How Can I Use ReadyGO to Support Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Strategies in Our Courses?

Use ReadyGO to help ensure SEL strategies are consistently integrated across courses. By tracking SEL components, flagging gaps, and helping teams monitor progress, ReadyGO supports schools in making SEL a meaningful part of every student’s learning.

Step 1: Assemble a Dedicated SEL Implementation Team

Form a ReadyGO team responsible for reviewing and embedding SEL strategies into courses to support students’ emotional and social development.

Suggested Team Members:

• School Counselors: Experts in mental health, well-being, and SEL best practices.
• SEL Specialists or Coordinators: Educators who focus on embedding SEL into the curriculum.
• Instructional Coaches: Professionals who support teachers in integrating SEL into their instruction.
• Classroom Teachers: Teachers with expertise in implementing SEL activities and fostering emotional intelligence in students.
• Student Support Staff: Individuals who specialize in working with students who need additional social-emotional support.

Step 2: Track SEL Implementation Across Existing Course Batches

Rather than creating a separate batch for SEL, use ReadyGO to ensure SEL strategies are embedded in the courses where they matter most. By applying SEL-focused Checklists, Statuses, and Alerts, you can track progress across core subjects, advisory periods, intervention programs, grade levels, or any existing batch organization structure.

Step 3: Create a new ReadyGO Status

Establish a unique ReadyGO Status for tracking the SEL integration step within your course lifecycle management. This ensures clarity and consistency during the process. You could give this status a name such as "Pending SEL Review". 

Step 4: Build a Checklist for SEL Integration

Create a ReadyGO Checklist to guide your team in ensuring SEL best practices are present in Canvas courses.

Here are some examples of tasks organized based on the CASEL Framework. This list includes examples across grade bands. Consider using these to develop separate checklists for separate grade level bands. 

Self-Awareness (Recognizing emotions, strengths, and values)

• Add at least one self-reflection activity (morning check-ins, feelings charts for K-5; journaling, goal-setting for 6-12).
• Include a stress management resource (guided breathing exercises, mindfulness stories for K-5; meditation videos, emotional check-in tools for 6-12).
• Provide a course introduction or welcome message that encourages students to reflect on their personal growth (simple affirmations for K-5; personal learning goals for 6-12).

Self-Management (Regulating emotions, thoughts, and behaviors)

• Embed at least one study or time management tool (structured daily routines, transition cues for K-5; weekly planners, productivity templates for 6-12).
• Add a module or page on handling frustration and setbacks (coping strategies through stories or role-play for K-5; test anxiety strategies, resilience-building for 6-12).
• Include a decision-making framework to help students balance responsibilities  (choice boards for K-5; ethical dilemmas and scenario-based activities for 6-12).

Social Awareness (Understanding and empathizing with others)

• Include at least one discussion or peer interaction activity (partner sharing, role-playing kindness for K-5; perspective-taking discussions, collaborative debates for 6-12).
• Embed inclusion resources (picture books about different cultures and people for K-5; articles, videos, or case studies for 6-12).
• Ensure the course contains at least one collaborative group activity (team-based games, buddy projects for K-5; structured group work, problem-solving tasks for 6-12).

Relationship Skills (Communicating, collaborating, and resolving conflicts effectively)

• Provide structured opportunities for peer collaboration (partner work, guided social games for K-5; group projects, peer feedback for 6-12).
• Include a digital citizenship resource on healthy online interactions (lessons on kindness and sharing online for K-5; media literacy, cyberbullying prevention for 6-12).
• Add at least one team-building or mentorship activity (class jobs, morning meetings for K-5; leadership roles, mentorship programs for 6-12).

Responsible Decision-Making (Making ethical, constructive choices in academics and life)

• Embed an academic integrity module (classroom honesty pledges for K-5; plagiarism prevention, research ethics for 6-12).
• Include a digital responsibility task (basic lessons on keeping personal info private for K-5; online privacy, responsible AI use for 6-12).
• Provide an ethical decision-making scenario (“what would you do?” activities for K-5; case studies, real-world dilemmas for 6-12).

Step 5: Create a Dedicated Quick View for SEL Integration

Set up a ReadyGO Quick View and share it with your institution to track SEL integration across courses. This customized view will focus your team on the most critical aspects of SEL Integration. 

Suggested Columns to Include:

• Start with the columns on the ReadyGO Preset Quick View
• Then add Homepage Type, Grading Scheme, Discussion Topic Count, Announcement Count

Step 6: Create ReadyGO Alerts to Support SEL Integration

Consider setting up ReadyGO Alerts to help identify courses that may be missing key SEL elements from your checklist. 

Suggested Alerts to Create:

• If you require a welcoming announcement in every course, you could create an alert that triggers when the announcement count is less than 1.
• If peer collaboration is a priority, an alert could flag courses that contain fewer than two discussion boards.
  
  

You Can Do It! 

ReadyGO helps you easily manage the integration of SEL materials into Canvas courses so you can focus on what matters—helping students thrive. By following these steps, you’ll have everything you need to create a positive, supportive learning environment where students can succeed!