How to Write Them .................................................................... page 15

Integrate SEL into Your RtI Framework in 9 Simple Steps .......................................................................................... page 17

SEL for Educators: 10 Activities to De-Stress ............................................................................................................... page 18

10 Binge-worthy SEL Webinars ......................................................................................................................................page 20

Leadership .................................................................................page 22How to Secure Funding for Your SEL Program ............................................................................................................page 23

Launch an SEL Program in 8 Steps (And Start Today!) ............................................................................................... page 25

The ROI of SEL Just Might Surprise You ......................................................................................................................... page 27

6 Tips for Leading Highly Effective SEL Professional Development .........................................................................page 28

SEL for Adults: Become a Better Educator with EdSERT ............................................................................................page 29

4 Tips to Support New Teachers with SEL ....................................................................................................................page 30

Instructors and Support Staff.................................................. page 31Improve 4 Common Teaching Practices with SEL ....................................................................................................... page 32

3 Ways SEL Can Create an Inclusive, Supportive Learning Environment from Day One .......................................page 34

Take Action! Use SEL Data to Create Tailored Interventions ...................................................................................... page 36

Improve Your SEL Program with Progress Monitoring ............................................................................................... page 37

16 SEL Activities ................................................................................................................................................................page 38

8 Bite-Size SEL Activities to Fill Time Between Lessons ..............................................................................................page 41

Conclusion..................................................................................page 42

2019 Back-To-School Guide3

IntroductionEvery student can succeed with the help of at least one caring adult. Great educators know they have the power to

transform lives. It is about developing relationships based on mutual respect and trust, helping students develop a growth

mindset, and fostering students’ confidence and self-efficacy so they believe in themselves and their abilities to succeed.

Social and emotional learning (SEL) is not an educational trend — it is a necessary part of successful holistic teaching

practices. But, do we understand SEL well enough to teach it?

Exploring/managing emotions and learning how to work with others is a lifelong process. To be effective at teaching

SEL, a successful educator needs to:

• Understand social and emotional competencies

• Know how social and emotional skills impact learning

• Be trained in effective ways to teach SEL to students

• Work on understanding their own social and emotional competence

We are here to help! This Back-to-School Guide is filled with resources, activities, tips, and tricks to help you kick off the

new school year with SEL. We’ve included resources to help you better understand SEL and improve your own social and

emotional skills. We’ve also included plenty of lessons, activities, and strategies to teach these skills to students.

Use this guide to get through that busy first week of school and as a resource throughout the year. Pick and choose

which articles are most relevant to your needs, and have fun improving student success with SEL!

For additional resources, contact our experts to learn more about how Aperture can help you and your students

succeed this year. Together, we can create an SEL initiative that meets everyone’s needs.

We would like to thank our partners and friends who have contributed to this year's Back to School Guide. We are

proud to share their messages, which you'll find throughout the guide. Enjoy!

The Story of Aperture EducationBringing the Whole Child Into FocusAperture Education is a social enterprise focused on addressing the whole child. Our social and emotional learning (SEL)

solutions allow educators to measure, strengthen, and support social-emotional competence in K-12 youth and themselves.

Our DESSA Comprehensive SEL System includes a suite of strength-based assessments, a universal screener that

can be administered in less than a minute (the DESSA-mini), and growth strategies and foundational practices to

strengthen social and emotional competence. Actionable data and reporting helps SEL program administrators

measure the impact of their programs and helps educators understand students’ SEL strengths and needs.

Our RootsAperture originated from two organizations in 2017 —

the Devereux Center for Resilient Children, a non-profit

focused on creating resilient children, and Apperson, Inc.,

a for-profit focused on making sure educators have good

data to make great instructional decisions. To realize

their shared goals, a partnership was born: Aperture

Education. We are a company rooted in the belief that

our children hold the promise for a better tomorrow

with an obligation to ensure that they have the skills and

mindsets necessary to be good stewards of our future.

We are invested in helping educators, families, and

the community learn more about SEL and the positive

impact it has on our youth. Our website includes many

helpful SEL resources, including white papers, customer

spotlights, blogs, and webinars. Whether you are new to

SEL or are looking to expand your knowledge, check out

our tools for the latest information and updates.

Our MissionThe mission of Aperture Education is to ensure that all

members of school and out-of-school communities, both

children and adults, have the social and emotional skills

to be successful, productive, and happy.

Our ApproachOur award-winning system offers a strength-based

approach to assessing and supporting the growth of

social and emotional skills for both students and staff. Our

DESSA Comprehensive SEL System provides accurate

and actionable social and emotional data as well as

research-based resources for students. Additionally, we

have JUST launched Educator Social-Emotional Reflection

& Training (EdSERT), a social and emotional assessment

and resource toolkit designed to measure and increase

educators’ social and emotional skills.

At Aperture Education, our main focus is to promote

the resilience and social and emotional strengths of all

children. Like the aperture of a camera, we regularly

adjust our lens to ensure our focus remains on

supporting the social and emotional development of

children and the adults who support them.

+ =

2019 Back-To-School Guide5

All Educators

5 SEL Activities That Can Reduce Bullying Incidents in Your School Everyone is affected by bullying.

Students who bully others are more likely to demonstrate

violent or criminal behavior and abuse drugs and alcohol.

Victims of bullying can experience depression, loneliness,

and anxiety — all of which can last into adulthood. Even

students who witness bullying have shown to suffer

higher rates of drug and alcohol use, mental health

problems, and school absences. Additionally, bullying

negatively affects the academic performance of all

students involved.

Social and emotional learning (SEL) can help prevent and

mitigate the effects of bullying. For students who bully

others, SEL can help decrease aggressive and controlling

behavior and increase their ability to be respectful and kind.

For victims of bullying, SEL can help improve confidence

and self-worth and reduce social withdrawal. SEL can also

positively transform a school’s climate and culture and help

all students learn the skills needed to cooperate, empathize,

and form healthy relationships with others.

Here are four ways SEL can help reduce bullying. We hope

you explore these lessons, activities, and resources with

your students and act against bullying today with SEL!

1. Build Peer-to-Peer FriendshipsBoth students who bully and victims of bullying typically

have fewer friends than their peers, so they can benefit

from learning how to create healthy relationships.

SEL teaches students how to respect, empathize, and

cooperate with others. It can also increase students’

confidence, social engagement, and relationship skills.

Teaching these skills to all students can improve social

relationships and reduce negative social hierarchies that

promote exclusion, fear, and resentment.

Take Action: There are many resources to help you

foster healthy relationships among students. We’ve listed

a few of our favorites to get you started.

• A Brilliant Activity to Teach Healthy Relationships

• Fostering Relationships in the Classroom

• Classroom Activities to Help Students Make

Friends

• Making Friends: 10 Team-Building Games for

Students

2. Build Strong Teacher-Student RelationshipsIt should come as no surprise that school safety and

incidents of bullying can be reduced when educators

foster caring and supportive relationships with students.

Poor or unhealthy relationships are a major risk factor for

poor academic performance and increase the likelihood

a student will engage in negative behaviors such as

bullying. Strong student-teacher relationships have shown

to positively impact students’ behavior and academic

achievement. These benefits are long-lasting and can help

students become healthy, productive members of society.

Take Action: Prioritize strengthening relationships

with your students. Show them that you care about them

and a create consistent structure/consistent structures,

rules, and disciplinary practices. Check out our article

3 Strategies for Building Relationships with Students

for more actionable tips.

3. Create Safe Spaces for Your StudentsSome of your students likely come from difficult

backgrounds. Low income, poor relationships at home,

and domestic violence can contribute to bullying

2019 Back-To-School Guide7

behavior. By involving students in creating a safe, caring

environment in your classroom or afterschool program,

you can teach them that they have the power to spread

kindness — even if it’s lacking in other parts of their lives.

Take Action: Our School Safety whitepaper

shows educators how they can create safe learning

spaces for their students. Included are actionable tips,

resources, and practical ways to foster a positive learning

environment where all students can thrive.

4. Teach EmpathyIncidents of bullying are reduced when students

demonstrate empathy toward others. Students need

to learn how to identify and understand the feelings

of others. Strengthening their perceptive-taking skills

can lead to an increased ability to show kindness

and compassion. Increased empathy can also lead to

decreased aggressive behavior, both verbal and physical.

