This practical guide from Project Cal-Well summarizes key considerations and includes recommendations for schools and districts implementing social, emotional, and behavioral screening during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Two partnering Project Cal-Well districts share examples of how they have gathered data to identify the behavioral and mental health support needs of their students.
Social and Emotional Learning
Supporting Students’ Social and Emotional Connectedness During Remote Learning
This practical guide from Project Cal-Well focuses on flexible and feasible approaches to supporting social and emotional connectedness during remote learning. It provides information and resources about easy to implement strategies for educators, students, and families to stay connected and foster a sense of community within a virtual classroom. The guide includes strategies for educators to:
- Promote students’ feelings of being welcomed as part of a community
- Foster peer-to-peer connections and relationships through classroom activities and independent assignments
- Regularly check in with students about their mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing
- Demonstrate flexibility, understanding, and willingness to communicate with students and their families
Resource Guide: Responding to COVID-19 Challenges
California Safe and Supportive Schools Resource Guides highlight the latest topic-specific research, policies, and practices concerning school climate, student engagement, and well-being, derived from recent editions of the California Safe and Supportive Schools Newsletter.
This issue focuses on supporting learning, well-being, and mental health of school communities during COVID-19. It includes tools, strategies, and guides for reopening schools and providing online services during this unprecedent time, as well as links to reputable websites of organizations that have developed curated lists of COVID-19 resources.
Subscribe to the California Safe and Supportive Schools Newsletter to receive future Resource Guides and other information on the latest research, resources, policies, and practices related to school climate, safety, and wellbeing.
Social and Emotional Learning
Social and emotional competencies have been shown to be as important—and sometimes more important—than cognitive ability and academic knowledge to success in school, career, and life. These competencies include:
- Self-awareness
- Self-efficacy
- Emotion regulation
- Problem solving
- Collaboration
- Communication
- Empathy
- Goal setting
This What Works Brief summarizes what is known about how to teach and cultivate social and emotional competencies, a process generally known as Social-Emotional Learning (SEL).
Developed through the California Safe and Supportive Schools (S3) Grant, What Works Briefs summarize best practices, strategies, and programs for improving school climate. Based on research and grounded in experience, each brief provides practical recommendations for school staff, families, and community members. They are organized into three sections:
- Quick Wins: What Teachers and Adults Can Do Right Now
- Universal Supports: Schoolwide Policies, Practices, and Programs
- Targeted Supports: Intensive Supports for At-Risk Youth
Subscribe to the California Safe and Supportive Schools Newsletter to receive updates on the latest research, resources, policies, and practices related to school climate, safety, and well-being.
