Convening a Cross-Functional Advisory Council for SEL: Resources, Best Practices, and Suggestions

Key considerations for districts as they build a council consisting of members from different organizations and departments to align social and emotional learning between in-school and out-of-school time settings.

TAGS community partnerships community relations out of school

CARE for Kids – A Breakthrough in Social and Emotional Learning (video)

This video from Edutopia features classroom meetings taking place in Jefferson County schools, and includes short interviews from the Superintendent and school-based staff and students.

TAGS videos relationship skills advisory/homeroom instructional practices classroom level culture and climate building community building buy-in for SEL youth voice

Relationships First: Creating Connections that Help Young People Thrive

Young people deeply benefit from developmental relationships with a variety of people including program leaders from community organizations, mentors, parents, teachers, and friends. This resource lays out a framework for building strong relationships with young people, and concludes with 55 concrete ideas.

TAGS family partnerships community partnerships relationship skills advisory/homeroom

Austin’s MAPS Course for Freshmen (video)

MAPS (Methods for Academic and Personal Success) is a credit-bearing course for freshmen at Austin High School and other district high schools to support the transition into high school by teaching students how to organize for success, manage their emotions, resolve conflicts, build and maintain positive relationships, and other critical social and emotional learning and student success skills.

TAGS advisory/homeroom high school grades college and career readiness

Oakland SEL Competencies Posters for Classrooms (Spanish)

This poster set illustrating the 5 SEL competencies were distributed by Oakland's team to all schools, along with suggested activities for introducing each poster/concept to a classroom community.

TAGS teacher tool social awareness self awareness self management relationship skills responsible decision making SEL competence SEL overview advisory/homeroom communications classroom level

SEL in Sacramento City USD (video)

5 minute video featuring SEL in action in schools in Sacramento, with footage of classrooms at a range of grade levels and teacher & administrator interviews.

TAGS videos advisory/homeroom middle school grades high school grades elementary school grades

SEL in Practice (video)

Oakland's video on how SEL is integrated with and enhances academic learning. A teacher describes her class' morning routine, students share, and the teacher models reflection for the class.

TAGS SEL and Academic Integration english/language arts math social studies videos teacher training advisory/homeroom middle school grades elementary school grades instructional practices classroom level building community

Lifting Our Voices – Sacramento City (video)

Video featuring high school students telling their stories -- their stressors, ways they know their teachers care, and aspirations for the future. Ends with a challenge to viewers to cultivate spaces where students' stories can be heard.

TAGS anti-bias videos teacher training advisory/homeroom middle school grades high school grades building community youth voice

Creating Shared Agreements

This tool from CASEL's Guide to Schoolwide SEL outlines a 6 step process for a school or district team to develop shared agreements about how they will work together to achieve a shared vision and nurture adult SEL.

TAGS Adult SEL mindfulness teacher tool teacher training advisory/homeroom building community professional learning SEL leadership

How to Develop Working Agreements for Any Group

Oakland's step-by-step instructions for establishing working agreements for a group, and returning to them regularly to check in.

TAGS Adult SEL teacher tool advisory/homeroom building community