Take Action: Try these 27 activities to teach empathy

to pre-K through 12th grade students.

5. Teach Student Bystanders How They Can HelpStudents witness acts of bullying every day. Many feel

powerless against it. They may not know how to stop

bullying or fear that if they act against it, the bully will

target them or they will lose social status. To effectively

stop bullying, schools need to create a school culture

and climate that actively stands against bullying. An

important part of this is giving bystanders the skills they

need to stand up to bullying.

Take Action: The Australian Safe and Supportive

School Communities (SSSC) has compiled Active

Bystanders Lesson Plans to help students speak out

and act against bullying. Use these lessons to improve

students’ social and emotional skills and help them

identify bullying and act when they see it.

Bullying is a serious problem in schools, and it has a

negative impact on all who are involved. Schools can

reduce bullying with SEL. Building students’ social and

emotional skills can give students the tools to end

bullying and promote a positive school culture where

everyone feels valued and safe.

Contact our SEL experts to chat about ways you can reduce bullying incidents with SEL.

For more ideas on how to reduce bullying in your school with SEL, check out the following resources:

• How SEL Can Help Reduce Bullying

• {Webinar} Using Near-Peer Mentors to Progress

Monitor & Foster Social and Emotional Skills

Learn More

Taproot Learning is a highly engaging digital Social

and Emotional Learning curriculum designed for

classroom and counselor delivery. Through digital

animation, peer video modeling, and interactive

activities, students K-5 meet all SEL Standards.

ApertureEd.com / info@ApertureEd.com / 1.844.685.2499 / 100 Main Street, Suite 201 Fort Mill, SC 297158

Reduce Chronic Absenteeism with a Quality SEL ProgramThe first weeks of school are crucial for student success.

Research shows that nine out of 10 students who missed

five or more days in the first month of school went on to

be chronically absent for the year.

Attendance rates have long been used as a metric for

measuring early warning and student performance. Chronic

absenteeism goes a step further by measuring the number

of days a student misses and how many students miss 10

percent or more of the school year. Research shows that

chronically absent students are at-risk of academic failure,

dropping out, and even criminal behavior.

SEL’s Role in Solving Chronic AbsenteeismA growing body of evidence shows that improving

a school’s climate and culture can reduce chronic

absences. A recent study by the Hamilton Project found

that schools have lower absentee rates when students

feel their school climate and culture is caring and

supportive of them.

Social and emotional learning (SEL) programs can play

an integral role in improving school climate and culture,

especially in schools with diverse student populations.

This in turn can reduce chronic absences. Extensive

research has shown that in addition to increasing

student achievement, SEL fosters a positive school

climate and culture and promotes prosocial behaviors

such as kindness, empathy, sharing, and compassion.

SEL programs also can engage students in learning,

get them excited about school, and reduce depression

and stress — all factors critical to student attendance.

To meet the needs of students, and dispel a culture of

chronic absenteeism, schools must create safe, caring,

and supportive environments where all students feel

accepted and can thrive.

How does your state rate in its number of chronically absent students?

Use this interactive map to find out.

Using SEL to Solve Chronic Absenteeism in Your SchoolsSchools looking to reduce chronic absences by improving

climate and culture should consider implementing an

SEL framework that includes school- and district-wide

practices, classroom instruction, assessment, and family

and community outreach. Activities may include:

• Forming a workgroup tasked to improve a school’s

climate and culture through SEL

• Teaching educators about SEL and how to teach it to

students

• Establishing school-wide norms, expectations, and

values around SEL

• Developing bullying prevention programs

• Taking time for SEL assessment and instruction

• Making efforts to promote strong and positive

educator-student, educator-educator, and student-

student connections

• Integrating SEL into multi-tiered systems of support

(MTSS) — counselors, social workers, psychologists,

etc., should work together to promote and reinforce

a school’s overall SEL system

School climate and culture and SEL go hand-in-hand with

reducing chronic absences and have a deep impact on

student achievement. Strong evidence shows that SEL

can establish a positive school climate and culture where

attendance rates increase because students feel safe,

supported, and engaged in learning.

Contact our experts at Aperture Education to learn how

to reduce chronic absences by implementing a successful

SEL framework in your school or district.

Download Our WhitepaperStudents need to attend school to learn. When students are

chronically absent, they are at increased risk of academic

failure, dropping out, and even criminal behavior. Learn

how SEL can reduce chronic absenteeism by creating a

positive and caring school climate and culture.

Promoting Educational Equity Through PBIS and SELResearch shows that students of color (especially

African-American students) receive significantly higher

rates of disciplinary action: more office referrals, more

suspensions, and more expulsions. Disciplinary action

can have lasting effects on students and may impact

their future education, employment, and income.

As educators, it is important to implement educational

equity in our schools and communities to ensure that

all students are treated fairly — no matter their race,

ethnicity, gender, family income, disability, cultural

background, or religious affiliation.

Where to StartEducators are addressing unconscious bias and equity

in schools with a multi-tiered strategy that includes

shifting disciplinary practices within a Positive Behavior

Intervention & Supports (PBIS) framework and building

social and emotional competence for students and

staff. Social and emotional learning (SEL) and PBIS work

together to address the root cause of disproportionate

disciplinary actions and referrals while simultaneously

providing a flexible framework that addresses the unique

needs of a school.

PBIS and SEL can be integrated into a range of school

practices and procedures, including new teacher

onboarding processes focused on equity, collaborative

professional learning, district policies aimed at reducing

suspensions, and restorative practices. Using SEL and

PBIS, schools and districts are able to:

• Help staff and students build prosocial skills

• Establish a school environment that encourages

positive student behavior

• Utilize multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) to

meet the needs of all students

• Promote culturally responsive teaching whereby

every student is treated fairly

Equitable SEL In PracticeTo disrupt inequity in schools, as educators, we need

to examine our own unconscious biases and strive to

overcome them. View the graphic on the following page

for ways SEL can help educators begin this process.

To truly address equity in schools, we need to understand

how discipline disparities and unrealized bias impact

students of color. The best approaches to achieving equity

include a multi-tiered system that uses PBIS and SEL.

To learn more, contact our experts at Aperture Education.

Terms to Know:Educational Equity refers to providing all students

access to the resources they need to learn and succeed.

Unconscious Bias happens when a person is

unknowingly influenced by either positive or negative

stereotypes in their decisions. Unconscious bias can happen

even if the person knows the stereotype to be inaccurate.

Positive Behavior Intervention & Supports (PBIS) uses evidence-based strategies

and systems designed to increase academic

performance and safety, decrease problem behavior,

and establish positive school cultures.

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is the

process through which children and adults acquire and

effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills

necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and

achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others,

establish and maintain positive relationships, and make

responsible decisions. — The Collaborative for Academic,

Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL).

2019 Back-To-School Guide11

Learn More

Teach your students about positive character

traits while also teaching them about

prominent figures past and present. One of

our favorites is the amazing story of Jane

Goodall and her work with chimpanzees.

To access the links in this graphic, download it here.

Learn More

Kickboard’s classroom behavior management

solutions & training help schools implement

equitable PBIS, SEL & RtI programs.

ApertureEd.com / info@ApertureEd.com / 1.844.685.2499 / 100 Main Street, Suite 201 Fort Mill, SC 2971512

3 Ways SEL Can Support Trauma-Informed Practices Traumatic events — mass shootings, environmental disasters, migrant transition shock, reports of neglect and abuse —

constantly make top news headlines these days. Many students across our nation are affected by trauma every day. This

trauma can have deep and lasting impacts on students’ core beliefs about others, their environment, and themselves.

Now more than ever, schools must focus on ensuring safe, supportive learning environments. There are many ways

social and emotional learning (SEL) can help schools help students who suffer from trauma. Take action by focusing

on three core social and emotional competencies that can support trauma-informed practices.

1. Relationship SkillsRelationship skills are critical to students’ success. The

ability to maintain healthy and rewarding relationships

depends on clear communication, listening, cooperating

with others, standing up to peer pressure, and seeking

and offering help when needed.

