How to Use SEL as a School Psychologist
As a school psychologist, you wear many hats and are the glue between general education and special education. You bridge the gap between individual classroom teachers and wider district initiatives. You are ultimately an invaluable resource and leader in the mission to roll out and encourage schoolwide social-emotional learning (SEL).
While we know your plate is full, SEL and your school site need you!
But, how do you go about integrating SEL as a school psychologist without adding more hours to your day?
You may be thinking:
- What is my role in SEL?
- What do I do that already counts as SEL?
- When is there time for SEL?
- What do best practice SEL collaboration and materials look like?
Your extensive training and role on school teams has positioned you to be uniquely qualified as a thought leader in SEL for your campus and district.
As a school psych, chances are your administration already looks to you for schoolwide learning promotion, intervention and inclusive practices to build community.
In this article, we’ll discuss your role as a school psychologist and share some ideas for how to position yourself at the center of your school’s SEL initiatives.
Let’s get started!
Why SEL Matters for School Psychologists:
At a time when districts across the U.S. are quickly adopting shiny new SEL curricula to roll out site and district-wide, you might be wondering, “Will SEL help? Will it overwhelm? How does this come alongside our existing PBIS, mental health supports on campus, and the work social workers, school counselors and school psychologists already do, day in and out?”
We are convinced that structured and regular campus-wide SEL will only help what you are already doing to better support students’ mental health.
We aim to take from your plate of responsibilities, not add more. You can empower every staff member at your site and in your district to teach SEL. This will ultimately release you to better do the job you were hired to do: looking at you, sky-high caseloads!
This translates to:
- Less putting out of behavioral “fires”
- Fewer miscommunications between school and home
- Fewer stressed-out and angry caregivers and parents
- More feelings of alignment and being “on the same page” across site and district
- More to show-off to your admin and district-level leadership
- Less confusion of SEL language and function between general ed and special ed
- And more!
Why You Are Best Positioned to Coach SEL:
Notice the wording here: coach, not teach. That is intentional. Your role as a school psychologist is to support the entire school site, teachers and all. Supporting students and families is the other obvious function and fact.
You may be thinking, “I am far too busy–drowning in paperwork, testing deadlines and meetings. Can’t someone else do the official SEL?”
Coaching is a newer model. As parent coaching is increasingly seen as essential in a child’s treatment or therapy program, the school psychologist is essential in teacher and staff development towards competent use and teaching of SEL.
Coaching allows you to share your wealth of expertise to create real change up the stream instead of being stuck scrambling in the flood of emails and phone calls about student needs on the daily.
The media keeps saying we need to reimagine education. Sustainable practice means we are no longer reactive in general and special education. We become proactive. This is where SEL for all and by all comes in.
How Do I Coach SEL as a School Psychologist?
…and not add an extra job I’m not being compensated for? That is the real question.
Let’s look at some easy ways you can influence and make an impact on SEL as a school psychologist:
1. Help others understand what SEL encompasses.
We recommend starting with the 5 Core SEL Competencies (or CASEL 5):
- Self-awareness
- Self-management
- Social awareness
- Relationship skills
- Responsible decision-making
Are you tasked with leading professional development (PD) for your site or specialist groups and have some leeway for the topic? Then, how about proposing a 5 Core SEL Competencies and their applications PD!
It may also boost your visibility to your school and district community that you are the expert and go-to person on the topic. While you’re at it, add it to your resume or LinkedIn as leadership and training experience!
Additionally, weave the conversation of SEL into an SST or IEP meeting. Or, help caregivers, parents, family members and special education advocates understand what the school and district are already doing in the realm of SEL.
All in all, make the SEL conversations, training, and work visible. Document what you’re doing to help support Tier I, II, III initiatives. Your admin and teams will love and thank you for it!
And remember, every conversation is an opportunity to get people thinking about SEL and their role in it.
2. There Is No “I” in SEL Team – Working With and Not Against Other Professionals
Teachers tend to approach school psychologists and specialists when student behaviors have spiked, when they really need the help, and have tried their own strategies. By this time, both staff and students are really stressed out. One can argue, nobody is in real problem-solving mode at that point, just crisis management.
As a school psychologist, you are an expert at helping others change the environment, accommodate student learning and see the situation from a different angle. You analyze and see the “why” behind the behavior and gain a broader and deeper picture of what is going on with a student and their ecosystem.
So, how does one create a continuous thread of communication and aligned SEL practices then? The answer is the cornucopia of other professionals and specialists on your team.
SLP ⭐ PT ⭐ OT ⭐ APE ⭐ Social Worker ⭐ School Counselor ⭐ Paraprofessionals ⭐ Nurse ⭐ Librarian ⭐ + more!
With that, it is essential for you to create your own style of collaboration with your colleagues that works for your schedule.
Do you like to have 5 minute lunchroom chats with colleagues? Be a resource sharer. Share a mindfulness brain break, like this mindful stretching break, or a tool, like this one for keeping personal space, for a teacher to use when they tell you that the class was extra wiggly on that rainy day.
Do you want to upskill your co-teaching experience and be a model of interdisciplinary collaboration on campus? Chat with your site SLP and see if they are interested in running a joint general education offering – a lunch time or after school club that has a social or friendship focus. Borrow from both of your toolboxes! Build that bridge between GenEd and SpEd.
3. Nurture an Authentically Inclusive SEL Community
All of our students, regardless of ability, need us as models to know that when change happens, things will be okay and that they will be okay.
As a school psych, you are uniquely positioned to witness and be an encouraging hand in the growth of our students as individuals and as part of a community that cares for one another, no matter what. So, aim to build a culture of care with SEL for all and by all.
We look forward to hearing how you found your place in this remarkable journey.
Where can I find materials for SEL lessons?
Everyday Speech offers several free materials to incorporate SEL into your day as a School Psychologist.
Visit our YouTube channel for free videos and sign up for our Material Mix Monday Newsletter for free activities in your inbox every week.
Also, be sure to sign up for a free 30-day trial to sample our 40-week no-prep SEL curriculum, complete with videos, games, activities, and more to support your students in becoming SEL all-stars.
About the Author:
Iris Wong joined Everyday Speech as a contributor in 2021. Over the last decade, she has been a Speech Language Pathologist in PreK-12 public schools, private practice, international schools and community health based early intervention. She currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, two kids and senior dog. Visit her at https://www.linkedin.com/in/iris-l-wong/
