Over the past five years, the MRPS community has made a significant investment in increasing our staffing for Social Emotional Behavioral Learning (SEBL). It’s an area that we have a laser-like focus on, particularly after coming through the pandemic. Our students lost significant time in learning how to play a positive role in a community. We need to work intentionally to build that back for them.
RECENT PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
The week before the April break, our assistant principals and Jess Murray, Director of SEL & Wellness, went to a conference that focused on how a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) works with a SEBL lens. They came back stuffed full of ideas and are excited to work together to build a seamless system across every school - something that has been lacking in the past.
NEXT STEPS: COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING
Next week we are also beginning our work with Think Kids. Teams from around the district are coming together several times over the next month to learn together. Think Kids focuses on Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS). CPS stands on the idea that kids with challenging behaviors do not lack the will to behave well, they lack the skills. Through naming and intentionally teaching SEBL skills through trusting, high quality adult to student relationships, significant behaviors decrease and students are better able to succeed in school. I had the privilege of working with this group for a short period of time in my former position and I look forward to learning tons in the coming weeks.
Our work with Think Kids is long term. This initial training represents phase 1 - building awareness and focusing on tier one instruction (what all kids have access to). In later phases, we will be drilling down into how to work with students who have more challenges. This work will take place through a coaching model - what is known to be the best way to change the practice of adults.
We’re looking forward to getting this work going. Be on the lookout for the next few blog posts that will provide insight into the information presented in each of the first few sessions.