Research shows that traumatic incidents can affect

students’ learning, behavior, and relationships with

teachers and peers. Students who’ve experienced

trauma may have difficulty focusing and processing new

information, show more signs of aggression and bullying,

find it difficult to trust others, and view authority figures

with suspicion.

Take Action: Implement restorative practices to help

students establish, develop, and restore caring, nurturing

relationships. Promote positive and healthy peer-to-peer

relationships by giving students plenty of opportunities

to practice teamwork and collaborate with one another.

Encourage educators to foster strong educator-to-peer

relationships by sharing how they themselves have

overcome a traumatic or stressful situation.

2. Self-awarenessSelf-awareness helps students identify their emotions

and understand how their thoughts and values impact

their behavior. A well-grounded self-awareness relies on

confidence and self-efficacy.

Students suffering from trauma deal with strong

emotions. When students experience a traumatic event,

they commonly go through a brief period of anxiety and

depression. Research shows that students with a growth

mindset are more likely to maintain a sense of control

over their lives. Students are able to recognize that the

volatile period after a traumatic event is a temporary

state, and a growth mindset equips them with the tools

needed to bounce back.

Take Action: Nurture growth mindsets so students

are able to move past depression. Provide opportunities

for students to talk through their thoughts, feelings,

values, and emotions so they are able to process what

they are feeling in a constructive way.

Download our free Growth Mindset poster

2019 Back-To-School Guide13

3. Self-management Self-management helps students regulate their emotions,

thoughts, and behavior. It also helps students manage

stress and control impulses.

There is evidence that repeated traumatic experiences

can cause students to live in a “constant state of

emergency.” Our normal “fight,” “flight,” or “freeze”

responses to stressful situations result in stress

hormones being released in the brain. Trauma can make

this response dangerous and can lead to an over-active

stress system.

Take Action: There are many ways to help students

manage their stress and emotions. Engage them in

journaling activities, deep-breathing exercises, role-

playing, and relaxation techniques. Promote a healthy

diet and exercise to relieve stress. Most importantly,

encourage students to seek help if they feel their stress

or negative emotions are becoming unmanageable.

Schools can tap into SEL to help students work through

trauma. Helping students build strong relationships,

understand and manage their emotions, and find

healthy ways to alleviate stress can go a long way toward

teaching them to work through trauma.

Interested in learning more about how SEL can support trauma-informed practices? Our experts at Aperture are here to help.

Learn More

The DESSA-mini is a reliable tool for progress

monitoring that can be completed in under a minute.

SEL Goals for IEPs: Why They Are Important and How to Write Them It is no secret that students with disabilities can struggle socially and have difficulty managing their emotions.

Sometimes these deficits can impact their ability to learn and thrive in the classroom and beyond.

Since 1975, schools have used Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) to outline learning goals for students with

disabilities and services schools must provide to meet those objectives. IEPs often center around academic goals.

However, schools are increasingly integrating SEL goals into IEPs to better prepare students for academic success.

How to Construct SEL IEP GoalsWhen writing SEL IEP goals, follow the same careful

structure and planning procedure used in establishing

academic IEP goals. Each goal must include a carefully

articulated objective, detail on how progress will be

measured, and documented services that will be

provided to help the student meet the goal. Like any IEP

objective, an SEL goal should include specifics:

• time frame

• a goal or action

• the setting or context of where the goal will be

measured

• how the goal will be measured

• expected accuracy

• acceptable prompts or supports (if applicable)

Here is an example of a well-defined SEL IEP goal:

“By October 2019, Joey will improve his rate of on-

task behavior from 75 percent to 90 percent during

large group instruction time, as measured by weekly,

20-minute momentary time sampling observations by

special education staff.”

Dos and Don’ts for Writing SEL IEP GoalsThe best IEP goals are measurable, meaningful, and are

designed to teach a desired behavior. When drafting an

SEL goal, consider the following:

Define a specific skill and/or behavior that is objective and can be observed.

For example, “Student will increase her rate of sharing

supplies willingly with others from 50 percent of

opportunities to 90 percent of opportunities.”

Design the goal around what the student will do, not what he will not do.

For example, use “Student will increase his use of

self-regulation and calming strategies” instead of

“Student will reduce the number of discipline referrals

he receives.”

Monitor the behavior frequently enough to make informed decisions about the student’s progress with specific skills.

Ensure that the amount of time you are dedicating

to observation is enough to make a decision that will

validate the student’s progress or lack thereof (i.e.

more than once or twice a semester).

Learn More

Helping your child with ADHD doesn’t have to

feel so complicated. Esteem is a free app that

simplifies ADHD care for parents.

2019 Back-To-School Guide15

Measure student behavior, not adult behavior.

Strive to improve a student’s rate of following

directions, rather than trying to limit the number times

a student needs redirection.

Do not set expectations of special education students higher than those of general education peers.

No student is 100 percent on task 100 percent of

the time. Build leeway into your goals; striving for

meaningful progress instead of perfection.

*Source: St. Croix River Education District, MN

Example SEL IEP GoalsThe Redmond, Oregon, IEP Goals and Objectives Bank is

a helpful resource that organizes IEP goals by content area

and includes academic goals as well as social and emotional

goals. Here are a number of sample SEL goals to help you

get started (click on the link above for the full list):

• Express anger appropriately by using words to

state feelings

• Respond to teasing from peers appropriately

• Name ways people show approval/disapproval

• Appropriately seek help from a teacher, when needed

• Describe the situations in which a student may

experience a given emotion.

• Correctly identify emotions (happy, scared, angry,

sad) from a set of pictures

• Continue to maintain appropriate behavior even

when frustrated

• Identify signs of anxiety and stress in self and others

• Engage in cooperative play with at least one other peer

• Learn and follow the rules when playing an

organized game

• Offer to help a teacher or peer at an

appropriate time

• Refrain from interrupting others in conversation

• Cooperate with peers without prompting

• Maintain appropriate space and boundaries

• Describe steps in making a decision

• Set realistic personal goal(s)

Including SEL goals in IEPs can help educators better

support the needs of the whole child and maximize student

success. Aperture Education can support measurable IEP

objectives with the DESSA Comprehensive SEL System.

To learn more about the DESSA and how to incorporate SEL goals into IEPs, contact our experts today.

Additional Resources50 Great Websites for Special Needs Educators

The School Psych Toolbox — “Useful tips, tools,

strategies, and topics for School Psychologists, Special

Educators, Teachers, Administrators, and Parents of

students at-risk and with disabilities.”

Colorado Department of Education’s “Writing

Standards-aligned Individualized Education Programs

(IEPs): A Supplemental Guidance Document for

Designing Effective Formal Educational Plans”

Learn More

I-LEADR provides high impact professional development

around total school improvement and offer a seamless

online solution for schools and districts implementing

MTSS with RtI:Stored!. This digital data and

documentation platform eliminates implementation

barriers. Every student deserves an opportunity for high

quality instruction, every day, whatever it takes.

ApertureEd.com / info@ApertureEd.com / 1.844.685.2499 / 100 Main Street, Suite 201 Fort Mill, SC 2971516

Integrate SEL into Your RtI Framework in 9 Simple StepsMany educators don’t realize how easy

it is to embed social and emotional

learning (SEL) into their Response

to Intervention (RtI) plan. SEL can

strengthen RtI by helping educators

understand why a student is struggling,

and this can help educators be more

proactive in identifying and addressing

students’ needs.

Check out these 9 steps to learn how

easy it is to integrate SEL into your RtI

framework.

Get started strengthening your RtI

framework with SEL. You will be able

to better identify students in need of

extra support, understand why they are

struggling, and create tailored interventions

to guide them toward success.

Interested in learning more? Contact our SEL experts today.

Download & Print the Steps

2019 Back-To-School Guide17

SEL for Educators: 10 Activities to De-Stress

Working in education is extremely rewarding, but there are days that feel extremely difficult and stressful, too. Some

stress is perfectly normal, but if it gets out of control, stress can potentially lead to harmful health concerns like

hypertension, headaches, or even anxiety and depression.

This school year, be proactive about keeping your stress levels under control. Try these 10 de-stressing activities to

find out which work best for you.

1. Stress TriggersStress can be caused by many

different factors — long hours, unruly

students, piles of papers to grade,

administrative observations, etc.

