Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) for Everyone!

“One day . . . or day one.” -- Anonymous                February: Cherokee Month of the Bone Moon SEL: # 2 Social Awareness    # 4 Relationship Skills A kind word to one in trouble is often like a switch in a railroad track. . .an inch between wreck and smooth sailing.                                                    – Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887) My husband was an emergency room nurse before he worked 14 years in a treatment center. I was a newly certified teacher, substituting while I waited for a permanent position to open. It was early days for me as a substitute so, I took   special needs assignments unawares.  I came home knuckle-draggin’ and sat with my forearms on ...

  "One day . . . or day one.” -- Anonymous February: Cherokee Month of the Bone Moon SEL:  #3 Self-Management SEL:   #4 Relationship Skills      Digital Learner:  #2 Creative Communicator Perspective: outlook or point of view. My father was a volunteer fireman in the 1950’s, newly married, and was used to dealing with the public. He went into the corner grocery and asked for sorghum by pronouncing it as   “sa’gum.” The clerk had owned this neighborhood grocery for 40 years and was wise to the ways of his customers.   “Sir, I don’t believe we have such a thing. What’s it look like?” “It’s brown, sweet and you pour it on biscuits - - but it isn’t honey.” “Ah,” replied the man, “not honey, I believe you want a molasses called " sor' gum."  That’s the way we say it here in Denver.” “My wife sent me for it.” “Where’s she from?” “Tennessee.” “Young man, you need to learn how to talk southern , it’ll save you a lot ...

 " One day . . . or day one.” -- Anonymous January: Cherokee Month of the Cold Moon   SEL: #3 Self-Management Digital Learner: #2 Global Collaborator   A kind word to one in trouble is often like a switch in a railroad track. . .an inch between wreck and smooth sailing     – Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887)   My friend’s husband suicided last week. It brought me back to the hollows. The numbness. The concept of time vanishing. Minute-to-minute watching as my life moved on without me. No more day-to-day. It is not the same as cancer or car wrecks. Suicide is unimaginatively different. We have lost parents and grandparents in their time and place, at their age. My auntie was 99, my mother 75, which could be only three birthdays from now, for me. We live through the death of our loved ones and then, we live with it. We are never the same. . . My friend found a suicide support group. I had a widows’ support group for a year before my husband...

“One day . . . or day one.” -- Anonymous December: Cherokee Month of the Snow Moon SEL: #4 Relationship Skills                     Digital Learner: #4 Creative Communicator   A kind word to one in trouble is often like a switch in a railroad track. . .an inch between wreck and smooth sailing.                                                                                                                                                             – Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887) When we read a story to a child, it is a gift of time ...

  “One day . . . or day one.” -- Anonymous December: Cherokee Month of the Snow Moon SEL:  #2 Social-Awareness SEL:   #5 Responsible Decision Making      Digital Learner:  #6 Computational Thinker Moving is disorienting to me. After I discovered one-half of my land had been sold, at age 67 (my retirement), my attorney advised me to sell it and move before winter set in, or spend $60,000 and the next five years in a lawsuit. I moved. My outdoor cat became an indoor cat in my new apartment. He was not happy with me, nevertheless, he began to explore his new digs. I was in the living room one evening minding my own business. Bam! Bam! Bam! What on earth? I had no screen doors or blinds to blow and it wasn’t windy. Nothing in the garage. I finally went upstairs and the cat was trapped in the cabinet under the bathroom sink. I opened the door, he looked at me with total disgust, and stomped away, tail held high. I bungee-corded all of th...

"One day . . . or day one.” -- Anonymous November: Cherokee Month of the Hunt Moon SEL:  #1 Self-Awareness          #4 Relationship Skills Digital Learner:  #2 Global Collaborator ·        What worked well? ·        Areas for improvement: ·        Future considerations:       I ask these three questions after every business meeting, Zoom session, artist’s conference, etc. “It takes a village. . .” to independently publish children’s picture books. The questions work well in personal settings especially if there is family conflict. The easiest way to resolve issues is to put everyone in the same room, allow no cross-talk and honestly share, using the terms above. Allowing discussion about what has been happening for each person is effective.   Reflection without judgment is important. It involves a level of emoti...

" One day . . . or day one.” -- Anonymous October: Cherokee Month of the Harvest Moon SEL:  #3 Self-Management SEL:   #4 Relationship Skills      Digital Learner:  #2 Creative Communicator                               #7 Innovative Designer To wish to be well is a part of becoming well.  – Seneca C. 4 B.C. – C. 65 B.C. I can go on the Internet and look at videos about how to fix my car. Unless I grab the right tool box (not the paint kit), choose the right device, apply it effectively, then add all of the necessary fluids and parts, my car won’t run. For me, emotional healing/recovery and being able to sustain it, requires the same select-the-right-tool-and-apply-it-correctly sequence. Relationship skills are hard-earned through a process of trial and error. Reading a page-a-day out of a ...