When 2nd grade teacher Danielle Vaccaro at School #15 Children's School of Rochester was asked how she promotes SEL skill development, she proudly shared that the whole school has adopted Learning Habits that align with SEL skills and competencies— which staff explicitly then teach. These “I CARE” learning habits are: Integrity, Cooperation, Accountability, Resiliency, Effort. 

“They are presented at our school-wide Briefing (assembly) each month and connect to our Book of the Month that is read in classrooms school-wide along with activities that support the learning habit and read aloud," says Vaccaro. "Towards the end of each month, staff highlight students who demonstrate one of the learning habits and those students are recognized and given a certificate at Briefing. The language of “learning habits” is beginning to become part of the common language at The Children’s School.”

Other ways that the Children’s School of Rochester create a space of belonging for all students include:

• Intentionally and warmly welcoming students off the bus—all by name—in the morning and then sending them home later in the day with the staff’s choral waving.
• At Briefing, providing the time for an introduction and a song to ALL newcomers creating relationships and strengthening community.
• Referring to grades and classrooms as “families”!
• Highlighting in myriad ways the multiple languages and cultural backgrounds represented at the school sending the message that children and families are important.