Make a list of all the work-related

stressors in your life then make a

note of those you have control over

and those you do not. Begin tackling

the list by choosing one or two items

you have some control over that

cause you the most stress. Create a

plan to manage the stressor(s), write

down a goal, and create accountable

measures to help you follow through.

2. Deep BreathingDeep breathing can have a powerful

physical affect in reducing tension

and helping the body relax. Clinical

research shows that regular deep

breathing exercises affect the heart,

the brain, digestion, and the immune

system. They can have immediate

results and can also be used to

reduce the production of harmful

stress hormones. 

Try the equal breaths exercise.

Breath in for a count of four, and

out for a count of four. Continue

for a few rounds, then try adding

an extra count (in for a count of

five, out for a count of five). You can

continue this exercise until you feel

your stress levels decreasing and

your heart rate lowering.

3. Sleep We’ve all been there — staying up too

late to grade assignments or prepare

for tomorrow’s meetings. But getting

enough sleep is critical to your health

and to reducing stress. Try setting

an alarm for when it is time for bed

and do your best to get seven to

eight hours of sleep each night. Most

smartphones also have a feature that

reduces blue light in the evenings

— try putting your phone on this

setting after 10 p.m. to help your eyes

relax. Maximize the sleep you do get

by “unplugging” (i.e. turning off the

computer, phone, TV, etc.) an hour

before bed.

4. Good NutritionA healthy diet does wonders for

your health and state of mind. Eat

nutritious foods and avoid too many

fatty or sugary foods that deplete

your energy. Also be sure to drink

plenty of water. An estimated 75

percent of people in the U.S. are

chronically dehydrated. A good

rule of thumb is to drink eight,

eight-ounce glasses of water every

day. You may need more or less

depending on the climate you live

in, your body type, how much you

exercise, etc.

5. ExerciseGetting enough exercise is critical

to your health and can also alleviate

stress. Go for a 20-minute walk,

take a yoga class, or join a softball

league. Prioritize this time and use

it to clear your head: You will feel

more energized and will be much

healthier. According to the Harvard

Medical School, regular aerobic

exercise (like walking) can help

boost memory and critical thinking,

improve sleep, and reduce anxiety.

6. Support NetworkEstablishing a good support

network is critical to maintaining

healthy stress levels throughout

the school year. Lean on your

colleagues for advice, trade ideas,

and create mentoring relationships.

ApertureEd.com / info@ApertureEd.com / 1.844.685.2499 / 100 Main Street, Suite 201 Fort Mill, SC 2971518

Friends and family can also provide

invaluable support by lending an

ear on especially difficult days. You

can further expand your network

through educator-based online

support networks and learning

communities. Join one or more, and

share in a wealth of knowledge from

educators across the country.

7. OrganizationBeing organized is a proactive way

to reduce stress during the school

year. Just think about how much

time you waste searching through

email or computer files to find what

you need, rewriting misplaced work,

or trying to manage your calendars.

Setting an organization plan now —

and sticking to it — can help reduce

stress, improve efficiency, and make

you a more effective educator.

8. MeditationMeditation, or mindful awareness,

can have a tremendous impact on

your ability to de-stress. Meditation

has been practiced for thousands

of years and can bring clarity to

your thoughts and promote peace

and balance. Even a few minutes of

meditation can significantly reduce

stress. Here are some different

techniques to try. 

9. Visualization Visualization is another effective

tactic for reducing stress. Give it a

try. Sit comfortably and think about

a peaceful scene (a beach, the

mountains, a favorite spot in your

neighborhood). Visualize yourself

realizing a goal.

10. LaughterHaving a sense of humor will do

wonders for relieving stress. As an

educator, you need to learn to find

humor in unexpected places and

laugh at things you may initially find

irritating. According to the Mayo

Clinic, laughter promotes a stronger

immune system, increases your

ability to cope with difficult situations,

and can improve your mood by

lessening depression and anxiety.

We all know that the school year can be stressful. It is critical for your health — both physically and mentally — to develop a plan to tackle stress before you get overwhelmed. Try these SEL activities to determine which de-stressing methods work best for you, and then put them to use this school year!

2019 Back-To-School Guide19

10 Binge-worthy SEL WebinarsWho needs Netflix?! We’ve pulled together a list of binge-worthy webinars to help you stay up-to-speed on social and

emotional learning (SEL) research, implementation strategies, and best practices.

Below is a handy list of our best SEL webinars and why you should watch them.

SEL Data and the DESSA1. The DESSA Uncovered: What it is,

What it’s Not, and Everything in Between

Featuring Aperture Education’s Vice President of Research &

Development, Paul LeBuffe

Learn about Aperture Education’s flagship assessment,

the Devereux Student Strengths Assessment (DESSA),

and how it improves student outcomes.

2. Assessing Social and Emotional Strengths:

What, Why, and How?

Featuring Amanda Nickerson, professor of school psychology

and Director of the Alberti Center for Bullying Abuse Prevention,

University at Buffalo, the State University of New York

Learn about the power of SEL data and how educators can

use the DESSA to measure students’ social and emotional

competence and improve their academic outcomes.

3. Integrating SEL Using Data: A District’s Key

to Success

Featuring Sudbury Public Schools, Massachusetts,

and Open Circle

Learn how this district was able to improve student

achievement with the DESSA and the Open Circle

SEL program.

PBIS, MTSS, and School Climate4. How to Implement an SEL Program within

Multi-Tiered Systems of Support [Case Study]

Featuring a panel of five school psychologists and the

Director of Special Services for Port Washington-Saukville

School District, Wisconsin

Get an exclusive look into how this district has woven SEL

into their multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS).

5. The Behavior Side of the Triangle: Making

Strides to Support Social and Emotional Learning

Featuring Susan Astone, Burlington Public Schools,

Massachusetts

Follow this district’s journey through their planning

phase and first-year implementation of their SEL

program. Learn how the program supports their Positive

Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and

Responsive Classroom initiatives.

Open Circle provides a unique, evidence-based SEL

program for grades K-5 that proactively develops

children’s social and emotional skills and helps schools

develop a safe and supportive learning community. The

DESSA aligns to the Open Circle curriculum and helps

improve student achievement.

Learn More

ApertureEd.com / info@ApertureEd.com / 1.844.685.2499 / 100 Main Street, Suite 201 Fort Mill, SC 2971520

6. [Case Study] Combining PBIS and SEL

Measures to Inform Behavior Interventions

Featuring Kickboard and Gabriella Charter Schools

Learn how this school is integrating SEL and PBIS using

the Kickboard Platform and the DESSA System.

7. Promoting Positive School Climate: A Social and

Emotional & Character Development Approach

Featuring Danielle Hatchimonji, Rutgers University

Get tips and advice from education expert and

researcher Danielle Hatchimonji on how to foster a

positive school climate with SEL.

SEL Implementation8. How to Launch SEL at Your School

Featuring SEL consultant, Cheryl Harmer, Ed.D.

In this webinar, Harmer provides an overview of the research

behind SEL and shares specific, actionable steps to get a

successful SEL program up and running in your school.

Equity and SEL9. Advancing Equity with the DESSA:

Practical Applications to a Crucial Issue

Featuring Aperture Education’s Vice President of Research &

Development, Paul LeBuffe

Learn how to advance educational equity through specific,

practical tools and strategies embedded in the DESSA.

SEL and Special Education10. The DESSA in Special Ed Setting

Featuring Dave Adams, Urban Assembly

This webinar looks at how SEL and the DESSA can be

used to support students with special learning needs.

Our popular SEL webinars will help you stay current

on SEL research, implementation strategies, and best

practices. Grab some popcorn and enjoy!

Looking for a quality SEL assessment to support your SEL program? Contact our SEL experts and let’s start a conversation.

Learn More

Want more? Check out over 30 of our archived webinars

on various topics relating to SEL.

Leadership

How to Secure Funding for Your SEL ProgramJust like reading and math programs, social and emotional learning (SEL)

programs require sustainable funding. Staff planning time and training,

quality SEL curriculum and assessments, and implementation consultants are

all important components of any successful SEL program, but each of these

require funding a school may not readily have.

