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Foundational Practices

Overview

The Aperture System includes Foundational Practices designed to foster an environment where social and emotional learning can thrive. This article defines Foundational Practices and describes the resources available to you within the Aperture System.

Foundational Practices

Foundational Practices are found within the Growth Strategies tab in the Aperture System. They are used to support growth in: 

  • Culture – how we do things (practices, rituals and routines, traditions)​ (Sarason, Barth & Wagner)​
  • Climate – quality and character of school life (Cohen & Elias)​

When we talk about Foundational Practices, we like to use the analogy of vitamins & minerals vs. a prescription. Foundational Practices are things you want to do proactively and often to help build a culture of SEL in your classroom, like vitamins help us to have proactively healthy bodies.  If there is a need in our bodies or something that needs to be addressed after we have noticed a problem, then we will go to the doctor and get a prescription to address that need. 

Key Points

The following are key points or features about Foundational Practices:

  • Cover a variety of topics in SEL
  • Designed to be introduced as early as possible in the school year
  • Provide universal lessons (for all students in a class or group)
  • Practiced, sustained, integrated and reflected on as the year progresses
  • Choose an area that is new or that especially resonates with you to develop with students
  • After an area is well established, move onto a new area
  • Not tied to a specific social-emotional competency

Aperture System Content

Teacher Notes: Provide a place where staff can learn more about the specific foundational practice that they will use with their students. It provides a rationale for using the foundational practice and a reflection exercise for the teacher to complete.  There also may be an activity that can be used as professional learning for the staff.

Student Goals: Gives the specific skills within each social and emotional competence and how they relate to the specific foundational practice.

Introductory Lesson: Includes teacher notes, key aspects of that foundational practice and things to think about while implementing with your students and additional lessons and resources to use.

Sustainability Lesson(s): Teacher notes, reinforcement strategies to use with students, and additional resources to use to continue that foundational practice with your students.