SEL and long weekend
The boys have a long weekend, North and I have a regular weekend but we had the opportunity to engage in a schoolwide Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) conference on Friday and Saturday so the weekend feels different. It was refreshing to have a chance to take the time to talk to our coworkers about SEL, what we're doing and what we can improve on and hear from a great facilitator from the Institute for Social and Emotional Learning. If you're an educator (or just want to engage in some social and emotional learning a highly recommend checking out their site and resources available to teachers. I have a list of books I want to check out that relate both to international teaching and just teaching (and parenting) in general.
Nick Hiasman-Smith was our facilitator and he got what it means to teach, to support students with a range of needs and cultural backgrounds; it was wonderful being reminded of things I have practiced and want to start practicing again as well as to be introduced to new, bite-sized activities I can add to my classroom. We also had a chance to engage in teacher-led workshops. North presented on mindfulness activities for students pre-exam (ideally to be incorporated regularly, not just at test time) and I engaged in a workshop focused on Multilingual Learners and the intersection of language and SEL. Other staff were open and we had an opportunity to get to know each other better and play a little bit.
The rest of our weekend is going to be filled with rest and grading for me...North and I have been working on helping each other move our bodies more which means we went on 2 runs in the dark (5:15ish) and 1 run this morning in the light. It's been good to get that routine back in action and a reminder of how much I enjoy running with him even though I know he's slowing down for me. He has the opportunity on Monday to join a Malaysia Hash House Harriers run (men only, no talk of work or partners, follow a marked trail and maybe get lost, food and drink to follow)-this gives a little background on it: https://www.motherhash.org/home/our-history and I think that will be a fun adventure for him. The boys are currently roller skating with friends and that is their primary goal each weekend-how much friend time can we pack in?! I am also apparently making a pie because I want to make one for a Thanksgiving celebration in a couple of weeks and need to practice...
Thank you for sharing the details of your teaching and everyday lives Ella. I admire your courage and integrity and the way you ground what this adventure takes and means to you and North. Thank you for taking the time to share with us what motivates and has meaning to you. Love, Ann
ReplyDeleteAwesome that IGB allows for quality SEL intensives for staff. Sounds like a valuable experience for you and North. Our world would be a better place if we all practiced mindfulness. Kudos to North for giving folks a chance to practice! Understanding the complexity of multilingual learners is a must for educators. This is equally so in my profession as a therapist. While I know you and North struggle with some aspects of IGB, I'm encouraged that all four of you are in a learning environment that integrates beneficial approaches that support healthy human development.
ReplyDeleteYay for the commitment to movement! I always take great inspiration from youngsters when it comes to being embodied. They're a hard act for adults to follow, but it's worth trying to keep up. (I took up running when I became a Waldorf teacher so I could feel more able to play with the kids on the playground.)
Hashing, roller skating, friends, and pie making sounds perfect! Some things can be done anywhere.
I'm intrigued by the photo of the tree. Do locals, other than monkeys swing on the vines?