There are many funding sources for SEL programs, including local and state

education agencies, private foundations, and federal programs. You need to

know how to find and access these sources so you know what options are

available to you.

To ensure you have the funds you need to support your program, we’ve provided

ideas, tools, and resources that will help you launch — and sustain — a successful

SEL program.

1. Figure Out Your SEL BudgetWhether you are just beginning an

SEL program pilot or are expanding

SEL curriculum and assessments

across your entire district, you

will need to map out a budget to

support your plan. A great resource

to help you work through the

process is CASEL’s “Roadmap to

Financial Sustainability.” This tool

includes actual site SEL budgets,

handy budget calculators, and case

studies about a variety of district SEL

program implementations. Review

these models and use them to guide

you through crafting an SEL program

that will work for your district.

2. Broaden Your SEL Research VocabularyWhen looking for funding, it is

important to keep in mind the broad

range of terminology that describes

the many different aspects of SEL.

Widening your search beyond the

general term “SEL” will increase your

search results. Here are some phrases

to consider to broaden the net:

• social and emotional skills

• social and emotional

competencies

• school climate and culture

• character education

• conflict resolution

• bullying prevention

• resilience building

• school safety

• positive youth development

• 21st century skills

• chronic absenteeism

• personalized learning

• differentiated learning

• college and career readiness

Learn More

GrantsAlert.com is your one-stop for finding current grant

funding opportunities. With featured grant opportunities,

a database of current grants by state and interest,

grant writing resources and tips, and information about

fundraising, this site contains free, easy-to-navigate

knowledge and insights all about funding. Need help with

more, contact the Funding Doctor at info@grantsalert.com

2019 Back-To-School Guide23

3. Increase Awareness of SEL with Community Leaders Cultivating local support and awareness of your SEL

program will go a long way toward increasing state

and local SEL funding. State and local funding sources

comprise the bulk of K-12 funding, so it is vital to inform

decision makers on why SEL should be prioritized. Start

a campaign to educate community leaders, school

board members, and superintendents about the short-

and long-term benefits of SEL. Help local leadership

understand that investing in SEL now will help more

students graduate, and every dollar invested in SEL

ultimately results in eleven dollars in future gains

to the economy. Once community leaders are bought

in, they are more likely to support sustainable funding

sources for SEL.

4. Identify Funding SourcesFrom federal legislation assistance to private and

government grants, there are many funding sources local

education agencies and out-of-school organizations can

use to support SEL programs. Here are some resources

to get you the funding you need:

• We’ve provided an extensive list of SEL revenue

sources and done much of the research for you to

identify federal programs and grants that support SEL.

• Peering Through the Funding Looking Glass: This

recorded webinar provides an overview of available

funding sources — some you may not know you have!

• Social Emotional Learning Innovation Fund:

Since 2016, NoVo Foundation, in partnership

with Education First and Rockefeller Philanthropy

Advisors, has provided seed grants to educators and

districts to support their SEL initiatives.

• Understanding Grants, Securing Implementation

Funding, Creating Sustainability: This guide

provides resources, tips, and insight into how to

fund your SEL program with sustainable funds.

We understand the importance of long-term funding to support your SEL program. Our experts are happy to help you explore funding resources and programs that will increase the longevity and sustainability of your SEL program. Contact us today.

ApertureEd.com / info@ApertureEd.com / 1.844.685.2499 / 100 Main Street, Suite 201 Fort Mill, SC 2971524

Launch an SEL Program in 8 Steps (And Start Today!)Do you believe in social and emotional learning (SEL)

but just don’t know how to get started? You’re not alone.

Many administrators and educators are invested in SEL

and want to launch an SEL program, but they don’t know

how to take the first steps.

If you’re feeling stuck, here are eight things you can do to

get your SEL program up and running.

1. Identify SEL Funding Sources Like any initiative, your SEL program requires a detailed

budget and sustainable funding. Check out our blog post,

How to Secure Funding for Your SEL Program, to learn

how to estimate program costs and get tips for securing

long-term funding for your SEL program.

2. Research and Evaluate SEL ProgramsTake the time to research and evaluate SEL programs and

create a plan that will meet the needs of your school. Involve

education stakeholders in the process to obtain feedback

and gain buy-in. Start establishing goals and benchmarks so

you are able to measure accountability down the road.

3. Create an Initial Plan and Identify Pilot SchoolsIt is important to do your due diligence and create a

viable, sustainable plan for your program. Get assistance

from your stakeholders by forming an SEL leadership

team you can train to promote the program, ensure

implementation fidelity, and eventually, become valuable

resources for schools when you launch the full-scale

program. Here are a few additional tips to consider

when creating your initial plan.

4. Launch a Pilot ProgramTrain your pilot school staff and provide continual

professional development opportunities throughout the

year. Gather data and feedback on the SEL program and

make any needed adjustments. Check out our Principals’

Guide for more tips on implementation as well as overall

strategies to make your program a success.

Assess and support student growth with the DESSA

SEL Inventory on Kickboard, a classroom behavior

management solution to help schools implement

successful SEL, PBIS & RTI programs.

Learn More

5. Embed SEL Into Your District PracticesThe most successful SEL programs are those that are

integrated within district practices. Staff tend to be more

engaged and committed to programs when they know it

is a district priority. Consider adding SEL language to your

district’s strategic plan, policies, and messaging. Train all

staff on SEL and include SEL support in your central office.

6. Assess, Evaluate, and Plan for Next YearChoose a quality, research-informed SEL assessment,

like the Devereux Student Strengths Assessment

(DESSA), to collect data on program effectiveness. Also,

meet with stakeholders to hear about challenges they

face and their success stories. Use this data to make

improvements to your program.

Learn More Join us for the 2019 Whole Child Conference October 24 in Durham, NC. Registration now open!

7. Roll Out a Full ImplementationAt this point, you’re ready to launch a wide-scale SEL

program across your district. Replicate your pilot

program and provide adequate training and planning

time for staff. Utilize SEL assessment data to identify

district-wide trends and areas of need.

8. Continue to Monitor, Evaluate, and ImproveEnsure the sustainability of your SEL program by

continually monitoring implementation, evaluating what is

and is not working, and making adjustments as needed.

We hope you find these tips and resources helpful as you begin to build your own SEL program. Check out our website for even more resources, including whitepapers, playbooks, and blog posts, or contact our SEL experts today.

ApertureEd.com / info@ApertureEd.com / 1.844.685.2499 / 100 Main Street, Suite 201 Fort Mill, SC 2971526

The ROI of SEL Programs Just Might Surprise YouResearch has well-established that effective social and emotional learning (SEL) programming can lead to improved

grades, higher attendance rates, and better behavior. But, does SEL result in long-term benefits to society? What is the

return on investment (ROI) of SEL programs and assessments?

We pulled together results from numerous studies on SEL’s long-term impact and ROI rates. These numbers just

might surprise you!

Much research shows that investing

in effective SEL programs and

assessments pays off in both the

short- and long-term. SEL not only

improves educational achievement

but it also promotes lasting benefits

to society. Helping students develop

strong social-emotional skills will give

them the tools they need to succeed

and become productive members

of society — and that outcome is

priceless.

References:1. Durlak, J. A., Domitrovich, C. E., Weissberg, R.

P., & Gullotta, T. P. (Eds.). (2015). Handbook of social and emotional learning: Research and practice. New York, NY: Guilford Publications.

2. Durlak, J., Weissberg, R., Dymnicki, A., Taylor, R., & Schellinger, K. (2011). The impact of enhancing students’ social and emotional learning: A meta-analysis of school-based universal interventions. Child Development, 82(1), 405-432.

3. Lee, S., Aos, S., Drake, E., Pennucci, A., Miller, M., & Anderson, L. (2012). Return on Investment. Evidence-based options to improve statewide outcomes. (Document No. 12-04-1201). Olympia: Washington State Institute for Public Policy.

Download

2019 Back-To-School Guide27

6 Tips for Leading Highly Effective SEL Professional DevelopmentEffective professional development doesn’t start and end on training day. There is a lot of planning and preparation

that takes place beforehand. And afterwards, staff need coaching and ongoing support.

Follow these steps to ensure your social and emotional training is engaging, inspiring, and effective at preparing your

staff for sustainable success.

