Social and Emotional Learning: Strategies for Class and Beyond
Finland Summer Edition 2024
Course Summary
This course is done in collaboration with the Tampere-based educational consultancy Moti Education. There will be co-trainers who are Finnish teachers (see below) and a half-day visit to their school to observe their classes and chat with the teachers.
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In a world with many pressing issues, students experience high levels of anxiety, relationship challenges, and disengagement with education. Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) comes to help with building positive behaviours and resilience. SEL offers effective and clear strategies to navigate challenges, improve the class atmosphere, and build a safe environment. SEL strategies can be applied face-to-face or remotely, where SEL takes even more relevance when students tend to disconnect more.
By exploring the worldwide recognized framework of the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) you will gain awareness of the scope and impact of SEL and will learn the steps to implement it.
You will be immersed in the best practices of how to deepen your self-awareness, empathy and will help you create a safe environment and to provide opportunities for connection in class. At the end of the course, you will be able to apply a range of techniques for stress management, community building, positive communication, and resilience.
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You will work on creating your own SEL plan for your classes and at your school.
Book your course
Tampere (Finland)
26th -31st August 2024
5 days Price: 400 Euros
(25 hours)
6 days Price: 480 Euros
(30 hours)
*Late fee: 60 extra euros will be charged if paid less than 8 weeks before the course.
Register your interest
Learning Outcomes
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Understand and implement aspects of the CASEL integrated framework
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Identify strategies to create a safe environment in class face-to-face and virtually
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Apply strategies to improve teacher-student and student-student communication
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Identify mindfulness strategies to reduce stress, manage emotions in a positive way
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Increase social awareness in yourself and your students to cultivate healthy relationships
Schedule
Day 1: On the Importance of SEL
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-Presentations; Course Introductions
-Team building activities
-Main issues in education, teachers share their concrete experiences
-Identifying the 5 SEL competencies: Self-awareness, Self-management, Social awareness, Relationship skills and Responsible decision-making.
-SEL impact.
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Day 2: A supportive environment
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-3 essential elements: Positive relationships, community building and student-centred discipline (restorative justice)
-Case Studies
-Teacher Personal Project on SEL.
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Day 3: Explicit SEL instruction
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-Activities for labelling feelings, coping with stress, setting and achieving goals, developing empathy, communicating effectively, resolving conflict, being assertive, and making responsible decisions.
-Case studies
-Teacher Personal Project on SEL.
Day 4: Integration of SEL through instruction
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- Welcoming/Inclusion Activities
- Engaging Strategies, Brain Breaks, and Transitions
- Optimistic Closures
-Frame mistakes and struggle as an important part of learning
-Discussion and collaborative learning strategies
-Case studies
-Teacher Personal Project on SEL.
Day 5: Finding Support and Sustainability
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-Parents, families, and communities: Social and emotional learning in context
-Teacher Personal Project presentations
-Final reflection and feedback
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Day 6: Nature Experience (if you choose the 6 days option)
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-Outdoor half-day experience in nature
Your Trainers
Dr. Carolina Castro
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Carolina is an experienced educator with 21 years of teaching career in Primary, Secondary and Tertiary education in Europe, USA and Australia. She started using SEL strategies in her classes in 2018, trying to solve very serious multicultural and gender issues in her classes. The results were very promising and from that point on she has become a passionate SEL advocate and practitioner, implementing these strategies in teacher training too.
For the last 5 years, she has trained teachers from Europe, Asia and Australia, and she has collaborated with educational foundations and whole schools around the world. Carolina has a B.A. in English Language and Literature, an M.A. in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language, and a Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics and Education. Some of her topics of expertise are Project-Based Learning, Project-Based Language Learning, Social and Emotional Learning, Digital tools for education, CLIL, Life skills, Pedagogy and E-Pedagogy among others.
She has presented in academic conferences, professional events for teachers and doctoral seminars around the world, online and face to face. When Carolina's PhD thesis was published, it was one of the few examples in the world of a foreign languages' practitioner using PBLL together with digital technologies sharing her experience.
Saija Artama
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Saija Artama is a mathematic and science teacher at a lower secondary school in Finland. She holds a Master of Science in Technology degree expanded with education science and pedagogy studies required in Finland and has 15 years of experience in teaching and curriculum development at the middle school level. Currently, Saija is actively involved in the Finnish national STEM education network, contributing to the advancement of teaching STEM subjects. Additionally, she is studying digital learning environments and digital pedagogy at the University of Helsinki. She is also a member of the national network for digital education. Through ongoing education, she has embarked on enhancing her teaching methods to better align with the skills required in the 21st century.
Previously, Saija worked as a vice principal at a large lower secondary school for three years. During this time, she chaired the school's well-being committee and collaborated with special education teachers, student welfare, and social services to develop student well-being initiatives. She places great importance on positive pedagogy based on the research findings of positive psychology. Project-based learning, phenomenon-based learning, and social and emotional learning are among her specific areas of interest.
Piia Tynkkynen
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Piia Tynkkynen is a special education teacher at a lower secondary school in Finland. She holds a Master of Philosophy in History and Social Studies degree, expanded with pedagogy and special education studies required in Finland. Piia has almost 15 years of experience in teaching history and social studies, and the past 10 years in special education. Specifically, Piia has been working to prevent the phenomenon of school dropouts and increase students' school attachment.
The newest development in her work is creating a consultative work model for teachers in the city of Tampere, along with 11 other special education teachers. Piia has been providing consultation to teachers at different levels in various schools for the past 2 years. Additionally, Piia has specialized in neuropsychiatric training, which she implements with students at her own school. Last year, Piia participated in a course on teaching and assessment of multicultural students organized by the Finnish National Agency for Education.
As a teacher, Piia is solution-oriented and uses methods based on empowerment strategies with her students. It is important in her work to find the best possible ways to teach each individual and also to enhance the social and emotional well-being of students and their families. Piia is accustomed to collaborating with healthcare and social workers, and positive pedagogy serves as her guiding principle.
Essential Info
Duration: 6 days, 30 hours.
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Certificate: A completion certificate will be provided when participants attend a minimum of 80% of the course.
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Language: The course will be facilitated in English. Participants need to have a minimum of a B1 to attend.
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Activities: A city tour and an outdoor nature experience are included.
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Schedule: Sessions can take place in the morning (9h to 14h) or the afternoon (15h to 20h). The day-by-day timetable posted here is tentative, your trainer will send it to you one week before the course begins and she may change it depending on the group needs accordingly.
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TAKE A LOOK AT TAMPERE!
Numerous events, fascinating cultural experiences and soothing lake views to match the relaxed atmosphere makes the city very appealing all year round. Dive into the beat of Tampere with us!
Many natural trails around.
Tampere is the capital of Saunas in Finland
You can find several lake beaches in Tampere.
Many natural trails around.