Each meeting has a similar flow that allows for some learning by students and ample opportunity for them to talk and share. Before the meeting, students are given an article related to the topic of each meeting. In our first meeting, we read the article: Lives Turned Upside Down: Homeless Children in Their Own Words and Photographs

Here is an example agenda:

• Introduction/Greetings
• Warm Up Activity
• Team Norms
• Discussion: What were your thoughts or feelings about the article? ​
  • Brian says that he lives in a house with his family but has no electricity. How do you think this affects Brian?
  • What do you think some of Brian’s biggest worries or struggles would  be?
  • If Brian was a friend of yours, what questions would you want to ask him?
  • What do you think would help Brian feel comfortable and relaxed at school?
  • If Brian was a student at our school, would he be successful here?
• ​Ideas for action: How can we take what we've learned and make our school more inclusive for all students?

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It's been such a pleasure to see the conversations that students have! Other topics to include: Disability, Race, and Bullying. 

Next, I'd like to think more about how we can leave time and intention for action. We fill our entire time together with discussion and I'd like to add sessions for action or activities between meetings. Have you ever led a Student Voice Group? What topics did you discuss? I'd love to hear all about it!

Social emotional learning is making a big move right now in education. For counselors, we're nodding our heads and (perhaps) whisper-shouting "I told you so." Hey, let's just appreciate that we were ahead of the game. Where I work, schools are being required to include social emotional learning components in their school improvement plans and several districts in my area are hiring social emotional learning central services staff. I'm thrilled that this whole child approach is getting the spotlight.

At the same time, there's a lot of pressure for counselors to do this right. We may be one of the only people in the building with deep knowledge of social emotional learning best practices. I use the analogy of technology in the classrooms. When we started getting more computers, smart boards, and then iPads (I'm old, don't remind me), the entire staff turned and looked at the technology teacher. Great, they thought, our students can learn technology from that person and I can keep on with my usual. Now, we wouldn't dream of only one person in the building teaching technology as a separate entity from core instruction. I think the same will happen with SEL. It's a heavy lift for counselors right now but eventually we can build the capacity of our whole staff to not just teach SEL but to incorporate social emotional learning into the curriculum as a whole. 

CASEL, the collaborative for academic, social, and emotional learning, are the gurus on SEL right now. I look to them first when I am working on SEL. They look at SEL implementation in four parts:

• SEL lessons with explicit instruction: counselors teach these in their curriculum but teachers do too! When a teacher introduces a project based learning activity to students, they often go over expected behaviors and organizational strategies. That's explicit step-by-step instruction.
• Teaching practices that create positive conditions that support social and emotional development in students: students have to feel emotional and socially safe at school in order to learn social and emotional skills. Culturally responsive instruction is going to be a huge part of this. Schoolwide expectations and tier one practices like PBIS are in this tier as well.
• Integration of instruction and practice of SEL in the academic curriculum: This is more than teaching expected behaviors. This involves actually incorporating SEL competencies into instruction in a meaningful way.
• Policies and organizational structures: When we have policies and structures in place that support SEL as a clear priority for the school they are much more likely to happen.

CASEL has identified 5 core competencies for social emotional learning. They have a great handout that breaks down all of the competencies into skills. What I love about the skills highlighted by CASEL is their broad application. Students must actually have these skills in order to be successful in academics. This isn't fluff. It isn't something nice to "add on." 

I recently led a professional development for a full staff on social emotional learning. Social Emotional Learning is something that all educators can quickly understand and apply if they are given the opportunity to personally reflect and reflect on their classroom practices. After completing a culturally responsive classroom checklist and discussing the components of SEL, the teachers worked in cross grade level teams to complete a "cheat sheet" for each of the competencies. In this activity, the staff answered:

• What competencies/skills are listed under the core competency?
  
• Why it matters - why do students need to have this skills to be successful?
  
• Students will - a list of observable behaviors for students at each grade level.
  
• Teachers will - a list of observable strategies that teachers can implement. This is a great resource for ideas.

Overall it went really well and I think the staff walked away with new learning and reflection. If you'd like to snag the entire presentation and materials, you can find it here. 

Some of you with a keen eye have noticed my to-do list for creating anti-bias lessons. I began by calling them equity lessons but a colleague pointed out that students can't really control equity. Equity is systemic and beyond the reach of children. Semantics, maybe, but it hit home for me. I am working with a group of counselors in my district to create anti-bias lessons for counselors to use in Grades K-8. We are aligning each of the lessons to ASCA Mindsets and Behaviors and then using the Teaching Tolerance Social Justice Standards for the learning objectives. I'm am writing about the scope and sequence of the lessons in my upcoming book and, when they are done, I will share some of the slide decks and lesson plans with you here. In the meantime, let's dive into the Social Justice Standards.

