Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) for Everyone!

“One day . . . or day one.” – Anonymous                                                              May: Cherokee Month of the Planting Moon SEL:   #3 Social-Awareness       Digital Learner:   #2Global 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) When I was nine years old, my best friend taught me to ride horses. She was Swedish, knew her grandfather was Swedish, and she had cousins in Sweden. After college, she began learning the language and took her daughter to meet the Scandinavian cousins. They made round-ribbon wreaths for their hair with long ribbon-streamers down the back. I wanted to belong to a culture. (I was very angry as a...

 April: Cherokee Month of the Flower Moon “One day . . . or day one.” -- Anonymous SEL #5 Responsible Decision-Making           Digital Learner #7 Innovative Designer Dear Buffalo Woman, Do not fight the storm. Put your child behind you, And turn to face the wind. It will hit your horns, Your mighty wooly-fur, Your solid self. And, your child                         will be                                      safe. Aloha love, Carla 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) I am committed to being an effective member of the global digital community. Montana Cat Tales for Lif...

“One day . . . or day one.” -- Anonymous March Cherokee Month of the Windy Moon SEL:  #2 Social-Awareness       SEL:  #5 Responsible Decision Making 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 Hurricanes can leave a neighborhood without power for days. What happens to all of the food in the freezer? It melts! Ahhhhh! What now? Cook! Fire up the camp stoves, propane grills, build a fire, put a gumbo pot on the propane stand, and get to work.   Digital learners have learned to have car chargers for their devices because, in Montana, power can go out during snow and wind storms. They stay on task and do work-arounds for anything like a power outage.   After a hurricane hit the Gulf Coast, trees blocked roads and work crews ran chain saws all day long. Some gas stoves and ovens ...

“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 ...