Want to download this graphic? Click here.

Aperture Education can help you create highly effective SEL professional development and a quality implementation

that will improve student outcomes long-term. Contact us to learn more.

ApertureEd.com / info@ApertureEd.com / 1.844.685.2499 / 100 Main Street, Suite 201 Fort Mill, SC 2971528

SEL for Adults: Become a Better Educator with EdSERT Educators need social and emotional learning (SEL) just

as much as students do.

We expect educators to teach these important skills

to students, but not all feel prepared to successfully

deliver SEL programming. All educators can benefit from

increasing their own social and emotional competence.

Strong social and emotional skills can help educators deal

with stress, better empathize with their students, and

build caring relationships with students.

Because of this need, we’ve made it a top priority to

address educators’ SEL needs. Our newest tool, Educator

Social-Emotional Reflection & Training (EdSERT), is

now available and is designed to support the social and

emotional competence and well-being of educators.

EdSERT Fast Facts:• EdSERT includes professional development, self-

assessments, and strategies to help educators

increase their social and emotional skills.

• EdSERT increases educators’ knowledge and understanding of SEL and how to teach social and emotional skills to students.

• EdSERT helps educators manage their stress and

become better educators.

• All educators can benefit from EdSERT — including

administrators, teachers, counselors, and out-of-

school staff.

So much focus is placed on building students’ social

and emotional competence (and rightfully so!), but

educators need SEL too. Help your teachers increase

their SEL understanding and build social and emotional

competence with EdSERT.

Interested in learning more? Visit our website or watch our on-demand webinar about how to support educators with SEL and EdSERT.

Learn More

Dovetail Learning is a leader in customizing solutions

for social and emotional learning (SEL) and school

system improvement that transform students and

staff from the inside out. We help improve school

climate and community wellness, bringing resilience

and self-management. We are working to create a

world of kind, connected human beings.

Download a free strategy today!

2019 Back-To-School Guide29

4 Tips to Support New Teachers with SEL According to the U.S. Department of Education, sixteen percent — over half a million — of public school teachers

change schools or leave teaching every year. Nationwide, seventeen percent of new teachers leave the field

altogether within five years, and some districts see as many as fifty percent of new teachers leaving the field.

How can we better support new teachers so they retain the passion and drive that led them to teaching?

Social and emotional learning (SEL) is a great place to start. Just like students, teachers and other educators can

benefit from strengthening their social and emotional skills. This will help them better manage stress and emotional

fatigue, create strong relationships with their students, and become resilient to the many challenges that go along

with the teaching profession.

Here are four tips to get started supporting new teachers with SEL.

1. Establish Regular Meetings with School Leadership It is important to establish strong

communication and support for

new teachers with regular check-

ins. Set up 15-minute bi-weekly

meetings in which new teachers can

share about their successes and

challenges, ask questions, or bring

attention to any problems they are

having. These regular meetings will

show you care about new teachers,

value their experiences, and want to

help them succeed.

2. Train New Teachers How to Build Healthy Student Relationships Establishing strong and respectful

relationships with students is a crucial

part of effective teaching. Many new

teachers are young; sometimes there

is not a big age gap between high

school students and a teacher fresh

out of college. SEL can help young

teachers learn how to establish

healthy relationships with students.

Train new teachers on how to create

trusting student relationships while

establishing authority in a caring and

respectful way.

3. Cultivate a Mentoring ProgramVeteran teachers can be an

invaluable resource for new

teachers. Establishing a mentorship

program in your school or district, if

you don’t already have one, can be

a great way to tap into the wealth of

knowledge of your veteran teachers.

New teachers will feel welcomed and

will receive helpful guidance.

4. Coach, Coach, Coach!While mentoring is important,

coaching goes a step further and

provides a structured plan for

professional improvement. Coaching

goes beyond training and addresses

teachers’ stress, resilience, and

emotional needs. Consider setting up

a coaching program in your school or

district, and be sure to select trained

coaches, create a targeted coaching

strategy, and continually evaluate

the impact of your program.

New teachers need additional

supports to get through those

challenging first years of teaching. SEL

can help by developing the resilience

and emotional skills new teachers

need to maintain their passion for

teaching for many years to come.

We truly believe in the importance of

providing SEL for educators. As part of

our dedication to supporting SEL for

children and the adults that work with

them, we’ve developed a new tool and

are excited to announce its release this

fall! This new tool, Educator Social-

Emotional Reflection & Training

(EdSERT), includes professional

development, self-assessments, and

strategies to support the social and

emotional competence and well-being

of all educators.

Visit our website to learn more.

ApertureEd.com / info@ApertureEd.com / 1.844.685.2499 / 100 Main Street, Suite 201 Fort Mill, SC 2971530

Instructors &Support Staff

Improve 4 Common Teaching Practices with SELSocial and emotional learning (SEL) is a natural part of the learning process: how we feel can affect how we learn,

and how we learn can affect how we feel. Social-emotional development has become a priority for many schools

and districts. Because the school day is jam-packed with learning requirements, assessments, and instruction, many

educators struggle to find ways to add SEL to an already busy schedule.

SEL shouldn’t be viewed as one more item added to a very full plate. It’s easy to find effective ways to build students’

social-emotional competence within normal daily teaching practices and core instruction.

Here are a few examples you can try with your students to teach SEL in your core instruction.

Teaching Strategy Role of SEL Practice SEL in the Classroom

Classroom Discussions

Classroom discussions

are an integral part of

learning. This is where

students learn skills

like communication,

respect, cooperation,

relationship-building,

and elaborative

thinking.

In classroom content discussions, encourage students to …

• practice active listening

• reflect on what others have said before responding, and

never interrupt

• be conscious of facial expressions and body language (i.e.

avoid fidgeting, make eye contact with the speaker, keep

arms uncrossed, and avoid other negative body language)

• ask appropriate questions

Cooperative Learning

SEL and cooperative

learning go hand-

in-hand. They help

students learn

important interpersonal

skills such as effective

communication,

respect, and self-

regulation.

Through small-group and role-playing activities, teach students to …

• accept that people have different opinions, values, and

attitudes

• recognize and resist stereotypes

• give and receive constructive feedback

• promote social boundaries

• peacefully resolve conflicts

• take turns and act fairly toward one another

ApertureEd.com / info@ApertureEd.com / 1.844.685.2499 / 100 Main Street, Suite 201 Fort Mill, SC 2971532

Teaching Strategy Role of SEL Practice SEL in the Classroom

Differentiated Instruction

Each student has

a different level of

social-emotional

competence. SEL

supports differentiated

instruction by helping

students become

ready to learn.

Include SEL in your differentiation practices:

• Use social-emotional competence as a differentiating factor

when creating small groups or teams.

• Create SEL mini-lessons that focus on a particular skill, and

assign students to participate according to their needs.

• For each student, identify two or three skills to focus on

improving. Provide opportunities to learn about and practice

the skills, and check in regularly on their progress.

Self-Assessment/

Self-Reflection

Reflection is an

important part of

the learning process.

It helps students

recognize where they

are in their learning

and identify areas

where they need

to improve their

knowledge and skills.

There are many ways to incorporate SEL into students’ self-

assessment. Here are a few activities to try:

• At the end of each semester or quarter, have students grade

themselves and explain the reasoning behind their “grade.”

Then, reveal the grade you’d give them. Ask students to

respond to that grade and work together to set goals.

• Have students identify areas of strength and where they

need to improve in a particular subject area. Discuss ways

they can leverage their strengths to do so.

• Take five minutes at the end of a lesson to model reflection.

Ask students to share what they learned and give feedback on

what they liked/disliked. Discuss ways to improve the lesson.

These are just a few ways to build students’ social-emotional competence within your daily instruction. Check out our

blog, Four Ideas to Integrate SEL into Your Core Curricula, for ideas on teaching SEL in core subjects like math and

science. You can also check out our most-popular resource, 16 Social and Emotional Learning Activities, for even

more ideas on how to teach SEL throughout the school day.

Interested in learning more? Contact our SEL experts, and let’s have a conversation about creating an SEL program that meets the needs of your students and school.

3 Ways SEL Can Create an Inclusive, Supportive Learning Environment from Day One It’s a brand-new school year, and you’ve got a fresh crop of students. Over the coming weeks you will get to know your

students, and they will get to know you. You will establish rules and will settle into routines.

