xSELeratED
Alley, Leith Reagan, Lageman, Heather, & McKenzie, Walter. (2025). School Seasons
xSELeratED. Washington DC: The Worthy Educator Press.
Some General Comments from Bill:
- I like the acronym with SEL for ED. Content acquisition was fine for the Industrial Age. The so called ‘soft skills’ are now the ‘hard skills.’
- SAVE TIME and deliver SEL knowledge and skills to students AND staff.
- The month-by-month strategies offered will help leaders (administration, teacher, and staff) prepare and offer solid learnings for many groups.
- Each chapter contains multiple activities to engage and support SEL learning in classrooms and collegial learning.
- These activities can be used in business and non-profits organizations as well.
Sustainable change in education isn’t built on programs; it is create and delivered by committed individual and groups. Educators must create the container for this to happen for a better organization leading to a better world.
The authors talk about the “power of mattering.” People (young and older) want to know they matter. For schools, parents, and organizations, how do we model and recognize people for their contributions. Show people they matter, and they will provide more creativity, collaboration, and community integration.
How Our xSELeratED Schools Framework Powers School Seasons
Five Competencies:
- Understanding Myself
- Nurturing Myself
- Understanding Others
- Nurturing Others
- Building a Better World
August – Begin with Belonging by Heather Lageman
This chapter starts by identifying a fundamental human need that underlies all meaningful education: the deep knowing that we are seen, valued, and safe in our learning communities. Setting the respect agreements in classroom and schools creates positive learning cultures. Activities included in each chapter.
[Bill] There is a Zulu saying, “Sawubona” which means, “I see you, and by seeing you, I bring you into being.” Ripple Effects, systems/rituals, and activities help to initiate and sustain a sense of belonging.
September – Teaching from the Inside Out by Leigh Reagan Alley
For the hearted centered leader and understanding ourselves is core in modeling for others.
Permission not perfection:
- Permission to slow down
- Permission to feel (also the name of Marc Brackett’s book)
- Permission to lead with heart, not hustle
October – Trust Take Practice by Walter McKenzie
There is a trust audit on page 54 that can be used for the staff.
Repair Activities on page 73 has some useful opportunities when trust withdrawals happen.
November – Holding Gratitude & Grief by Leigh Reagan Alley
The ache of grief and the balm of gratitude. Nice metaphor. Practices for Emotional Honesty & Reflection based on Brené Brown, Amy Edmondson, etc. is a strong practice. Gratitude Tree with Roots of Grief caught my eye. This exercise can be very productive.
December – Boundaries Are Love in Practice by Walter McKenzie
This chapter has mainly a leadership focus. Leadership happens at all levels of the organization in positional authority, site teams, and in developing students for leadership roles now and in the future.
January – Begin Again, Softly by Heather Lageman
As most of us in education know, after winter break, there is a need to re-norm systems, boundaries, and behavior expectations. Relationships are the heart of renewal. Three pathways to Soft Renewal
- “What’s Working” celebration circles
- New Year Intentions Letter to a Future Self. It is always amazing to read what we agreed to 5-6 months afterward. Writing it down increases the chance of aligned behavior.
- Small Team Gratitude Practices
These activities are step-by-step to help save time and ensure success. The community connection resources are also something for outreach to the world beyond the school. Begin with belonging
February – Love is a Collective Practice by Leigh Reagan Alley
“What I see in you” caught Bill’s eye. Too often we do not anchor positive behavior. If you want conformity, praise it. Indigenous cultures have survived and thrived for thousands of years. None that I know of had a three-ring binder of policies. They transmitted their cultural norms via proverb, stories, and elders who guided the young girls and boys.
Joy Inventory Mapping on page 133 was a new concept for me. Bill was coaching a new principal who shared with me that the seniors from the school prior left a message on the sidewalk, “return joy to our school.”
March – Every Heart, Every Voice by Walter McKenzie’
One part was on Inclusion. Bill also recommend the book “Inclusify” by Stephanie Johnston. The author talks about students who have ‘tailwinds’ which helps them move ahead and ‘headwinds’ that impede progress. Consider this as we teach a full range of our children.
One activity was the ‘leaning tower of pasta’ which is a creativity exercise. Researchers gave this exercise to Kindergartners through PhDs. Kindergartners did the best by building the tallest structure. WHY? They tried ideas out rather than sit around and pontificate about right or wrong.
April – Cultivating Curiosity by Leigh Reagan Alley
The idea of a ‘wonder wall’ for what identifies the collective curiosity of students or staff. I can’t say this too often. This book is full of activities for use with students and staff. It SAVES TIME & ADDS REPERTOIRE.
May – Celebrate the WE by Heather Lageman
Recognizing the Gifts we Give Each Other. [Bill’s Note: We are experiencing ‘emotional anorexia’ which means we do not get recognition for the contributions we make to each other, ourselves, and community. I suggest making a commitment to tell one or more people in our daily lives, how appreciative you are for their efforts and what it means to you.]
One of Heather’s activities is “We Made It” Joy Collage. Bill also suggests reading Joy, Inc. by Richard Sheridan, CEO of Menlo Innovations. Dr. Sheridan has incorporated many strategies to include Joy in his organization, hosts many organizations desiring the same for their companies, and is helping schools to create Joyful Schools. How about developing a Joy College?
June – Letting Go with Love by Walter McKenzie
How do you close the school year with Love? We know from brain research that people remember the initial and the ending. The middle gets lost sometimes. Angeles Arrien told Bill about endings with “Honorable Closure.” What is your ritual for honorable closure?
July – Rest Is Revolutionary by Heather Lageman
Educators know that summers are filled with ongoing staff development, continuing renewal credits at colleges, getting ready for next year. At the same time educators must rest from the overwhelming demands on time, energy, and money they contribute to limited budgets.
Heather ends with ‘Leading the Revolution from Within. Don’t wait for others to recognize the need to re-generate. We must do it for ourselves. The demands keep growing, resources keep dwindling, and we have to KEEP HOPE ALIVE . WE HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US