| By Taylor Frey |
Educators prioritize the physical and mental well-being of their students every year, but during this time of distance and hybrid learning, the importance of social and emotional learning (SEL) has never been clearer. We sat down with Grace Gallagher, executive director of the Cameron K. Gallagher Foundation, to talk about why it’s so important to have access to proven, trustworthy, on-demand SEL. Whether students are struggling with anxiety, dealing with depression, or suffering a loss, they need age-appropriate digital resources that they can access 24/7 anywhere they have internet.
“Set your intention for that day, and that day may not be about a math fact or a history lesson or a science project.”
— Grace Gallagher
“Give them the example of how to take good care of themselves by taking care of yourself,” she said. “Model this behavior.” And if you have a bad day, don’t hide it from students; instead, help them learn from your experiences. “Share with your students that sometimes what you do doesn’t work, so you have to find a new coping skill.”
She also offered practical tips, such as setting an intention for the day, ending Zoom calls with something you’re grateful for, and providing resources like Cameron’s Collection on Gale eBooks. Watch the video to hear more of Grace’s actionable insights.
Taylor Frey is a senior marketing manager for K‒12 at Gale. Taylor grew up using Gale resources in school and saw firsthand how engaging librarians impact a student’s education. When she’s not working on marketing projects, Taylor is usually sewing, gardening, or playing with her foster cats.