It’s important to start the year off right by creating a safe, supportive, and inclusive learning environment from day

one. Social and emotional learning (SEL) can help.

These three tips will help students make a smooth transition into the new school year and lay a foundation for

academic and behavioral success all year long. Use these SEL strategies to build strong relationships, an inclusive

community, and a learning environment that meets the varying needs of your students.

1. Prioritize Building Strong RelationshipsSpend the first days of the new school year getting to know

your students. Educators play an important role in students’

lives and can greatly impact their academic, social, and

emotional development. Many studies show that student

success dramatically improves when students have strong

and meaningful relationships with caring adults.

Relationship-building is a process, and it requires conscious

effort. Students will appreciate your efforts and will believe

you care about them and are invested in their success.

Here are a few activities to start laying a strong

relationship foundation with students from day one.

• Share a personal experience: One of the

best ways to break the ice and start getting to know

your students is by sharing a personal experience.

Tell students about an obstacle you overcame or a

time when you were really nervous. When students

realize that teachers also struggle, it helps them

realize that they, too, can overcome challenges.

• Get to know your students: Make it a

priority to learn students’ names quickly, and plan

activities around getting to know them. Showing

that you care and want to get to know them will go a

long way toward building meaningful relationships.

2. Establish a Sense of CommunityStudents’ learning improves when they feel included and

empowered. An inclusive community can make students

feel valued and can strengthen their connections with

peers and educators. An inclusive environment can

empower students when they learn about responsibility

and follow class norms or rules.Learn More

Cultivate healthy environments for effective teaching

and learning with Move This World’s PreK-12

social emotional learning program. Through short,

evidence-based videos, students will develop and

strengthen core social and emotional skills.

ApertureEd.com / info@ApertureEd.com / 1.844.685.2499 / 100 Main Street, Suite 201 Fort Mill, SC 2971534

Try these ideas for building a sense of community:

• Give students a voice: Students feel

empowered when they are able to exercise some

control over classroom decisions, and this can

improve their learning. Try giving students a say

in the physical layout of the classroom or certain

aspects of their daily schedule. You can also

implement a classroom reward system.

• Establish classroom rules as a group: Involving students in the process of establishing

classroom rules at the start of the school year can be

a great opportunity for students to take ownership

of their learning and feel like they have a voice.

Empowering students and validating their opinions

will help strengthen your relationships with them.

• “Decorate” your classroom with students’ work: Have students complete an

assignment that you can post in your classroom.

Putting their work on display will show them that

what they are doing matters, and it can help create

a space where all feel included and valued.

3. Teach to a Range of Learning Styles Students learn in different ways, and there is no proven

one-size-fits-all teaching method. Presenting content in a

variety of ways creates an effective learning environment

where all students can achieve.

Keep these tips in mind to ensure instruction meets the

needs of many learning styles:

• Incorporate sensory elements into instruction that

engage students’ sight, touch, taste, smell, and

hearing.

• Use a dyslexia-friendly font on handouts and

assignments.

• Make a free e-reader app available to students who

have poor eyesight or learn better with audio.

• Make fidget toys available to students who need

extra help focusing and staying on task.

• Create flashcards for visual learners and use color

to highlight important points.

• For kinesthetic learners, incorporate role-play into

instruction or encourage students to visualize the

subject matter being acted out (i.e. the student

could imagine she is a character in a story).

Building SEL into your daily practice from the first day

of school will establish a culture that promotes strong

student/educator relationships, inclusion, and positive

attitudes about learning. Incorporate these SEL strategies

into your daily routine to set course for a smooth and

productive school year.

Want to learn more? Contact our SEL experts for more tips and strategies.

Take Action! Use SEL Assessment Data to Create Tailored Interventions We all know the saying: What’s assessed gets addressed.

Social and emotional learning (SEL) assessments are

important because they provide insight into why a

student is struggling — information that traditional

measures alone, such as attendance and behavior

incident reports, don’t provide.

Data alone doesn’t automatically create improvement.

Take action on your SEL assessment data and use it

to identify students who need additional supports,

understand why they are struggling, and create tailored

interventions to meet their specific needs.

How This WorksA common practice many schools utilize to take action

on student data is weekly data meetings that combine

a variety of data sources, including SEL assessments,

academic benchmarks, attendance rates, and behavior

incident data. Educators review this data and use it

to identify a subset of students with the most need

for improvement. They create a plan for these at-risk

students to meet their individual needs and check for

improvements each week.

By examining traditional data measures, such as attendance

and behavior incidents, educators can put together a plan

for creating tailored interventions. SEL assessment data is

a critical addition to this process because it sheds light on

reasons why a particular student is struggling.

How This LooksSay, for instance, that a student, Johnny, is always tardy

or missing class. His grades are starting to slip and his

teachers report that he is falling asleep at his desk.

When the data team examines his social and emotional

data they see a few flags and ask his counselor to have

a conversation with Johnny about his home life. The

counselor learns that Johnny helps to support his family

financially. He works late at night, and that is why he is

so tired in school. The SEL data gives insight into why

Johnny is struggling and enables the data team to create

an intervention that more effectively addresses the root

cause of Johnny’s absence and poor grades.

In another example, Kira is failing social studies. She

acts out during group projects and doesn’t cooperate

with others. Teachers assume she just wants attention

and isn’t motivated. But when the data team takes into

account Kira’s social and emotional data, they discover

that she lacks strong relationship skills and doesn’t have

someone at home who provides academic support. This

information leads the team to create an intervention to

help Kira learn how to build strong relationships. They

pair her with an older student mentor and reach out to

her family to engage them in providing proper supports.

These are just two examples of how SEL assessment

data helps educators better understand why students

are struggling. Educators can use SEL data alongside

traditional academic measures to take action and create

effective, individualized interventions.

Ready to get started? Contact our SEL experts and we’ll help you create a plan that works for your school or district.

Learn More

The mission at the Devereux Center for Resilient Children

is to promote social and emotional development, foster

resilience, and build skills for school and life success in

children birth through school-age, as well as to promote

the resilience of the adults who care for them.

Improve Your SEL Program with Progress MonitoringDo you know if your social and emotional learning (SEL)

program is working?

The best SEL programs measure implementation quality

and if the SEL program is working. If an intervention

isn’t improving student outcomes, it’s important to

understand why — and the sooner the better.

Measure Progress to Determine SEL Program EffectivenessOne way the DESSA Comprehensive SEL System supports

SEL programs is through progress monitoring. Progress

monitoring is the practice of administering an assessment

multiple times throughout the school year to determine

if and how students are responding to an SEL program. If

students are not making expected progress, you can use

the data to make adjustments to improve the intervention.

A common practice for progress monitoring involves:

• Baseline assessment (generally conducted at the

beginning of the school year)

• At least one mid-year assessment, though this can

be repeated as desired

• End-of-year assessment

Capturing and analyzing data throughout the year

helps you determine if students are making sufficient

progress. It also provides valuable insight into how to

make changes to the program. For example, the data

might show most students need additional support in a

specific social-emotional competency. You can use that

information to change universal instruction to increase

focus on that particular skill.

Using the DESSA for Progress Monitoring The DESSA System is uniquely equipped to assist

educators with progress monitoring. The DESSA-mini

takes less than one minute per student to complete, and

it can be administered throughout the year to measure

student progress toward specific goals.

The DESSA System also allows you to compare an

individual student’s scores over time to determine their

overall social-emotional competence. It’s easy to use

multiple reporting features to analyze students’ past

and current raw scores, percentile scores, T-scores, and

descriptive categories. This information helps schools

understand whether the difference between the baseline

and subsequent assessments is significant.

The DESSA System can help you get the best results

from your SEL program by providing valuable insight

into whether the implementation is working and how to

adjust instruction to maximize program fidelity.

Request a demo of the DESSA System to learn more today!

Second Step & the DESSA-SSE

Are you using Second Step? Second Step is a quality,

effective SEL program that increases student outcomes.

The DESSA-SSE is aligned to the Second Step curriculum,

and it provides a reliable tool for adapting the program

to students’ individual needs. The DESSA-SSE reveals

changes in the specific social-emotional skills addressed

in the Second Step curriculum and helps you evaluate

the effectiveness of your Second Step program.

