Looking for resources to build a strong foundation for social and emotional learning? You've come to the right place!

In this video, we will be heading over to the Strategies tab within the Aperture System to look at the Foundational Practices resources.

The Foundational Practices are 'low lift' practices that teachers can put into place every day to create a positive learning environment.

Just like their name implies, the Foundational Practices set the stage for social and emotional learning. You'll find resources that will help you intentionally create routines, provide opportunities for self-reflection and collaboration, and encourage movement. These are just some examples of the many practices you'll find within these resources!

The Foundational Practices are organized into six different areas of focus: Academic Integration, Equity and Inclusion, Positive Climate, School & Family Relationships, Student Voice & Engagement, and Trauma-Informed Practices. All these resources are available as downloadable PDFs and include the purpose of the practice, key principles, and ideas and examples for making them easy to use.

Who can access the Foundational Practices? Everyone who has access to the Aperture System! How you use these resources may vary based on your role. Let's look at some examples of how to use these Foundational Practices. As an educator, you may choose to implement these activities directly into your daily or weekly practices with all your students. As a specialist, you may use these resources during small group instruction or intervention to create a positive space for students and encourage them to use social and emotional skills in all their settings. Administrators and other school leaders can consider how to implement these strategies with staff -- they benefit adults, too! Some examples include modeling them in staff meetings or highlighting how different staff members are using the Foundational Practices to support students across campus. No matter how you use these resources you're sure to notice some benefits of using them often, such as strengthening positive relationships and creating an overall sense of community for students and adults.

That's because the Foundational Practices are designed to support the culture and climate of your learning environment; in a classroom, school-wide, or even within an entire district or organization.

Culture refers to the practices, routines, rituals, and traditions you have in place that foster community and strong relationships. Climate refers to the quality and character of school life. When using the Foundational Practices resources, you're building up both the culture and the climate with your students and staff! Not sure where to start?

We suggest checking out the Positive Climate topic for resources such as Celebrate Small Successes, Build and Maintain Relationships, and Routines and Rituals.

Thank you for watching this video!

If you need help or have questions, visit the Support Portal using the Help and Support question mark at the top right of your Aperture System dashboard.