Laura Morris' Portfolio Page

About Me

My name is Laura Morris and I live in Brooklyn, NY. Originally from Florida, I received my Bachelor of Science from Florida State University in 2016. I then went back to school and received a post-bacc and teaching certificate in Elementary Education in 2018 from St. Petersburg College. I have been teaching for 5 years and have taught 2nd-6th grade in general education classes and even Engineering. I currently work as a 4th grade homeroom teacher at a private school in the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

My Topic and Purpose

The topic of this mini course will review the main concepts of social-emotional learning (SEL) curriculum and how it can be integrated into core academic areas. The purpose of this course is to highlight the need of SEL curriculum through all academic subjects. SEL can create a positive classroom environment where students feel more confident to take risks, are able to take on multiple perspectives and work in collaborative groups.

Scope of Learning Outcomes and Content

This course will review the importance of Social Emotional Learning curriculum and how to implement this work into different subject areas. Topics will include an introduction to SEL, Strategies for integrating SEL into Reading/Language Arts,  Strategies for integrating SEL into Math, Strategies for integrating SEL into Science, and Implementation and Sustainability of SEL. The idea of this course is to provide instructors with strategies they can implement into their current classroom environment. It will also include areas of reflection and ways to sustain these practices.

Needs Assessment

Educational Opportunity

Social Emotional Learning has been proven to provide many positive results in the field of education. A 2011 meta-analysis of over 213 studies involving SEL school-based programs in grades K-12 found that SEL can improve attitudes about self, others, and school, create positive classroom behavior and can result in a 11 percentile-point gain on standardized achievement tests (Durlak, J.A., Weissberg, R.P., Dymnicki, A.B., Taylor, R.D., & Schellinger, K., 2021) However, there is a gap between what educators know about SEL and how and when to implement SEL into academic areas. Instructors are given some of the tools they need to implement SEL curriculum but there is a missing piece in how to utilize this curriculum throughout all academic subjects.  

Learners

Learners for this course are pre-service and current teachers who are looking for strategies and ideas of how to implement and sustain SEL curriculum into various academic subjects.

Existing efforts

There are few blogs and resources that teachers can use to see ways that SEL might be integrated into curriculum. Most of these resources focus on the overall framework of SEL.

Intent statement:

The goal for this course is for teachers to feel confident in ways in which to implement SEL curriculum into core subjects. This course provides strategies and research all in one place for teachers to access and grow their practice. It not only will provide strategies for implementation but also ways to continue to sustain these practices and reflect on progress.

Analysis of the Learner and Context

The participants of this course are pre-service learning teachers and current teachers in the classroom. This course can be taken by teachers from all grade levels, though the main focus will be on those who teach at the elementary level. Participants for this course will need an understanding of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and lesson design. In terms of lesson design, participants should have familiarity with goal setting, and understanding of learning targets and objectives as it pertains to a lesson. Moreover, teachers should have an understanding of how to integrate various strategies they might find beneficial for their current practice. Lastly, participants should be open minded and be willing to take time to reflect and analyze current practices in order to improve instruction.

This course is completely online using the KNILT platform. Participants can complete the course at whatever speed works best for them. Ideally, the knowledge and strategies gained from this course will equip teachers with strategies for implementation into their current practice.

The goals for completion of this course include that participants will have a better understanding of SEL and how to integrate it into all aspects of curriculum. Ideally, participants will gain knowledge and skills that will help promote SEL in the classroom which will improve teaching practices and create a more positive classroom culture for students.

Performance-Based Objectives

Objectives for this course include:

• Participants will be able to Define what Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is.
• Participants will be able to Identify the importance of promoting Social Emotional Learning (SEL) through implementation into academic areas.
• Participants will be able to Develop effective strategies to integrate SEL into academic areas such as english language arts, science and math.
• Participants will be able to Create an action plan on ways to incorporate and sustain SEL practices into the classroom.

Task and Content Analysis

Pre-requisite knowledge, skills and attitude for this course include:

• Foundational knowledge of child development including cognitive, social and emotional development
• Understanding and familiarity with core academic subjects including english language arts, science and math
• Willingness and openness to reflect on personal biases and attitudes on SEL and its effect on current practices

Unit 1: What is SEL and Why is it Important?

At the end of Unit 1, students will be able to:

• Define SEL and its key concepts including self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making
• Identify and explain the importance of promoting SEL in the classroom and its effectiveness for both academic and social success in the classroom
• Identify the benefits of integrating SEL into academic areas
• Reflect on current practices in the classroom and identify areas for growth and implementation

Unit 2: Integrating SEL into the ELA Block

At the end of Unit 2, students will be able to:

• Identify strategies for promoting SEL in the ELA block
• Investigate the importance of SEL in reading and writing instruction in the ELA Block
• Identify and develop strategies for using writing to promote SEL and its key competencies
• Develop strategies for using literature to promote SEL (including book selection)

Unit 3: Integrating SEL into the STEM Block

At the end of Unit 3, students will be able to:

• Identify strategies for promoting SEL in the STEM block
• Investigate the importance of SEL in science and math instruction in the STEM block
• Identify and develop strategies for real-world problem solving during math instruction to promote responsible decision making
• Develop ways to promote collaborative and cooperative learning during science instruction to promote relationship skills

Unit 4: Putting it All Together & Strategies for Reflection

At the end of Unit 4, students will be able to

• Explore ways to evaluate the effectiveness of SEL integration into academic areas
• Create an action plan on how to integrate SEL into either an ELA and STEM block and how to evaluate effectiveness of SEL integration

Curriculum Map

References and Resources

• Durlak, J. A., Weissberg, R. P., Dymnicki, A. B., Taylor, R. D., & Schellinger, K. B. (2011). The impact of enhancing students’ social and emotional learning: A meta‐analysis of school‐based universal interventions. Child development, 82(1), 405-432.