Social & Emotional Learning (SEL)
What is Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)? Learn more about the core competencies here.
Teacher Resources sourced from the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) are available here.
A SEL Online Education Module for educators is available here.
A repository of webinars and videos is available here.
Connecting SEL Resources to the Curriculum:
Ontario’s updated (2019) HPE curriculum makes SEL an integral component of the curriculum.
The Ontario Physical and Health Education Association (OPHEA) gives suggestions for implementation here.
Additionally, Calls for Coaches: Coaching Social and Emotional Skills in Youth Sports is a great resource for developing SEL in sport and physically active contexts.
Implementing Mental Health in the Classroom
The Joint Consortium for School Health has published the Positive Mental Health Toolkit as a free resource for educators, with five brief but informative modules. You can also access their free publication: Schools as a Setting for Promoting Positive Mental Health: Better Practices and Perspectives.
Additionally, the Ontario Ministry of Education has created the K-12 resource Supporting Minds: An Educator’s Guide to Promoting Students’ Mental Health and Well-being.
School Mental Health Ontario offers a wide variety of easy to implement strategies for the K-8 classroom here.
Additionally, pages 25-27 of the Ontario curriculum document Foundations for a Healthy School Resource address Mental Health in the classroom.
Video resources on mindfulness (including full-length lessons) are available here, and “51 Mindfulness Exercises for Kids in the Classroom” is available here.
Safe & Accepting Schools
Ontario is dedicated to creating safe, welcoming environments for all in their schools. This is a multifaceted community effort, and as such, many resources have been created and implemented.
Located here are resources for promoting a positive school climate, including, but not limited to:
- school climate information and surveys,
- school and community safety policies,
- bullying prevention plans,
- and an overview of progressive discipline.
Listed below are clickable additional Ontario resources for promoting a positive school climate and ensuring safety:
- Culturally Responsive Pedagogy as an Inclusive Practice
- Supporting Students with Refugee Backgrounds
Capacity Building K–12: A Framework for Responsive Practice (2016)
- Supporting English Language Learners with Limited Prior Schooling
Capacity Building Series K-12: English Literacy Development (2014)
- Classroom Practices to Help Build Resilience
Bolstering Resilience in Students: Teachers as Protective Factors (2010)
- Helping Students Develop Self-Regulation
Understanding Self-Regulation: Why Stressed Students Struggle to Learn (2016)
- Progressive Discipline with Special Populations
Caring and Safe Schools in Ontario: Supporting Students with Special Education Needs Through Progressive Discipline,
Kindergarten to Grade 12 (2010)
- Teacher Responsibility in Ensuring Safety
Safety is a key responsibility of an educator, and the Professional Advisory Safety in Learning Environments: A Shared Responsibility is located here, with a special set of guidelines regarding electronic communication and social media here.
- Teacher Safety
The safety of teachers is very important. If you feel your school has created insufficient Safety Plans, this resource can help you.
Mental Health Resources from Other Health Organizations
Canadian Mental Health Association
https://cmha.ca/find-your-cmha
This is a national Canadian resource with wellness support in every province. At the website above, parents can search around their area for their local chapter and provincially-specific supports. During COVID-related closures, there have been wellness support hotlines established in many locations as well as online courses, workshops and support groups.
Psychology Today
https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists?tr=Hdr_Brand
This is a directory of mental health professionals across Canada – parents can search by province/city.
Crisis Services Canada
https://www.crisisservicescanada.ca/en/
This is a suicide prevention and support crisis service. Support is available 24/7 by phone or text.
Hope for Wellness Help Line
https://www.hopeforwellness.ca/
On-lline chat counselling service for Indigenous people across Canada. Available 24/7.
Suicide Prevention Services
https://suicideprevention.ca/need-help/
Suicide Prevention lists specific Distress Centres in locations across the country, with services in English and French. There are phone numbers and websites for each on the main linked site.
Kids Help Phone
Children or youth can call or text the Kids Help Phone 24/7.