A Fundamental Need: Belonging By Nicole V. Law and Sonja Hollins-Alexander The need to belong can be traced back to prehistoric times when cooperation and collectivism was critical for safety and survival (Allen, 2019). Belonging is the core need that was and is essential for psychological functioning,
Skilled Teachers Create Connections and a Shared Purpose By Dustin Bindreiff After years of observing hundreds of classrooms, I came to understand that skilled teachers are like symphony conductors. With grace and mastery, these teachers lead instruction, manage transitions, and provide feedback to the class in a
“In my 20-plus years working in this district, no one has ever held space for my own SEL skill development like this. I’m so grateful for this work.” A principal in one of the nation’s largest school districts shared this with us and her colleagues near
Pre-pandemic, one in six teachers said they may leave their jobs by the end of the school year. During the pandemic, that number increased to nearly one in four, according to the 2021 State of the U.S. Teacher Survey. Certainly the stresses of the pandemic can
It appears not a day goes by that doesn’t present another headline, article, social media post, or blog describing the tremendous stress and daily pressures of being in the classroom. These are often accompanied by the astonishing numbers of teachers who are leaving the profession.
“This has been an emotional rollercoaster.” I have heard this and many statements like it in the work that I do to support educators in implementing Social Emotional Learning for adults and students. I have been in “zoom rooms” with educators across the country and I often start
After the initial panic and confusion, it seems that people are settling in. Zoom classrooms are up and running. Teachers, parents, and students are slowly moving into a rhythm after spending countless hours working out technology kinks, lighting, microphones, curriculum design, and finding space in