Our Final #SELday shoutout!

CI SEL Resource Day!

Schoolwide learning habits help integrate SEL skill building into the school’s culture

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.

CI’s Family Advisory & Impact Council Recognizes the Importance of SEL and Family Voice!

As an organization, CI recognizes the critical role that parents and caregivers play in their children’s lives. To ensure we are meeting the needs of the children, families, and communities we serve, we have taken intentional action to incorporate more parent/caregiver voices into the way we operate.

Time to Pull Out Every Social Emotional Skill

What I keep trying to remember is that, as we navigate the coming months, our children are watching us, looking for signals of how to feel, how to manage stress and anxiety, and how to treat each other. It is time for us to pull out every social emotional skill we have – to put our self-awareness to the test, really examining what we are feeling and how it is affecting our behavior.

Interview with Silas Alvarez – Utilizing SEL Skills Two Years Later

Silas has been a member of CI’s Youth Leadership Council since its start in Spring 2022. Social emotional learning (SEL) has always been intentionally integrated into council meetings. In 2023, Silas shared what SEL means to him and why it is important in these videos. Two years later, Silas, now a student leader in multiple spaces, shares how he has put those skills into action by training and speaking to educators promoting the importance of student voice.

CI Develops Culturally Responsive SEL Classroom Practices Tool

Children’s Institute has developed the Culturally Responsive SEL Classroom Practices Tool. The tool is designed to be an observational assessment and coaching tool that will help teachers improve their SEL practice and better support their students’ social emotional development and learning.

CI in Rochester Business Journal

Today in Rochester Business Journal, an article was published entitled, "Building Emotional Skills To Ensure Students’ Success as Adults." Elizabeth Devaney, Children Institute's Director of Whole Child Connection, was interviewed for the piece. She provided many quotes for the article that helped define and underline the importance of Social Emotional Learning (SEL).

Youth Perspective: Create a Safe and Effective Classroom Together

Receiving students’ input and opinions on how to create a safe and effective classroom environment is crucial to achieving a community in the classroom.

Youth Perspective: Welcome Everyone

It’s important to start the school year off by making sure everyone feels comfortable, accepted, and welcomed when adjusting to new classroom environments.