S02 E01 - SEL with Jodi Miller

Jodi Miller is a former high school biology teacher and current PhD student at The Johns Hopkins University School of Education. She also created WellCheq, an online platform that allows students and teachers to log their feelings each day. Jodi is passionate about rethinking the ways in which schools support students. Her research focuses on how stress affects the brains and bodies of learners, and how it is related to achievement. She also examines how schools can serve as a buffer for students who may be experiencing a lot of stress and trauma.

In this episode you'll learn what social-emotional learning is as well as how it relates to the concepts of mindfulness and growth mindset. Jodi gives you practical tips on how to implement SEL in your online classroom in authentic ways so that you and your students become empowered and more connected, rather than drained, by implementing another initiative. Jodi explains the importance of SEL and encourages us all to engage fully in connecting and supporting our students' social-emotional learning.

Timestamps

• What is SEL and is it worth investing in? [5:19]
• SEL and the connection to mindfulness and growth mindset [7:59]
• Mindfulness doesn't mean meditation [9:03]
• Not yet… [9:38]
• Jodi's proves SEL isn't just another 'thing' to add to teachers plates [12:30]
• Talking SEL during a lesson on mitosis? [13:34]
• When your SEL curriculum doesn't fit your need [15:26]
• How do you really implement SEL in an online classroom? [17:50]
• How WellCheq came to be [19:07]
• Using the data you gather from SEL check-ins [20:08]
• What if things seem status quo? [22:14]
• Jodi on teacher wellbeing and teachers' own social-emotional learning [25:20]
• A glimpse at Jodi's PhD research on teacher wellbeing and learner outcomes [26:15]
• The administrator's role in boosting teachers' morale [30:11]

Selected Links from the Episode:

WellCheq - Free Online SEL Tool

CASEL Website

Freebie! SYS and WellCheq SEL Resource for Educators