April 2024 at the SECD Lab
Spring is a upon us, and spring symbolizes starting over and growth! Just as the flowers grow, we at the SECD Lab want to encourage healthy classroom practices that allow students to grow. We want to help others continue learning about Social Emotional Learning as well as continuing the conversation of SEL’s impact on anger management, stress, and more! Additionally, April is Autism Awareness month, and Earth Day also falls during this month, so keep reading to find information and resources for both!
Anger Management
Anger in classrooms is complex, often stemming from primary emotions like shame or frustration. While anger can be empowering, it can also lead to counterproductive behaviors, particularly in students facing challenges at school. Teachers are aware that anger can escalate to aggression, disrupting the classroom environment and posing safety risks. Understanding the "aggression cycle," which includes phases like trigger, escalation, crisis, recovery, and post-crisis, can help teachers respond effectively to student anger. Proactive intervention, such as eliminating triggers or defusing anger early, is crucial in managing and preventing major outbursts. Here are 5 anger management recommendations for parents and teachers:
Acknowledge that anger can be perfectly normal
Recognize the difference between anger and aggression
Teach basic anger management techniques
Be an example. Model appropriate ways of handling difficult situations and frustration
Compliment the child when he or she demonstrates problem solving or anger management techniques
Resources:
Aggression Cycle (interventioncentral.org)
Recommendations for Anger Management (udel.edu)
Anger Management Role Play Scenarios for Teens | LoveToKnow
9 Books to Help Kids Deal with Anger — Coping Skills for Kids
Autism Awareness
April is Autism Awareness Month, where we aim to uplift autistic voices and join in the community's happiness. Autism is a type of developmental difference that shapes how people see and interact with the world. It can affect how they sense things, think, move, speak, connect with others, and handle everyday activities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 36 children have autism spectrum disorder, and this number is on the rise.
Here are a few autism teaching strategies for the classroom to set students up for success:
Be aware of the characteristics of autism and general strategies
Teach understanding and acceptance
Ensure that organization, communication and sensory issues are addressed
Provide written rules or pictures of expectations of behavior in the classroom
Use descriptive praise to build desired behaviors
Resources:
World Autism Month | Autism Speaks
What is autism? How you can be supportive this Autism Acceptance Month (usatoday.com)
Interacting with Autistic People | Milestones Autism Resources | Cleveland, OH
Supporting Autism Families | Marcus Autism Center
Autism in the classroom: Strategies for success | Autism Speaks
Stress Awareness
Over the past year and a half, stress has been a consistent presence in many people's lives due to factors including healthcare, mass shootings, climate change, and the pandemic. Stress is our body's reaction to pressure, triggered by new or unexpected situations or a lack of control. It can manifest in routine stress from daily life, stress from sudden negative changes, or traumatic stress from dangerous events. In the midst of these stressors, it's important to acknowledge their impact, especially in classrooms where they inevitably seep in. Here are a few stress management strategies that can be used in the classroom:
Establish consistent routines
Allow students to stay active and keep moving
Incorporate check-in and check-out strategies to provide students with the opportunity to say how they are doing
Take breaks and regroup
Resources:
National Stress Awareness Month | Office of Human Resources (nih.gov)
PBISApps | Teach By Design—10 Strategies to Combat Stress in the Classroom
9 Stress Management Strategies Every Teacher Needs to Know (wgu.edu)
How to reduce stress | UNICEF Parenting
Earth Day
Bringing Earth Day into your classroom is a great way to teach kids about taking care of our planet. It's not just a one-day thing; it's about making caring for the Earth a part of our everyday lives. Earth Day, celebrated on April 22nd, offers tons of fun activities to get kids excited about being good stewards of the environment. Originating back in 1970, Earth Day was all about getting young people involved in protecting their planet. As the weather gets warmer, here are a few ideas for outdoor classroom activities that can be used for the rest of the school year:
Nature Write: Students can sit, listen, and absorb the nature around them, then write about their observations and experiences.
Chalk Math: Instead of doing math on paper, why not on the pavement outside?
Cloud Shapes: Turn cloud watching into an interactive storytelling or artwork-creating experience.
Scavenger Hunt: This is a classic game to get students moving and exploring nature!
Resources:
The importance of going outside for youth education - Voices Digital (pacificoaks.edu)
13 Outdoor Class Activities for Anyone, Anytime | Education World
Children's Picture Books about Nature, Outdoor Adventures, Camping, and Hiking — discovering anew
TikTok
Stay Connected with Us!
To keep up to date with our lab on a day to day basis, please go follow our social media accounts! We are on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Pinterest. We also have a podcast titled, SECD On Demand! Check it out wherever you may listen to your podcasts!