Learning Playlists
Follow guided learning pathways that help you build knowledge, strenthen practice, and create more resilient, supportive school communities.
Learning Playlists
Explore our thoughtfully designed Learning Playlists, created to guide educators, administrators, and other staff through structured courses and resources that enhance their skills and understanding on a specific topic. Whether you are focusing on building tiered support systems, welcoming newcomer students, supporting the LGBTQ+ community, or fostering inclusive classrooms, our Learning Playlists empower you to create positive, impactful change in your school community.
Let the learning begin!
Learning Playlists for RSSI School Teams - Readiness
These specific learning playlists have been created for schools participating in Resilience-Supportive Schools Illinois (RSSI), though any school can benefit. The playlists offer vetted research, frameworks, and tools at three levels of readiness to implement resilience-related practices and policies in your school. The playlists support work around SEL, mental health, trauma responsive and healing centered work, and culture, climate and equity. For more information on RSSI, click here.
Initiating
School is just getting started in a specific area of work, such as building mental health supports, and is exploring what is out there and how to do it.
Informing
School has some elements in place but is still learning, adjusting and growing.
Investing
School has been on the journey for several years and is looking to solidify approaches and practices.
Social and Emotional Learning
The positive impact of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is substantiated by extensive research, demonstrating that an educational framework emphasizing SEL results in favorable outcomes for students, educators, and the wider school community. Numerous independent studies across diverse disciplines confirm that SEL leads to advantageous outcomes in areas such as social and emotional skills, academic achievement, psychological well-being, positive health behaviors, school environment and safety, and long-term life outcomes (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning). Click on the boxes below for the curated resources.
Culturally Responsive, Anti-racist, Equitable Practices (CARE)
In a culturally responsive school or district, students’, families’, and educators’ cultures are included in all aspects of supports and services that promote well-being and mental health. Anti-racist policies and practices promote equity and oppose racism and other forms of oppression. Equitable schools and districts provide the climate and resources that enable all students and educators to perform at their highest level. Culturally responsive, anti-racist and equitable (CARE) schools and districts embrace cultural differences and assets; use cultural knowledge to promote wellness and academic success; mediate power imbalances based on cultural identities; and work to dismantle systems of injustice. Click on the boxes below for the curated resources.
Mental Health Supports
According to the literature, 3.8 million U.S. children have unmet mental health needs. Of children with an identified mental health need, only a little bit over half, 51% get the mental health support they need. Of those students, 58% get that help in schools. There is also a shortage of mental health providers, and many barriers to people finding linguistically and culturally appropriate services on top of other barriers that we know exist in school communities. For many students, schools are the first and only setting in which they receive behavioral health supports. This is why this topic of mental health literacy is so critical for schools and districts.
The resources below are recommended for schools or districts starting in this work. Your school or district may be exploring this work and wondering where to begin. These resources focus on mental health literacy and promotion (Tier 1), which are fundamental components of school or district-wide student mental health supports. Click on the boxes below for the curated resources.
Trauma Responsive & Healing Centered Practices
Creating a trauma-responsive and healing-centered school culture begins with cultivating self-awareness, individually and collectively. Research shows that when educators understand the impact of trauma on the brain and learning (Perry & Szalavitz, 2017), engage in reflective practice to build emotional resilience (Jennings, 2015), and shift from trauma-informed approaches to healing-centered engagement (Ginwright, 2018), they are better equipped to foster environments of safety, connection, and growth. Click on the boxes below for the curated resources.
Learning Playlists for RSSI- Connections to Academics
These playlists provide resources that illustrate the connection between school climate and culture, and learning. When schools strengthen the conditions that support student safety, well-being, and belonging, they strengthen the conditions for academic success.
Adult Well-Being
Research indicates that educator well-being increases teacher retention and is strongly associated with positive environments that promote students’ academic and non-academic outcomes. This curated learning playlist offers a collection of evidence-based research, practical frameworks, and other resources designed to understand and support adult well-being in school communities. These resources are intended to help educators and leaders cultivate a trauma-responsive, inclusive, and supportive environment where all students and staff can thrive.
Engagement & Learning
Student engagement is critical to consistent attendance, learning, and success in school.This curated playlist offers a collection of research, articles, practical frameworks, and resources, designed to help students throughout your school community feel like they belong and be motivated to learn. These resources are intended to help educators and leaders cultivate a trauma-responsive, inclusive, and supportive environment where all students can thrive.
Equitable Discipline Practices
Equitable discipline practices are critical toward creating optimal conditions for all students to learn and be well. This curated playlist offers a collection of research, articles, practical frameworks, and videos designed to support the use of equitable discipline practices within your school community. These resources are intended to help educators and leaders cultivate a trauma-responsive, inclusive, and supportive environment where all students can thrive.
Student Well-Being
This curated playlist offers a collection of evidence-based research, practical frameworks, and video case studies designed to support student well-being and foster strong, resilient relationships within your school community. These resources are intended to help educators and leaders cultivate a trauma-responsive, inclusive, and supportive environment where all students can thrive.
Want to explore more? Check out Learning Playlists.
Explore these playlists to further enhance your school climate, and promote wellness and learning in your school community.
