10 Action Steps

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When creating and implementing an action plan, it is crucial to spend time to identify action steps from the plan to achieve the ultimate goals. Having clear, practical, and realistic action steps helps to communicate details, provide information on timeframe and support people who are involved. 

*Please take notice of the action plan and steps suggested below. Depending on various factors such as school environment, organization, population and resources, these action steps may vary.*

10 Action Steps to Implement School-Wide SEL Plan: 

1) Explore and examine current practice of school-wide SEL 

CASEL Connection: Social Awareness & Self-Awareness 

BC Core Competencies: Communication and Collaboration, Positive Personal & Cultural                                                  Identity 

Details: 

• explore CASEL 5 SEL competencies and potential school goals/visions 
• examine what are the areas that are already implemented/practiced/evident at school and what needs more attentiveness and efforts on 
• find ways to prioritize SEL school focus and skills building 

2) Co-create a shared vision and action goals with staff 

CASEL Connection: Self-management, Responsible Decision-Making, Social Awareness

BC Core Competencies: Communication, Collaboration, Social Awareness and Responsibility

Details:

• Communicate and raise awareness for the need of SEL implementation and support (ex. during staff meeting or professional development) 
• This can be interconnected with the school's focus story/question 
• ex) How can we explore more social-emotional learning to help build our students’ personal awareness and sense of community?
• Connect with or create a SEL/social responsibility acronym (ex. CARES, STAR, KIND) 

3) Create a SEL team with teacher-sponsors and student ambassadors 

CASEL Connection: Relationship skills and Responsible Decision-Making

BC Core Competencies: Communication, Collaboration, Creative and Critical Thinking, Social                                            Awareness and Responsibility  

Details:

• Administrator invites school staff who are interested in being a part of the school SEL team 
• recruit and invite student ambassadors (ex. students in Grade 5-7) and have students to share their intentions/goals/sample ideas of SEL activities/initiatives 
• set monthly meetings 

4) Set goals and brainstorm action steps/plans to foster SEL for teachers/students

CASEL Connection: Responsible Decision-Making

BC Core Competencies: Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Personal Awareness                                             & Responsibility 

Details: 

• integrate SEL as part of staff meetings, professional development workshops etc. 
• send information and details via emails/meetings
• organize and invite staff to attend social events (ex. team-building, lunch chats, social activity) 
• create inclusive and ample opportunities for students to practice skills that can better support their learning and development 
• provide opportunities for students and staff to participate in wellness practices (ex. start with once/week) 
• prepare and organize SEL initiatives and activities (ex. Kindness month, Appreciation month, physical exercises) 

5) Determine the needs and resources required 

CASEL Connection: Responsible decision-making and Self-Management

BC Core Competencies: Communication, Collaboration, Personal Awareness &                                                                 Responsibility 

Details: 

• explore and research detailed information, relevant resources and toolkits
• connect with district teachers, consultants, and school counsellor for guidance 
• evaluate available resources using a guiding criteria such as time, target goals, and funding 
• vote and decide which resource/program to use based on overall school needs 
• reach out and invite guest speakers and/or organize learning workshops to help simplify SEL integration and process

6) Involve the whole school community + communicate with families 

CASEL Connection: Relationship Skills and Social Awareness

BC Core Competencies: Communication, Collaboration, Social Awareness & Responsibility 

Details:

• communicate details and informations of SEL events and initiatives through various ways such as posters, newsletters, agenda message, announcements etc. 
• offer many opportunities to practice and reinforce concept of social-emotional learning 
• nurture a supportive school environment and develop strong and positive relationships 
• build and strengthen connectedness with teachers, and other safe adults in the school 
• connect and engage with families ex) provide resources and opportunities to practice SEL at home and in the community 
• share and communicate the importance of fostering SEL at school, home, and the community

7) Integrate in daily classroom practices and routines 

CASEL Connection: Self-awareness, social awareness, and self-management

BC Core Competencies: Personal Awareness & Responsibility, Positive Personal & Cultural                                              Identity, Social Awareness & Responsibility 

Details:

• integrate SEL as part of classroom curriculum and instruction (ex. morning meetings, mindfulness breathing, silent reading/activity routines) 
• organize and plan classroom learning activities with SEL considerations/goals 
• practice and model SEL practices and strategies with the students (ex. I do, we do, you do)
• consider and redesign teaching spaces to be more culturally-sensitive, trauma-sensitive and accessible to SEL 

8) Brainstorm a plan to evaluate and monitor progress 

CASEL Connection: Self-Management, Responsible Decision-Making 

BC Core Competencies: Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Personal Awareness                                            & Responsibility 

Details:

• use and offer various ways to monitor progress (ex. student observations, checklist, student SEL competencies grading rubric) 
• observe staff and student participation and discussions 

9) Implement and reflect on data and survey to make improvements/changes 

CASEL Connection: Critical and Reflective Thinking, social awareness 

BC Core Competencies: Communication, Critical Thinking & Reflective Thinking 

Details: 

• school staff check-ins and discussions about observations and feedback from families and students 
• Conduct student learning surveys about overall schooling experience and sense of community 
• student reflections - answer set of questions 

10) Share and celebrate learning (and plan for next year)

CASEL Connection: Self-Awareness, Social Awareness

BC Core Competencies: Communication, CriticaL Thinking & Reflective Thinking, Personal                                                    Awareness & Responsibility, Social Awareness & Responsibility 

Details:

• SEL school team organize school-wide celebration assembly (ex. fun dance party)
• share and highlight positive changes, moments, 
• SEL school team reflect on things that worked well/successful to continue for next year and improvements/changes to make or consider 

References: 

Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL). (2023, July 19). SEL in the school. CASEL. https://casel.org/systemic-implementation/sel-in-the-school/

Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL). (2022, July 28). Quick start timeline. CASEL Schoolguide. https://schoolguide.casel.org/guide/

Deegan, P. C. (2015, June 15). Implementing A schoolwide mindfulness program. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/blog/implementing-school-wide-mindfulness-program-patrick-cook-deegan

Kellett, S. (2022, July 12). Establishing a culture of mindfulness in elementary school. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/article/establishing-culture-mindfulness-elementary-school

Zakrzewski, V. (2017, April 27). Making SEL the DNA of a School. Greater Good Magazine. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/making_sel_the_dna_of_a_school