On Common Ground. SEL in the School Library Starts with You – Part III

by Mary Francis Zilonis and Chris Swerling, March 2018

In this column, we'll continue our series on social and emotional learning (SEL) by sharing some tips and resources for you to pursue on your own.

We recently visited a high school classroom where one of the students had participated in a "March Reading Madness" library program designed to encourage pleasure reading—and won! The winning student's prize? Hot chocolate and donuts for everyone in his homeroom. To his classmates, he was the shining star of the day. As they consumed their treat, we asked several students what they were reading. Their response? We don't read. We don't have time to read. We barely have time to keep up with what we are required to read. Over and over we heard the phrase, "We are so stressed." That conversation has lingered with us. As library teachers we have the capacity to transform our school libraries into a "third place" where students can de-stress. As the school librarian typically does not assign grades, he or she is viewed differently by students. The librarian can be the supportive adult, and the library can become a safe haven for students to find academic help—and emotional support.

So, think about establishing a "Take a Break" space for students. A comfy chair or two where students know they can go when they begin to feel overwhelmed. Fill a basket with squeeze balls and keep it nearby. Establish a "creation station" that includes crayons and posters to color and magnetic poetry. Supply some games such as chess, checkers, and a few puzzles. Build mental breaks into your instruction as well. Mental breaks improve memory recall, facilitating the intake of new information as learners make connections to existing knowledge. They also increase the ability to be empathetic. Start a class with students greeting each other. Mix it up! Let them choose how they will greet other students—with a wave, a hand shake, or elbow bump, addressing each other by name and asking, "How's your day going?" Build movement into your instruction. After students have been sitting and listening ten minutes, have them stand, find a "learning buddy," and summarize what they have learned so far. Building in a two-minute stretch increases students' attention and retention. And, at the completion of a long term research project, take time to celebrate their effort and accomplishment. Display their work and invite students to a "gallery walk." Build a sense that the library is a community of learners.

How do you respond to student misbehavior? Do you immediately banish students from the library? Send them to the office or back to class? If so, is it time to rethink your approach and consider addressing misbehavior as a teachable moment? Constantly dealing with students' misbehavior is a stress inducer for you as well as for the student. Take a deep breath (or two or three) and consider how you can calmly elicit the behavior you want. Use eye contact, proximity, redirect, remind, and pre-alert before escalating to reprimands, threat, and exclusion. Never resort to sarcasm, and never leave students without a way to save face. It is okay to say, "Tomorrow is a new day and a fresh start." You do want all students to feel comfortable and wanting to return to the library without feelings of embarrassment or anxiety.

There are a number of SEL programs that are being adopted by schools across the nation. Examples of successful and highly regarded SEL programs are: Responsive Classroom, Open Circle, Second Step, Caring School Community, and Challenge Success. Whatever program your school might adopt, as the school librarian you should be involved from the start. Volunteer to be on the committee that shapes the implementation for your school or be part of the grant writing team. Take a leadership role. SEL in the school library starts with you.

Resources to Explore:

Edutopia: https://www.edutopia.org/social-emotional-learning

AIM Buddy Project: https://ca.pbslearningmedia.org/collection/arthur-social-emotional-character-development-curriculum/

CASEL: http://casel.org

"I Want To Get Better At…Social Emotional Learning Next Year" Tcher'sVoice blog: https://www.teachingchannel.org/blog/2017/06/23/social-emotional-learning/

Transformative Teachers: https://ca.pbslearningmedia.org/collection/transformative-teachers/

Part One is available here

Part Two is available here