Jessica Philippon-January blogpost

SEL Connection: According to CASEL, responsible decision–making is the ability to make caring and constructive choices about personal behavior and social interactions across diverse situations. 

• What is invasive curiosity and how can we hold space to best model positive curiosity while supporting classrooms where risk taking is needed and encouraged?

Invasive curiosity is when inquiry goes beyond boundaries and crosses into areas that some may feel are sensitive or private. It can cause a strain on a relationship. We can hold space for positive curiosity by respecting boundaries. Asking permission to discuss specific topics while being mindful of the discussion. Remember to show empathy and apologize when needed. Look and listen fr verbal cues as well as non-verbal cues. 

• Reflecting on the discussions we have had in our PINE Project Workshops, how can this month’s SEL Connection about responsible decision making be integrated into classroom settings? Feel free to specifically use the picture books we read this month, but do not feel as though this is your only choice. You get to decide how to integrate these ideas into your student’s learning. 

When I first read The Suitcase-I was not completely sold on this book. I thought it was simplistic and obscure. With the discussion that we had in our workshop-I loved being able to discover the intended interpretation of the story. I immediately looked at this book in a new lens that allowed me to think about the SEL responsible decision making, empathy, social awareness, self-awareness and self-management. I was also able to really apply the book to my own experiences with the diversity of my school and city. Originally I took the book for face value but with the help of the discussion I was able to dig deeper into the book and see the value on many other levels.