Social Emotional Learning is such a BIG topic! We really need to look at it as something natural that we lean into every day, no matter what we’re doing. Here’s what I mean…

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It’s worth the effort to help kids transition from the flurry of morning drop off to learning.

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Polly answers the question: “I have a kid who sometimes escalates during activities, or refuses to go to classes, or shuts down when presented with tasks. Why is this? Is it the teacher, the content, the environment, the kid’s life experiences? Logical consequences work sometimes. But is it possible to do something proactively that would actually decrease these behaviors?”

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Polly answers the question: “I have high school students who are not ready for high school! They can’t organize themselves, budget time, meet deadlines, or solve problems. I thought it would help if I extended some due dates, but now they expect extensions all the time. They act like they are entitled to good grades and if they don’t get them it’s my fault. What should I do?”

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Polly answers the question: “Due to the pandemic and everything else my 8th graders are behind academically and emotionally. Do you have any tips on how to prepare these kids for high school? I really worry about that!”

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I love using transition times to enhance conversation skills!

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Polly answers the question: “Shouldn’t my middle school students be able to get from one location to another on their own?”

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Polly answers the question: “Every time we have to shift gears or especially when my 4th graders come back from lunch and recess, it’s a nightmare! How can I get them to settle in quicker?”

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