What is one of the most impactful things we can do to improve education for all students? Ensure our educators are knowledgeable and adept at their jobs by providing relevant, impactful professional development. States are realizing that the traditional one-day workshop model can be dramatically strengthened by implementing comprehensive professional development that fosters a culture [...]
Working in education is extremely rewarding, but there are always those school days that feel extremely difficult and stressful. Some stress is perfectly normal, but if it gets out of control, stress can lead to some pretty harmful health concerns including hypertension, headaches, and even anxiety and depression. This school year, be proactive about keeping [...]
ESSA specifies that Local Education Agencies that receive $30,000 in Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants (SSAE) must direct portions of that money toward three priorities: - Well-rounded educational opportunities (20% of the budget) - Safe and supportive practices (20% of the budget) - Effective use of technology (at least some portion of the budget) [...]
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) doesn’t need to stop when the bell rings. Create a plan to incorporate SEL instruction and training into afterschool programs, summer school, and professional development sessions. Get inspired with these five ideas: Integrate SEL with Core Academics: Social and emotional skills are implicitly woven into [...]
Author W.B. Yeats once said, “Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire.” The goal of any school system is not to merely fill students’ minds with figures and facts but to help students to become thinkers and doers. We can do this by developing skills that will help [...]
Families are critical partners in developing the social and emotional skills of their children. Getting families involved in the process of teaching social and emotional skills is one of the best ways to promote SEL instruction and support the development of these skills throughout the year. So, before the last bell rings to release students [...]
The school year is winding down. Final exams, end-of-year programs, and closing down the classrooms and buildings are keeping us all busy and looking forward to a well-deserved break. Summer is the perfect time to tap into a few social and emotional strategies so you can truly rejuvenate. By the time fall comes around, you [...]
Charlotte N.C. (June 1, 2017) — Aperture Education, a social enterprise focused on social-emotional learning skills, has partnered with the education charity SkillForce to provide data for a new program to build social-emotional skills in students throughout the United Kingdom. The SkillForce Prince William Award is a character-building program in the UK for children ages [...]