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SEL In Action at the Winn Brook School

There are many layers to a comprehensive Social Emotional Learning Program. In conjunction, the following layers effectively support students’ social emotional learning:

  • Direct instruction
  • Classroom practices
  • School-wide practices and structures
  • Infusion into the content
  • Events
  • Family engagement

Skill Development and Practice

We have learned that effective, direct instruction and classroom/school-wide practices are the tools which tend to have the biggest impact on student learning. Second Step has therefore been adopted as our instructional component in grades K-4. This social-competency program addresses the following areas:

  • Skills for Learning
  • Empathy
  • Emotion Management
  • Problem Solving

More information about the Second Step Elementary curriculum can be found at www.secondstep.org/elementary-school-curriculum

School Wide Practices and Routines

In addition to the direct instruction provided through the Second Step curriculum, our staff has agreed to consistently utilize school-wide and classroom practices in an effort to enhance students’ SEL skills. These practices include the following:

  • Daily Personal Greeting: Meet students at the door each day with a warm greeting which lets them know that you are happy to see them and fosters a sense of belonging.
  • Classroom Morning Meeting: Use a morning meeting to build connections between students and a sense of community. Include four components: Greeting, Sharing, Group Activity, and Morning Message.
  • Peace Table: Create a designated place for students to find peace within themselves or interpersonally with peers (adopted from Responsive Classroom)
  • Student Choice: By offering choices, we give our students a chance to have some control and allow them to practice responsible decision-making. Examples: seating choices; work alone or with a partner; choice of writing prompts; Daily 5 choices

More information about the Second Step Elementary curriculum can be found at www.playworks.org

Climate and Culture

  • Winn Brook Core Values: Community, Respect, High Expectations
  • Winn Brook Pledge: Fourth graders lead the student body in the Winn Brook Pledge each Monday morning. 
    I pledge today to do my best
    in reading, math, and all the rest.
    I promise to obey the rules –
    be kind, responsible,
    and safe in school.
    I’ll respect myself and others too.
    I’ll expect the best in all I do.
    I’m here to learn all I can,
    to try my best, and be all I am.
  • Winn Brook School Song: The school song is sung as a community at each school-wide event:
    Oh we love Winn Brook,
    It is our school!
    Oh we love Winn Brook,
    It’s our school.
    Where the teachers teach
    And the students learn,
    We love Winn Brook
    It’s our school!
    We have core values,
    We have three:
    High expectations, respect, community
    We’ll do our best,
    Be kind and caring.
    We’re the Winn Brook family.
    Oh we love Winn Brook,
    It is our school!
    Oh we love Winn Brook,
    It’s our school.
    Where the teachers teach
    And the students learn,
    We love Winn Brook
    It’s so cool!  SO COOL!
  • Second Step language used throughout the school
  • Growth mindset concept and language
  • Classroom literature reflecting character diversity (ongoing inclusion of new titles)
  • Classroom literature to support social and emotional learning
  • Mindfulness lessons and practices
  • Spirit Days
  • School-wide community service projects
  • After school enrichment programs
  • Family engagement
    • Multicultural night
    • Community outreach events
    • Movie nights
    • Skate night
    • Science night
    • Classroom-based mystery readers