Committee for Children Blog

State Policy and Standards Related to Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)

The CASEL State Policy and Standards web page provides a number of important resources about state policies and standards. Following are several key points from CASEL’s…Read More

Congress Finally Acts—Sequestration Cuts Are Over

In a rare display of bipartisanship cooperation, the US House and Senate were able to pass in January a $1.1 trillion omnibus appropriations bill that will fund the federal government for the remainder of fiscal year 2014 (the fiscal year began last October 1 and will end on September 30, 2014). The funding bill restores (or nearly restores) many of the cuts that were implemented through the dreaded sequestration process. Funding levels for some of the key programs that affect young…Read More

The True Common Core Is the “Heart” …

The Common Core standards were adopted by 48 out of the 50 states this past year, and in doing so, created national standards for every subject in every grade. But they forgot one thing: social and emotional skills. So, does that mean we aren’t responsible for these as educators?  “Isn’t this a task for the home?” “There is already too much to teach!” “I am on overload with the Common Core.” This is what I have been hearing from many of my colleagues and other teachers these days. It’s true: it is tough to “fit it all in”.Read More

Book Review: The Invisible Boy

by Trudy Ludwig

Reading Level: Grades 1–3

Even though his classmates don’t actively tease him, Brian is not having a good time at school. No one ever seems to notice him. In fact, after witnessing his peers mocking a new boy, he wonders which is worse: “being laughed at or feeling invisible.” He is inspired to reach out to the new boy, and discovers…Read More

Sam’s Story

Parents and teachers who are intimidated at the thought of teaching young children about personal safety will be reassured by the simple approach in Sam's Story, by Molly Anderson, in which a little girl learns two very basic touching rules (fRead More

Five Rs of Returning After Winter Break

By Joy Brooke

I hope having winter break off from school allowed you and your students to experience the important three Rs: rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation. Even though for some returning to school is the best thing, for others it may cause some students and yes, even some teachers the Winter Break Blues. Spring break is far away, and in most cases, the winter days are shorter and darker. These blues can create long tedious days unless we choose…Read More

Garfield High student sues school district over hazing suspension

http://q13fox.com/2014/01/14/garfield-high-student-sues-school-district-over-hazing-suspension/#axzz2qUbhN5RqRead More

Holiday Cheer

The holiday season is upon us, for better or for worse. I would like to talk about the “for worse” part, if only to help us all cross over to the “for better” side of things. Every year I talk with friends and acquaintances who are gearing up for the holidays (or any family gathering) by gritting their teeth and rolling their eyes. The plan, for many, is to just get through it. Of course I recognize that no amount of Pollyanna-ing is going to make a tense family dynamic easy. But I do think we adults often miss a great opportunity to make it a little easier. That opportunity, in many cases, is right under our noses.Read More

Partner Reading for SEL

Partner reading is great time to reinforce the Second Step skill of following directions, including when to listen and when to speak, two very important social and emotional skills for every day use and academic success.Read More

Impact of Exposure to Sexually Explicit and Exploitive Materials

As electronic information sharing increases, parents must consider that their child may be exposed to sexually explicit and inappropriate content and the impact these materials may have on youth and adolescents. Read More