Implementing an SEL program can be overwhelming. Use these simple tips to get your program started on the right foot!

Prepare for Implementing an SEL Program

Remember, you are the content expert when it comes to SEL. Your staff will be looking to you for guidance. Nothing is more frustrating and overwhelming than when you go to someone for answers, and they don’t know what they are doing.

Know your program! Learn the ins and the outs. Understand how the teachers will be using it in their classes. Look through the lessons and try some of them out. If your program is online, understand how to log in and access materials. Ask the company that you purchased it from for training. The Mind Trek SEL Program offers free consultation hours to get you started.

Prepare your staff. Let them know that this is coming. Talk about it frequently and share your steps for implementation. You will need teacher buy-in! Teachers will be very upset if you show up on Monday and say, “Surprise!”.

Start Slowly Implementing an SEL Program

Start a new SEL program slowly. Not everyone is as comfortable with SEL as you are. Ask your staff if anyone would be willing to pilot the program.

A pilot group can give you immediate feedback. They will share with you any difficulties that they are having. Knowing this will help you work out the kinks for your entire staff.

Offer to co-teach a few lessons. You might have staff that is not comfortable teaching SEL. Be willing to model and co-teach a few lessons to increase their comfort level.

Final Details of Implementing an SEL Program

Make it easy! What can you do to make implementing an SEL program as easy as possible for your staff? Hold training and Q&A sessions. Ensure that your staff is comfortable with the material.

Make copies of lesson plans and materials for your staff. Taking time to make copies can be a barrier to implementing your SEL program. Giving staff printed worksheets and lesson plans will help remove barriers to implementing your SEL program.

Don’t forget to debrief! Ask your staff what is going well and what needs improvement. Give staff space to share what they are seeing in their classrooms. This will give you a peek into what might need to be changed. It will also allow staff to help one another.

SEL Unfiltered

Do you want to hear more? Check out the rest of our series on Creating and Implementing an SEL Program on our SEL Unfiltered podcast, wherever you stream your podcasts.

Check out other episodes in our Implementing an SEL Program, including The Benefits of SEL, Creating an Advisory Period, Creating an Advisory Council, Developing an SEL Framework, and Choosing an SEL Program.

Game of the Week

Every week on SEL Unfiltered, we like to bring you a game or activity. You can use the game with your students, in the classroom, or in a small group. This week Kaitlin and I played Worst Case Scenario Card Game.

The Worst Case Scenario Game is a card game or a board game. The board game is fun to play with a small group. In our scenario, Kaitlin and I simply took a card from the game and tried to answer the question.

Each card has a “Worst Case Scenario” and gives you three choices of how to survive it. Read the card to the class and allow them to vote on the answer. This could be a fun brain break or a great way to get the juices flowing at the start of class.

Questions allow students to think out of the box and use their creativity. You can take the game further by putting students in groups or pairs. Have the group present to the class why their answer is the best answer.