Daniel Goleman Speaks about SEI...

Promoting SEI through Procedures and Protocols

In today’s session we talked about the importance of having a variety of procedures in place to not only create a structure for the successful functioning of the classroom, but to also support the social-emotional development of students. Structure provides safety and predictability in a classroom, even as the content changes. Safety in the classroom translates into students who are more willing to take risks, and of course we know risk-taking is a desirable behavior because ultimately it promotes growth – both academic and social-emotional.

In the Write Around activity, each of you shared your ideas for developing procedures and structures for a variety of management “needs”:

• Entering/exiting the classroom
• Getting to work immediately
• When you are tardy
• End of period class dismissal
• Listening to / responding to questions
• Participating in class discussions
• When you need pencil/paper
• Keeping your desk orderly
• Checking out classroom materials
• Indicating whether you understand

In reviewing the suggestions on the poster you originally started with, please type the ideas in the comment box for this blog post. Also, please close with your impression of this activity. Was it helpful for you to share ideas with your colleagues? Were there any ideas that you plan to try?

August 21 Inservice Evaluation

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Teaching through the Multiple Intelligences

Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences is both profound and cliche. Throughout the educational world, the phrase "multiple intelligences" gets bandied about again and again, the same way as so much edu-jargon until it has almost become trite. In few places are teachers and schools succeeding in truly meeting Gardner's vision of teaching "consequential" content in a way that actualizes the various intelligences inherent in us all.

Consider the following video showing how a school district in Indianapolis is attempting to actualize their multiple intelligence approach. In what ways are they achieving Garnder's desire for student understanding that is both deep and "consequential"? In what ways is thier approach falling short (in order words, "inconsequential")?

Social Emotional Intelligence

Social emotional intelligence is a huge part of what we do here at Seven Arrows. Take a look at the following videos for a brief overview of what it means to help students develop their social-emotional intelligence!

Dr. Maurice Elias, Rutgers University



Anchorage, Alaska "Change of Heart" Program

NEW STAFF INSERVICE -- Evaluation

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Year-End Evaluation

I can hardly believe this year is over!!

To capture our thinking while its still fresh, I want each of you to please complete the following survey (just copy and paste the link into your browser):

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=iOK1Xo19Tw70xwdxmuNGEw_3d_3d


Thanks!!

A New School Order....

Last week we watched a very interesting movie called "2 Million Minutes" which focused on the view of some, that American schools and/or students, seem to be focused on the wrong things. Many of us were stunned by the tenacity with which the students from India and China approached their education and future career goals!

In a world that is becoming increasingly "flatter", can America really afford to continue ignoring the fact that we are in competition with the rest of the world? For minds? talent? jobs? education? Its an important question for those of us designing and delivering education.

At the end of our inservice, we distributed an article that focused on a different approach, that of values and developing character.

If you misplaced the article, you can read it here: http://www.shmuley.com/articles.php?id=610

Rabbi Schmuley feels strongly that we should be focusing on the following:
• Stop asking children what they want to do, and start asking them who they want to be.
• Focus children on a calling rather a career.
• Value intellectual curiosity as opposed to grades.
• Stress purpose as opposed to happiness.
• Put family before friends.
• Seek love as opposed to attention.

Is this realistic? Or is this some sort of educational Utopia? What education will ideally prepare our students for their roles in the 21st century?

Respond to these questions by clicking the "comment" tool below.