Teaching Tolerance released their Social Justice Standards in 2016 with four domains: identity, diversity, justice, and action. They have identified anchor standards for each of these domains but they also go a step further to identify grade level outcomes. The outcomes are divided into grade spans K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. If you follow the domains from grade level to grade level, you can see how the same idea progresses into deeper and more critical thinking skills. Let's look at an example:

Identity 3: Students will recognize that people’s multiple identities interact and create unique and complex individuals.

• K-2: I know that all my group identities are part of me—but that I am always ALL me. 
• 3-5: I know that all my group identities are part of who I am, but none of them fully describes me and this is true for other people too.
• 6-8: I know that overlapping identities combine to make me who I am and that none of my group identities on their own fully defines me or any other person. 
• 9-12: I know that all my group identities and the intersection of those identities create unique aspects of who I am and that this is true for other people too.

I highlighted some of the major differences in the outcomes. I love the progression of complexity, I can see how a child might learn and grow through the standards.

In designing our lessons, we tried to concentrate on identity and diversity first and then move into justice and action. We felt it was important for kids to understand who they are and who others are before thinking about how differences effect some people. School counselors do a pretty great job of helping students with identity and diversity. Some programs really focus on action but few, I think, focus on Justice. Let's look at a progression through the justice outcomes:

Justice 14: Students will recognize that power and privilege influence relationships on interpersonal, intergroup and institutional levels and consider how they have been affected by those dynamics.

• K-2: I know that life is easier for some people and harder for others and the reasons for that are not always fair.
• 3-5: I know that life is easier for some people and harder for others based on who they are and where they were born.
• 6-8: I know that all people (including myself ) have certain advantages and disadvantages in society based on who they are and where they were born.
• 9-12: I am aware of the advantages and disadvantages I have in society because of my membership in different identity groups, and I know how this has affected my life. 

Cue the record stopping and crickets. This is a whole new world for many. We don't talk about this stuff and it might bring up uncomfortable feelings for you. More importantly, what might parents say?!?! Take a deep breath, you got this. 

I encourage you to print out the Social Justice Standards. Circle the outcomes that you already use within your core curriculum. Next, choose a few outcomes that you would like to add in. Take your list to a teacher who is knowledgeable about the English/Language Arts and Social Studies curriculum. You will find there is a lot of overlap where you can work with core teachers to embed the Social Justice Standards. Teaching Tolerance also has a searchable learning plans site that aligns common core standards with the Social Justice Standards.

Choose one anti-bias standard or skill that you want to implement in the upcoming school year and make it happen! Tell me below how you are implementing anti-bias social emotional learning for your students.  

Hey, remember me? I have been feeling a little MIA from my very favorite people - school counselors! You might have heard, I am writing a book! I have an amazing co-author and am thrilled to be sharing our thoughts on equity in school counseling with the world. I am not going to lie though, it's challenging stuff. I've been devoting all the free time I can to book writing and haven't been here with y'all as much as I would like. Our book is due to the publisher at the end of June so never fear, this too shall pass. 

In the meantime, I want to share with you some of the social justice children's books that I have sitting in my Amazon cart. They look wonderful and I can't wait to get my hands on them. I'll do some Instagram Stories with walkthroughs so you can see the illustrations and hear my opinions about the books. 

I Am Enough by Grace Byers
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What It's About: As a mother, educator, and counselor, I want to whisper these words into every girls' ear. We are all enough. Amazon describes it as "a gorgeous, lyrical ode to loving who you are, respecting others, a being kind to one another." Need I say more.
Why I'm Excited: As a white woman, and mother to a white girl, I love that this book brings the positive message of loving who you are with a black girl at the center. I want my child to see positive messages about children of different races to balance out the white-centered world we live in. As an educator, I love that this book features a black girl because I want my students to see themselves represented in the books that we read and the stories we tell. Also, Grace Byers of Empire fame!

The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi

What It's About: Unhei moves to the United States from Korea and is worried that no one will be able to pronounce her name. She tells her classmates that she will choose a name and they all put ideas in a jar to help her choose. One child from her class comes to her house and learns her real name and it's special meaning. The class encourages Unhei to go by her own name. 
Why I'm Excited: Stand up on the soap box with me y'all. Names are important! Pronouncing names are important! It's not ok for us to ask kids and families to change their names to make it easier on us. 

Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Masters' Strike of 1909

What It's About: Clara, an Ukranian Immigrant, moves to the United States and begins working in a garment factory. Frustrated by the terrible working conditions, Clara never gives up. She learns English and leads the largest walkout of women workers. 
Why I'm Excited: Girl Power! I cannot wait to share this story with some strong girls in my life. So much to admire about this true story. Clara is an English Language Learner who overcomes obstacles to be a strong leader for change. I'm also excited about opening up discussions about child labor and poor working conditions that still go on today. I think that bringing up difficult topics alongside positive stories of historical relevance can make big problems seem less overwhelming or scary to younger children.

