Grade 5 recently did a creative writing exercise based on Ruth Gendler’s Book of Qualities. With a partner, students created a “human personality profile” of a feeling. The collaborative thinking helped girls to better understand the nuances within moods and feelings.
On Wednesday afternoon, Hamlin Middle School faculty members engaged in a learning exploration with Nick Haisman-Smith of the Institute for Social and Emotional Learning. Mr. Haisman-Smith and the Institute for Social Emotional Learning have visited Hamlin several times over the past year.
Among other areas, the Institute focuses on honing the following skills with educators:
Hamlin faculty members participated in community building activities, defined and refined the purpose and goals of the middle school advisory program, learned new ways to tangibly bring SEL into advisories/classrooms, and reviewed open session training (a specific type of conversation held in advisory to support the social/emotional welfare of students). As part of the session, teachers shared best practices including ways to: celebrate birthdays with only words of appreciation, create class mantras, practice mindfulness, observe silent reflection, and honor attention (among many others).
The Institute for Social and Emotional Learning also worked with Lower School faculty at a different session.
To learn more, please visit: https://www.instituteforsel.net/
This week Middle and Lower School parents delved into better understanding how to support their daughters through a social and emotional learning lens. The Institute for Social and Emotional Learning (IFSEL) led two thoughtful morning workshops on the subject.
Among other topics, the workshops provided information about the following:
-Reflective listening guidelines for parents, sharing examples like: Tell me more about, I wonder what was meant by, It sounds like, So, as you see it….
-Understanding roadblocks and freeways to communication
-Accepting Ourselves and Our Young Children: Notes for Parenting with Skills that Embrace Social and Emotional Learning
-IFSEL’s Twelve Top Tips for Parenting Adolescents
-IFSEL Conflict Resolution & Relationship Repair
To see the presentation slides and a recording of the workshops (only available to Hamlin Parents), please visit: https://hamlin.myschoolapp.com/app/faculty#resourceboarddetail/15387
-These workshops were made possible through the generosity of the fall golf fundraiser. Thank you to all who contributed to that successful event.
For more information about the IFSEL, please visit: https://www.instituteforsel.net/
Ms. Phillips is in her 7th year teaching kindergarten at The Hamlin School.
What do you love about teaching kindergarten?
So much, kindergarteners are so open, excited, and happy. I really enjoy teaching students to be good young people. We focus on social-emotional learning. How do you make a friend? How do you solve a conflict? How do you tell your friends what you need? Academically they are excited for everything, they don’t always get enough credit (because they are the youngest), but they are capable and ready to learn.
What do you love about teaching at Hamlin?
The girls are amazing. Every year you get this new group of bright and diverse students. I also love my co-workers. Hamlin is a supportive community. I’ve done many professional development workshops that have helped enrich my teaching practice. I love coming to work every day.
What is one of your favorite memories from elementary school?
I have great memories of reading and writing. I always loved reading books on a cushion underneath a table in the classroom; it was like my own little cocoon. I would read books like Baby-Sitters Club and Sweet Valley Twins.
Describe a favorite teaching moment.
I love when the girls take on the role of peer teacher, extending their learning and deepening their understanding. In these moments I often see the girls making connections between what they have learned and their own lives. When they begin teaching each other I know that I’ve done my job.
On Tuesday, Hamlin faculty members engaged in a daylong learning exploration with members of the Institute for Social and Emotional Learning.
Among other areas, the Institute focuses on honing the following skills with educators:
Hamlin faculty members participated in community building activities, defined and refined the purpose and goals of middle school advisory program, learned new ways to tangibly bring SEL into K-8 classrooms, and went through open session training (a specific type of conversation held in advisory to support the social/emotional welfare of students).
The Institute for Social and Emotional Learning will be working with Hamlin faculty members again in November and in the spring. Special thanks to Institute facilitators Janice Toben, Nick Haisman-Smith and Elizabeth McLeod.
To learn more, please visit: https://www.instituteforsel.net/