8.4 SEL Concerns

8.4 SEL Concerns

Author: Shannon Betts and Mary Saghafi November 16, 2025 Duration: 42:52

Educator and author Erin Waters joins Shannon and Mary to discuss supporting the whole child through Social-Emotional Learning (SEL). Erin shares her teaching journey and highlights the crucial connection between SEL & literacy development—because our students aren’t just learning to read; they’re learning who they are. They explore what SEL looks like in real classrooms: morning meetings that build community, read-alouds that spark emotional awareness, and simple coping strategies that help students manage anxiety and stress. The discussion also acknowledges the lasting impact of the digital age and the COVID-19 pandemic on students’ social-emotional well-being, as more children than ever are navigating big feelings.Erin introduces her book Wally Is Worried as a relatable resource for helping children understand and express their emotions. Listeners will walk away with practical tools, recommended texts, and encouragement to make SEL an intentional part of everyday literacy instruction.

01:40 Special Guest: Erin Waters on SEL
03:06 Defining SEL and Its Importance
06:03 Real-World SEL Classroom Experiences
11:41 Impact of Digital Age on SEL
16:18 Post-COVID SEL Challenges
21:43 Coping Mechanisms and Solutions
39:16 Final Thoughts and Resources

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES RELEVANT TO THE EPISODE:

  1. Wally is Worried by Erin Waters  *Amazon affiliate link
  2. Our engagement episode
  3. Our technology episode
  4. Book list with SEL topics, curated by Love Grows Learning
  5. Big Little Feelings blog
  6. NEA (National Education Association):  SEL Resources
  7. Reading Rockets:  Classroom Strategies that Support SEL
  8. Reading with Relevance:   a CASEL-certified SEL supplemental program
  9. CASEL.org
  10. Centervention:   95 Social Emotional Learning Activities
  11. Integrating SEL Into Your Reading Block 
  12. Children's Institute:   SEL Resources and Tools
  13. Erin Waters' website
  14. Connect with Erin via IG

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In the Reading Teachers Lounge, hosts Shannon Betts and Mary Saghafi pull up a chair for a conversation that feels both deeply professional and warmly familiar. These two elementary reading teachers and Atlanta neighbors discovered a shared, fervent passion for literacy over a local dinner, realizing they were kindred spirits in their mission. That initial chat never really ended, and now it forms the heart of this podcast. Each episode invites you into their ongoing dialogue, where practical classroom strategies, reflections on what works, and thoughtful discussions about reaching every single learner are all on the table. It’s a space designed for fellow educators, dedicated parents, and anyone invested in how children learn to read, offering tangible ideas rather than abstract theory. The tone is collaborative and grounded in real classroom experiences, reflecting a joint belief that literacy is foundational. By tuning in, you gain access to their collective experience and earnest curiosity, all focused on the complex, rewarding world of teaching reading. This isn't about performance; it's about sharing a genuine professional conversation from their lounge to yours, making the Reading Teachers Lounge a unique podcast for those who live and breathe language education.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 129

Reading Teachers Lounge
Podcast Episodes
7.6 The Reading Team [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Shannon and Mary welcome @MindfulTeacherRachel back to the podcast to discuss strategies for helping their students strengthen spelling skills. They talk about the stability of English spelling and the meaning-based reas…
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Duration: 57:34
Shannon and Mary welcome Heidi Martin (@Droppin' Knowledge with Heidi) back to the podcast, and Heidi's husband, Adam, a LETRS trainer, also joins the conversation. They talk about all the aspects that go into the topic…
7.3 Book Equity [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Duration: 1:11:30
Shannon and Mary have an informative and inspiring chat with Karen Gross. They learn details about how the Covid-19 pandemic affected teachers and students. Karen shares why the role of teachers is more difficult today,…
7.1 New Opportunities [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:16
Mary and Shannon catch up with each other after the summer & podcast break. They chat about their own children, their personal lives, and their plans for this upcoming school year. They discuss the implementation of Geor…
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Duration: 1:03:21
Shannon and Mary chat with Jennifer Serravallo, whose literacy work they have long admired. Jennifer shares how her view about reading instruction have evolved over time. Jennifer's written a new book showing teachers di…
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Duration: 54:53
We have a summer bonus episode for you!Shannon and Mary have Anna Geiger, the Measured Mom, join them in the lounge again to discuss the best evidence based practices that teachers can use to reach all readers. Anna's ne…
Season 6 Finale [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:02
Shannon and Mary gather together to review the school year and close out the podcast season. They give updates on their personal and teaching lives and share their summer plans. Later they're joined by Kelsey (wifeteache…
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Duration: 56:19
Shannon and Mary chat with Nancy Young and Jan Hasbrouck about differentiation and the latest updates to the Ladder of Reading and Writing. Listeners will get a better understanding of WHY it's so important to make adjus…