No abstract

Today’s teachers experience high levels of stress and fatigue which can negatively affect their well-being. Teacher burnout is not a new educational phenomenon, but it has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. In this article, we discuss the prevalence of teacher stress and its impact on teacher well-being and student achievement. We call for more attention to the social and emotional learning of special education teachers of students with emotional and behavioral disorders. After addressing myths and misconceptions regarding current expectations for educators, we propose a new framework for establishing individual and systemic interventions to support teacher well-being.

The best social and emotional learning (SEL) curriculum can be difficult to implement when students with or at risk for emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) are unregulated and unprepared to engage in instruction. Daily mindfulness practices can help students with and at risk for EBD regulate their emotions and behaviors and be prepared for instruction. In this article, we provide examples and models of how informal mindfulness strategies can be incorporated into the elementary classroom to support student SEL growth. We also address how SEL instruction can be intensified using explicit mindfulness intervention programs to help meet the needs of students with EBD.

No abstract

Teachers of students with or at risk for emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) may face obstacles and feel isolated when implementing social and emotional learning (SEL) programming with students. The teacher study group (TSG) offers an effective way to overcome barriers and improve SEL. These groups provide a gathering space for teachers to investigate problems of practice, celebrate points of pride, and strengthen professional learning in a focused area. In this article, we summarize existing research on SEL and TSGs and describe available SEL programs that incorporate TSGs. We provide an example of SEL-focused TSGs in practice, offering guidance and tips for early elementary school teachers—and the administrators who support them—who work with students with or at risk for EBD.