Student Support
SHAlom Room — Counseling and Behavior Support
At SHA, the social and emotional wellbeing of students is at the center of child development and academic achievement. Following the guidance of Project SHAlom, our Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS) program, we focus on developing skills for lifelong learning and emotional intelligence.
What is SEL?
CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning) defines Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) as the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. We follow their model for learning that focuses on these competencies:
1. Self-awareness
2. Self-management
3. Social awareness
4. Relationship skills
5. Responsible decision-making
Developing Student Skills
To develop these skills in our students, SHA provides learning in the classroom using the Second Step Curriculum, Positive Discipline Curriculum, and Responsibility-Centered Discipline (RCD). Second Step offers lessons each week taught by the classroom teacher on social and emotional skills. Positive Discipline provides a framework for learning expectations and community building that is led by the classroom teacher. RCD is an approach to discipline that is based on concepts for developing responsible students. The teacher guides and coaches a student to make responsible decisions with their behaviors and learning.
In addition to the classroom curricula, the SHA counselor provides 30-minute lessons every week in each classroom focusing on social-emotional learning using the Zones of Regulation curriculum and integrating the Second Step curriculum. The Zones of Regulation framework focuses on self-regulation and emotional control. Additionally, the counselor provides individual support, including daily check-ins, for students based on an individual learning plan designed with the school team and family.
Learning Center at SHA
SHA understands that students may need additional learning support occasionally or throughout their elementary and middle school experience. The Learning Center strives to ensure that all students are supported in reaching their full potential as learners. Students may receive accommodations and modifications in their classroom or in the Learning Center to match their learning needs. Learning specialists collaborate with teachers and support staff to ensure that students are being supported and challenged in their learning.
Learning Center specialists:
- Support teachers with differentiation of curriculum to meet a range of learners.
- Provide in-class support for students who struggle or may benefit from enrichment.
- Provide pull-out services for students who require individualized instruction beyond what the general classroom can provide.
- Act as liaisons between Seattle Public Schools or private therapists (speech, occupational, etc.) and families.
- Teach study and organizational skills to those who struggle with executive functioning skills.