The Youngest Marcher

What It's About: Get ready to be a rebel for change. Audrey Faye Hendricks was the youngest child ever to be arrested in the civil rights protests of Birmingham Alabama in 1963. 
Why I'm Excited: My child has been to 3 marches in her young life and we will be going to her fourth in just a few weeks in DC. I want her to be active and strong. To take on the causes of our society with passion and that's just what Audrey Faye Hendricks models. For school, I think it would be an amazing discussion in an upper grade around doing what's right when it's hard. Visually, the book looks beautiful with an unusual layout and gorgeous illustrations. 

Born a Crime

What It's About: Comedian Trevor Noah, The Daily Show, was born in apartheid South African to a white father and black mother. By law, this union was illegal and punishable by 5 years in prison. Noah's mother had to keep him hidden for many years so that she would not be arrested and he would not be taken away. After apartheid lifted, the mother and son were able to live openly for the first time..
Why I'm Excited: Trevor Noah is funny, I enjoy hearing him on the Daily Show and like his wit and charm. I knew that he was from South Africa but had no idea of the true story behind his childhood. I anticipate learning a lot about how races interact, changing systemic racism, and what it means to set apart from society around you.

For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood

What It's About: Dr. Emdin is a former classroom teacher turned professor whose experience has led to his theory of reality pedagogy. This book aims to share Emdin's experiences and wisdom from his time as a student and teacher in urban schools. 
Why I'm Excited: This one is cheating a bit because I've already read this book. It's a dense read but worth the effort. I found it best to read a bit and take a break to reflect and practice concepts before returning. My sister is a 5th grade teacher and she and I read the book at the same time. She has implemented some of Emdin's ideas in her classroom. We both found his book to walk the line of the theoretical and the practical in a great way.

Going to School in Black and White

What It's About: Two students in Durham, North Carolina learn that they will need to change schools due to desegregation in their community. One student is black. One student is white. They later become friends as adults and share their stories in this memoir.
Why I'm Excited: I am participating in a book study with my daughter's school district for this book. I am interested to hear the stories of these two women. I think that the narrative of the students who experienced desegregation is under-represented in our stories of history. This was also apparent when I watched the powerful documentary Teach Us All and I want to continue my learning in this area.

So what's on your book list? I am an avid reader (read 125 books last year!) and am always looking to add books to my ever-growing "to read" list. I would love for you to share your favorites with me.

Classroom elves, Christmas Trees in the lobby, Polar Express viewings, Santa at dismissal, when does celebrating the holiday season move from fun to culturally insensitive? I knew of a school where Santa came every year to speak to the younger students. During instructional time. When the principal moved to end this tradition, she was asked if she wanted to be the person who "didn't like Santa." I love celebrations and I definitely think school should be FUN but I am committed to being culturally responsive in my work as a school counselor.

Teaching Tolerance states that "culturally responsive teaching recognizes the importance of including students' cultural references in all aspects of learning, enriching classroom experiences and keeping students engaged. How can we take this definition and apply it to our celebrations during the holiday season?

Walk around your building and take note of the decorations you see in the hallways, in classrooms, and especially in the lobby. Are holiday traditions other than Christmas included in a more than nominal way? A menorah in the corner of the classroom does not a decoration make. I once visited a school where the media center had set up beautiful vignettes of different holiday traditions including a Christmas scene with faux-fireplace and stockings and a table set for a Hanukkah meal. I've never seen anything like it and I was amazed at the care that the librarian had taken to make each display meaningful.  

All cultures celebrate the spirit of kindness and giving in some way. You don't need to focus on Christmas to appreciate these traits. Consider a food drive or acts of kindness day to celebrate. Likewise, traditions are founded in spending time with our loved ones - I am attending a school's "gift of reading" day this week where each class has special visitors from the community and district to read to them. I am choosing to read non-holiday books because I wasn't comfortable with my Christmas-only selection at home. But I am wearing my ugly sweater! The students will all be in the pajamas but I have to go back to Central Office ;)

Make it a point to learn about the traditions and holidays that your students celebrate. Ask questions about what those traditions mean to their families. Not all religions have a celebration in December so keep your questions open wide to year round traditions and holidays by asking "What is a tradition that you have in your family?" 

The holiday season is also an opportunity for your students to learn. Explore traditions, holidays, and cultural experiences of a wide variety of communities as you move through the month of December. All students are better for learning about others.

We also keep our questions open because not all children have the joy of Christmas, Hanukkah, or other traditions at home. For many children, their celebration days will be empty due to poverty, abuse, or family crises. I recently saw a classroom lesson where students wrote a letter to Santa with the quote about "those who believe will see presents under the tree." My heart breaks for those kids who either don't believe because that is not their family tradition or that do believe but won't have presents or a tree.

I strongly believe school should be fun. There are many ways to celebrate the festivity of the holiday season while learning and growing from the rich, diverse religious and cultural traditions that are represented in our communities. As school counselors, we are charged with making school a welcome and inviting place for all students to learn. How are you working to make your school welcoming to all this holiday season?