| By: Shauna McBride Social-Emotional Learning The field of social-emotional learning (SEL) has made many exciting strides since Committee for Children introduced its first curriculum in 1989. During April 2017, in particular, a number of reports were published intended to advance the field of SEL.Read More
| By: Committee for Children Making a Difference—Activity Grades K-5—Positive reinforcement of good deeds is a simple but effective way to support and encourage treating others with kindness and respect.Read More
| By: Mia Doces SXSWedu 2017 Recap: Social-Emotional Learning and Equity Take Center Stage at Annual EdTech Conference Last week, Committee for Children had the privilege of attending SXSWedu in Austin, TX. The annual conference draws over 10,000 educators, academics, and professionals from around the world to discuss hot topics in the education technology (EdTech) field.Read More
| By: Committee for Children Solutions to Community Problems—Activity Grades K-5—Working together to understand and solve problems is a skill set students will use throughout their education and take into adulthood.Read More
| By: Kim Gulbrandson Tap Into Empathy and Respect and You Can Connect Communication is the key to many aspects of life. By teaching important social skills like listening and empathy, educators give students the tools to respectfully interact with their peers and the adults in their lives. Read More
| By: Committee for Children Can Minecraft Teach Conflict Resolution Skills? Minecraft is one of the most played video games of all time, loved by kids, parents, and educators alike. It is a fun environment for building, collaborating, and solving problems. What started as an indie game that enabled players to build and craft on their own homegrown servers, Minecraft has grown into a global phenomenon that is transforming how educators think about project-based learning for topics like coding, game design, and engineering. Read More
| By: Kim Gulbrandson Preparing Students for Tough Conversations From childhood to adulthood, conversations have an impact on daily life. We communicate every day, many times a day, and the skills we use to talk with others determine whether the outcomes of these interactions are good or bad.Read More
| By: Committee for Children CFC Presents an SEL Lesson Using Second Step Program for WA State Legislators On January 26, Committee for Children presented a mini SEL lesson using their Second Step curriculum for Washington State legislators and their staff. The lesson helped those attending see that everyone comes to a discussion with different perspectives.Read More
| By: Kim Gulbrandson Make Motivation Easy Motivation is a mediator for academic and social success, so what can we do as adults to foster motivation in students? We can provide conditions that facilitate motivation through a strength-based perspective. My colleague often says, “People are naturally creative, resourceful, and whole”, which speaks to why we need to support students and not try and “fix” or blame them for not being motivated.Read More
| By: Committee for Children Ring in a Healthier You for the New Year What’s on the Top of New Year’s Resolution Lists This Year? I wanted to know, so I interviewed 25 friends and family members about their top two resolutions and this is what I found: almost half of the people I asked have at least one New Year’s resolution about living a healthier and happier life. Some of the resolutions I heard included getting together more with friends, managing stress better, getting organized, living a healthier lifestyle, not getting upset so easily, taking better care of oneself, being happier, and not worrying as much. Read More