Comments on: Morning Meetings, Check-Ins, and Social-Emotional Learning http://usergeneratededucation.wordpress.com/2012/08/05/morning-meetings-check-ins-and-social-emotional-learning/ Education as it should be - passion-based. Fri, 24 May 2013 00:57:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Jackie Gerstein, Ed.D. http://usergeneratededucation.wordpress.com/2012/08/05/morning-meetings-check-ins-and-social-emotional-learning/#comment-3339 Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:14:48 +0000 http://usergeneratededucation.wordpress.com/?p=3342#comment-3339 This is realty what teaching should be – giving kids a voice. To some, it is the only place they have one. I love your story.

]]> By: dominicanbreezes http://usergeneratededucation.wordpress.com/2012/08/05/morning-meetings-check-ins-and-social-emotional-learning/#comment-3335 Thu, 09 Aug 2012 03:09:45 +0000 http://usergeneratededucation.wordpress.com/?p=3342#comment-3335 I used a variation of this idea when presented with a 1L (lowest academic level before a Developmental Delay) an entire class of identified students – and a lot of social emotional challenges. After modifying a few things such as; getting each student a smooth rock from a stream to use as a talking stone we never started the class without our “talking circle” the equivalent to the morning meeting. To make a long story short during my semester I had only one semi-serious behavioral incident. The kids – grade 9 students – liked to come to class and we developed a strong trusting bond. I do not know how to say this without sounding artificial, but the experience with my kids in a nonjudgmental process influenced the kids, and it changed me as a person and a teacher. The “talking circle” process was introduced to me from a colleague and friend who is aboriginal. During this semester I had my performance appraisal and I chose to use my 1L class. Both the Principal and V.P. were surprised and even shocked at the response of the kids to the process.

To be successful, in my opinion:

You have to model, model and model.
You have to learn to be a good listener
You have to educate the children to respect – not interrupt – other students when talking
You have to “authentically care” about the students as human beings, and not about whether you are going to complete the curriculum

Upon reflection, it is important to remember that many of these kids do not or have never even been given a chance to have “real” voice.”

At times I had to learn to bite my tongue so I would not interrupt the kids – we are (as teachers) used to be at the front of the classroom and the center of the classroom.

Scott Townley
Teacher
Upper Canada District School Board
Ottawa, Canada

]]> By: techcommgeekmom http://usergeneratededucation.wordpress.com/2012/08/05/morning-meetings-check-ins-and-social-emotional-learning/#comment-3294 Sun, 05 Aug 2012 16:22:23 +0000 http://usergeneratededucation.wordpress.com/?p=3342#comment-3294 I’ve heard of this being done at some of the schools my son has attended. It sounds like a great idea, especially for special needs kids who don’t always know how to communication how they are feeling for the day, and it not only helps them to identify their own mental state of being, but I imagine it helps the teacher knows where each child’s mental state is going forward for the rest of the day.

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