Module 5
What are schools implementing?
Key Points
Click on each bullet point to read more.
• Identifying SEL practices that meet your vision of success
First, understand your gaps and your needs. If you haven’t already, do an analysis on where your gaps in outcomes might be (e.g., student dropout rate, teacher absences).
Second, explore why these gaps exist and what do people need in order to be able to address the identified gaps in outcomes. To understand needs, you can conduct empathy interviews, informal meetings or discussions, and other forms of talking to people that allow you to elicit their points of view and experiences.
Third, you next want to think about your areas of focus for SEL. Consider which SEL areas of focus will align with the identified gaps and articulated needs and then prioritize them.
Fourth, you may have to select specific SEL programs, approaches, or practices that align with the area of focus, align with your identified gaps and needs, and meet your idea of success.
Action: If you have not yet identified SEL practices you will be implementing/supporting, go through these steps as a team. If you have identified SEL practices you will be implementing/supporting, are there any steps you overlooked and need to go back to reflect on? How does this impact your identified SEL practices for implementation?
• Defining WHO is doing WHAT differently
Once you have an SEL team in place and you’ve prioritized what you’re going to focus on, you are ready to start planning for implementation. The very first step in this planning process is identifying who is being asked to do what differently. By clearly defining who needs to do what differently, it sets people up to be able to do that thing.
WHOs and WHATs often have to be revisited over time. For example, you might realize you need to add more WHOs and/or WHATs or change or refine them. It’s also common that when first defining the WHOs and WHATs, we don’t provide enough detail to people to understand what success looks like.
Action: For each SEL practice/approach that you will be implementing or will be supporting the implementation of, identify the WHOs and the WHATs.
Videos
Identifying SEL practices that meet your vision of success
This video provides you with a brief overview of steps you can take to select SEL approaches and practices that will best meet the needs of the people involved.
Defining WHO is doing WHAT differently
In this video, we break down the process of describing SEL approaches and practices in terms of WHO needs to WHAT differently - a key step in understanding exactly what is going to be implemented.
Tools & Resources
Activity Guide for LEAs and schools - Selecting and defining what SEL approaches, practices and programs will be implemented
All initiatives rely on people creating change by doing something differently in their work or personal practices, behaviors, etc. This activity covers Module 4 & 5 and aims to help you tease out, for your set of SEL implementation activities, WHO needs to do WHAT differently.
County Office of Education Facilitator’s Guide - Selecting and defining what SEL approaches, practices and programs will be implemented
The purpose of the facilitator’s guide is to outline different ways that COEs can support LEAs and schools in the process of selecting SEL approaches, practice and programs and defining WHO needs to do WHAT differently to make change happen.