Customer Spotlight

Watch this webinar to learn how Buncombe County

Schools are using the DESSA-SSE and Second Step to

improve student outcomes.

2019 Back-To-School Guide37

16 SEL ActivitiesFrom reading, writing, and arithmetic, social and emotional learning (SEL) can be woven into nearly any subject.

Many teachers believe in the importance of teaching students social and emotional skills, but not all are sure how to

teach these skills. The good news is that SEL concepts can easily be taught right alongside core academic instruction

in classrooms or afterschool programs.

Here are 16 activity and lesson ideas — organized by core subject area — to get you started.

STEM1. Saving Sam: A Team-Building Activity

Oh no! Sam the Worm’s boat has

capsized, and his life jacket is trapped

underneath it. Can your students use

teamwork and collaboration to get

him back in his boat without touching

him? This fun activity promotes creative

problem-solving and teamwork to

reinforce engineering skills.

2. Identifying Emotions Activity: Chameleon Moods

Helping students learn how to

identify physical signs of escalating

emotions can be an effective way to

teach self-regulation. In this activity,

students learn this important skill

while they learn about chameleons

and why they change colors.

3. How to Teach Math as a Social Activity

Establishing a cooperative learning

environment is an effective way to

teach math to a group of students

with varying skill sets and levels

of mastery. See how this teacher

promotes SEL while teaching

students core content.

4. Trap a Naughty Leprechaun Using Simple Machines

Catch that leprechaun! Get students’

creative gears spinning with this

project that teaches engineering, math,

communication, and problem-solving.

5. Seed Keepers - Native American Agriculture

Teaching students the farming

traditions of Native Americans can

be a fun way to reinforce social

and emotional and 21st century

skills. In this FutureFit™ project,

students explore the “three sisters”

growing technique and how to save

heirloom seeds.

Language Arts 6. Books Give Us Wings

Books can help students understand

the world from different points of

view by exploring different cultures

and societies. Books can also help

students rise above bullying and

peer pressure and overcome loss or

adversity. Foster a love of reading by

teaching students that books aren’t

just entertaining — they can also

“give us wings.”

7. Conflict Resolution Vocabulary: “-ate” Words

Communicate, negotiate, mediate. Teach students the many words that end in “-ate,” and explore how to use these words to resolve conflicts.

8. SEL Writing Prompts and Conversation Starters

Daily writing prompts can be a fun and effective way to practice SEL. This inexpensive printable includes 150 prompts to address self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.

9. Conversation Skills: Staying on Topic

Listening skills are important for effective communication and also for demonstrating respect for others. Practice communicating with others with this fun game.

Social Studies and History

10. Empathy and the Persona Poem

A persona poem is written from

another person’s perspective and can

be a powerful way to teach empathy.

This activity works well in either

Language Arts or History class, and

this particular lesson is ideal for 7th

or 8th grade students (though you

can modify for younger students by

selecting an age-appropriate topic).

11. SEL Lessons and Activities to Enhance Social Studies

Social Studies is an excellent platform

to teach social and emotional

skills such as self-management,

relationship building, social

awareness, and responsible decision-

making. Enhance your social studies

and history lessons with these

activities and teaching practices.

12. Arthur’s World Neighborhood

Exploring the diversity of the world

around them develops students’

social awareness and acceptance

of different cultural and ethnic

backgrounds. These activities,

printables, and resources will give

students many opportunities to

practice important skills.

The Arts13. Group Time: Teaching Culture Through Cooking

Food has an almost magical way

of bringing people together. We

can learn so much about cultures,

customs, and traditions through the

culinary arts. Try one or more of

these activities to increase students’

social-engagement, perspective-

taking, and appreciation of diversity.

2019 Back-To-School Guide39

14. Art Activities for SEL

Artistic expression goes hand-in-

hand with SEL. Check out this site

for lots of ideas for reinforcing SEL

through drawing, collages, and other

craft activities.

15. Charades for Kids:Feelings and Empathy

Acting out emotions and engaging

students in role-playing can promote

kindness and empathy. Let students’

creativity flow while encouraging

them to explore feelings and empathy

through dramatic expression.

16. Creating Harmony:How Music Can SupportSocial-EmotionalDevelopment

Making music with students can have

a deep and lasting impact on their

social and emotional development

and promotes group cohesion,

cooperation, self-regulation, and

self-confidence. Get into the rhythm

and have fun with these participatory

group music and movement activities.

Incorporating SEL activities in

classrooms and afterschool

programs can make lessons more

engaging and help students find

deeper meaning in core subject

areas. At the same time, students

learn the critical social and emotional

skills needed to succeed in school

and in life.

To learn even more strategies for incorporating SEL into instruction, contact our experts today.

Learn More

Passionate about SEL? Connect with

other SEL educators, leaders, and

advocates in your community to

share best practices, raise public

awareness, influence policy, and

promote and support high-quality

SEL implementation. Groups forming

around the country.

Learn More

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the

DECA Program; a standardized behavior

rating scale measuring resilience in

preschool children ages 2-5.

ApertureEd.com / info@ApertureEd.com / 1.844.685.2499 / 100 Main Street, Suite 201 Fort Mill, SC 2971540

8 Bite-Size SEL Activities to Fill Time Between Lessons Got five minutes before your next lesson starts? Use it to teach social and emotional learning (SEL)!

There are many ways to incorporate SEL into your daily practice — even during those few minutes between lessons.

Try out these bite-size SEL activities to make good use of free time and promote students’ social and emotional

development.

1. Social and Emotional JournalingJournaling not only reinforces writing

skills, it can also help students

explore their feelings and emotions.

Research shows it can help students

set and achieve goals, improve

memory and comprehension, and

strengthen communication skills.

2. Mindfulness BreathingDeep breathing exercises can help

students calm down and destress.

Follow this script to teach your

students mindful breathing.

3. If You Really Knew Me …Strengthen students’ peer

relations and get them practicing

communication skills in this game

that promotes speaking and listening.

4. All Tangled UpThe goal of this game is to untangle

a “knot” of students through

cooperation, communication,

listening, and working together.

5. Feelings Playing CardsThese playing cards show a variety

of emotions. Students can play

a number of games to learn and

reinforce SEL concepts.

6. Conversation Cards and ComicsHelp students build confidence and

communication skills with these

conversation cards. Each card has

an initial question and follow-up

questions on a variety of fun topics.

7. Animal Emotion Role-PlayWhat does a sad cow sound like?!

Students will have lots of fun

practicing emotions with this dice

game that has them act out animals

experiencing a range of feelings.

8. Emotional CharadesA spin on the classic game,

emotional charades has students

act out a scenario that causes strong

emotions (i.e. eating broccoli). After

students guess the scenario, have

them talk about the correlated

emotions and appropriate ways to

deal with their feelings.

SEL can be taught anytime, anywhere

— even in the five minutes between

lessons. Make good use of this

downtime by having students explore

and strengthen their social and

emotional development. You’ll keep

students engaged and learning, and

they will have fun while doing so.

Contact our SEL experts for even more ways to promote SEL with students.

Learn More

Centervention® provides online

games to help students in grades K-8

improve social and emotional skills;

and now, parents and families can

access expert resources for home use,

too. Bridge the gap between home

and school social and emotional skills

and behaviors with Centervention’s

online resources.

2019 Back-To-School Guide41

ConclusionWe hope this Back-to-School Guide helps get you prepared to teach SEL in the year ahead. All educators play an

important role in SEL, and all staff can benefit from learning about SEL, developing their own social and emotional

skills, and becoming more effective at teaching SEL to students. We hope you enjoy trying out the activities in this

guide during that busy first week of school and throughout the entire year.

Have a great school year!We invite you to learn more about the DESSA Comprehensive SEL System and

how it impacts districts and organizations across the country. Visit ApertureEd.com or email us anytime!

We’d like to thank our outstanding partners for their help in making this year’s Back to School Guide possible.

“Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much.” -Helen Keller

ApertureEd.com / info@ApertureEd.com / 1.844.685.2499 100 Main Street, Suite 201, Fort Mill, SC 29715