The Power To Choose
Stephanie Feagin has been in education for over sixteen years. She brings a lot of wisdom and experience to the discussion of social and emotional learning (SEL). Join Stephanie and me on this podcast where we discuss the power to choose, SEL, and several other great topics for educators.
SEL Before It Became SEL
[1:27] Social and emotional learning helps students learn to self-regulate. The Choose Well Program is all about helping students learn to make better choices which includes self-regulation and self-management.
It all comes down to the power to choose. We don’t always get to choose the circumstance we are in, but we can choose how we respond in those circumstance. This is an important lesson that students (and adults) need to learn and they can learn it through The Choose Well Program, as well as other SEL curricula.
The Culture of a Classroom
[3:50] The classroom culture can be greatly impacted by how students choose to respond to their circumstances in and out of the classroom. Educators can also help set a positive tone in the classroom by modeling how to make thoughtful choices and being respectful to their students.
In the classroom, students will learn how to make better choices when they have a teacher who will respectfully hold them accountable. Garnering respect from students means educators are also being respectful to their students. Asking questions when students make poor choices can be more impactful than yelling at them or demeaning them.
It Takes Practice
[6:25] It comes back to building relationships in the classroom. Educators and students spend a lot of time together and conflict will arise. How educators choose to respond to their students in the tough times can help or hurt a classroom’s culture.
Developing a positive classroom culture takes time and it takes practice. Educators model and practice consistency in helping students make better choices. It’s supporting students when they fail. In turn, students practice the skills of making better choices when it comes to class work and relationships with others.
The classroom is a great place for students to practice making better choices. If a student is having trouble with school work, but is doing their best, they learn that their value doesn’t come from the school work. A student learns that they have value no matter what.
How The Choose Well Program Began
[9:45] Students struggle in a lot of areas of life, not just academics. This has a negative impact on the student at school. I (Mister Brown) created The Choose Well program to help students and educators learn to make better choices no matter what their circumstances are in or out of the classroom.
Most of the time we can’t change our circumstances, but we can always choose how we respond to them. That understanding can be very helpful for students who are struggling with challenges of any kind. So The Choose Well message was born, “When you make better choices you will live a better life, so choose well. Oh yeah!”
Who Impacted Mister Brown
[16:12] Mrs. Ortiz had a big impact on me. She was a study hall monitor. She was a small person, but she wouldn’t put up with any of my or my friend’s shenanigans. I remember how she would engage with us teenage boys and we listened to her and respected her for it. My grandparents and my mother also played a huge role in my personal development.
Great educators set the tone in their classrooms and are also respectful to their students. They set classroom expectations and they graciously enforce them. Students really need and want boundaries.
The power to choose applies to people no matter who they are or where they’re from. To be empowered to understand when you make better choices your life will be better is for everyone.
