https://padlet.com/ashley_ediger1/waeiu43cnw9xqko0 AISD Virtual School Program, 11-12th graders, All subjects en-us 2021-04-14 14:46:25 UTC 2026-01-15 09:52:17 UTC hello@padlet.com ashley_ediger1 https://padlet.com/ashley_ediger1/waeiu43cnw9xqko0/wish/1416968577 Over the course of 4 weeks, my students used the “Calming Strategies Documentation Chart” in order to explore and document the effectiveness of a variety of recommended calming strategies in different settings.  By implementing these strategies in different settings, they were exhibiting inhibitory control to achieve success in school, home, and work. Practicing their executive functioning skills allowed for further development of lifelong skills related to emotional control and stress tolerance. On the student artifact, they also documented their pre and post scores for emotional control and stress tolerance that they earned when completing the Executive Functioning Questionnaire. The learning plan was co-created by my students and myself and then implemented as the semester progressed. ]]> 2021-04-14 15:25:16 UTC https://padlet.com/ashley_ediger1/waeiu43cnw9xqko0/wish/1416968577 ashley_ediger1 https://padlet.com/ashley_ediger1/waeiu43cnw9xqko0/wish/1416980035 My students were very open and willing to  try a variety of new calming strategies that they may not have used in the past. Oftentimes, we fall back on what we already know and are comfortable with, but the students tried strategies that may have felt uncomfortable or foreign to them. Our data in the end showed a 29% increase in emotional control skills and a 14.2% increase in stress tolerance skills, as documented in this chart. This demonstrated that practicing Executive Functioning Skills does make a positive difference and it’s something we can all do, at every age and in a variety of life situations.]]> 2021-04-14 15:27:13 UTC https://padlet.com/ashley_ediger1/waeiu43cnw9xqko0/wish/1416980035 ashley_ediger1 https://padlet.com/ashley_ediger1/waeiu43cnw9xqko0/wish/1416998481 Over the implementation of the plan, my 11th and 12th grade students documented their thoughts and feedback on the efficacy of each calming strategy. Below are some of their quotes.

-"Sharing my thoughts   instead of accusing   others was an effective way of solving conflict."  
-"Staying positive made me worry less about my family getting sick."
-"Paying attention to my mental healthy made me feel less stressed."
-"Making a list of my work due helped me to decide what to do first and I felt more in control."
-"Taking a timeout and stepping back from the situation helped me from getting angry with a customer at work."]]> 2021-04-14 15:30:30 UTC https://padlet.com/ashley_ediger1/waeiu43cnw9xqko0/wish/1416998481 ashley_ediger1 https://padlet.com/ashley_ediger1/waeiu43cnw9xqko0/wish/1417068345 What are your viewpoints on teaching SEL in our classrooms?
-"Teaching SEL is especially relevant to homebound students (new parents, students with depression/anxiety). I feel like it's easy to work into the day without taking up a lot of time." - Sheila Houk, Homebound teacher
"Teaching SEL skills is important not only because of the benefits of learning different techniques, but it also allows us to build report with our students and get to know them on a deeper level." Angela Bice, Homebound teacher

What calming strategies have you seen our students use efficiently?
-"Last year I had my students use the breathing app and the students really liked it. Helping students use music to calm themselves helped them as well. " Sheila Houk, Homebound teacher
"A strategy that my students have benefited from is the "5,4,3,2,1 Coping Technique". Students learned to focus on seeing, touching, hearing, smelling, and tasting to help ground themselves." Angela Bice, Homebound teacher

Is this a strategy you see having a long term impact on our students?
-"I think our students will use this toolbox of calming techniques for the rest of their lives. The number of strategies they know have definitely increased." - Angela Bice, Homebound teacher
-"Teaching strategies such as using music or physical movement as a calming strategy is a universal approach that can be used for regulating a wide range of emotions." - Sheila Houk, Homebound teacher

Do you have any other thoughts on how SEL brings a positive impact to our schools and community?
-"When students are more in touch with their own feelings, they are more able to develop empathy for others. This lends to a more positive and respectful classroom environment." - Angela Bice, Homebound teacher
-"So often, students feel like they don't have a choice or voice in education, so teaching them SEL skills allows them a sense of control in their interactions with other students and teachers. SEL gives students a choice of how to resolve conflict. " Sheila Houk, Homebound teacher]]> 2021-04-14 15:43:10 UTC https://padlet.com/ashley_ediger1/waeiu43cnw9xqko0/wish/1417068345 ashley_ediger1 https://padlet.com/ashley_ediger1/waeiu43cnw9xqko0/wish/1417289008 Continuing to implement SEL strategies into my classroom will become a priority for myself as an educator. This SEL pathway has shown me that emotional well-being leads to academic success for our students. Creating a sense of belonging in our schools can be done by putting the well-being of our students first. I have created and shared a Google folder with my team that contains SEL resources, strategies, and research. I intend to continue sharing, encouraging, and demonstrating the long-term effects that SEL has on both teachers and students. ]]> 2021-04-14 16:22:01 UTC https://padlet.com/ashley_ediger1/waeiu43cnw9xqko0/wish/1417289008 ashley_ediger1 https://padlet.com/ashley_ediger1/waeiu43cnw9xqko0/wish/1421437213 2021-04-15 14:58:31 UTC https://padlet.com/ashley_ediger1/waeiu43cnw9xqko0/wish/1421437213