I had the privilege of attending the 2022 Chicago workshop of the Institute for Social and Emotional Learning. The offerings were great and very relevant to my work as a classroom teacher and advisor.
Goals & Collaborations
What were your big take aways from your work/project?
I was assured and put at peace to learn that my approach and SEL work is on the right track. There is of course always room for improvement and for expanding the practices I have used these past years. This conference has allowed me to feel more confident and bold in my approach to create and to sustain an SEL classroom and advisory space as well as to incorporate more SEL features into our 8th grade advisory curriculum.
How does what you learned connect to your goals this year?
One of my constant goals for the academic year is to be a presence of compassion, patience, and support to my students and colleagues. This workshop has expanded my repertoire of approaches and exercises in meeting this goal.
How might this opportunity lead to collaboration with other faculty?
As the lead advisor to the 8th grade team, I am eager and excited to share the information I have acquired from the sessions I attended. I received a binder with amazing materials and resources that contain many great SEL activities and ideas. I am happy to share it with my team and with any faculty/colleague who would benefit from some inspiration.
Would you recommend this opportunity? Why or why not?
I feel that everyone and anyone who works with young people should take this workshop. It has many wonderful and practical features in the creation of a safe and peaceful classroom/ school. I also find that the ideas from this workshop are beneficial to our lives outside of the classroom; I want to be a better human being (be it educator/advisor, colleague, son, brother, friend, uncle); the ideas espoused from this opportunity are golden and real.