Enhancing Student Well-Being: The Impact of the 'We Thinkers' Initiative at Ten Broeck Elementary

"Listening with your whole brain and body."

"Body in the group!”

"Think with your eyes."

These are words that you might hear when talking to students and staff at Ten Broeck Elementary School.  After looking at different data points and considering the experiences of the students in the school, the team was curious about how to support social skills both inside the classroom and on the playground.

Enter: "We Thinkers.”

Developed by Michelle Garcia Winner, "We Thinkers" is an engaging and interactive social thinking series of books that teach and model specific strategies for social awareness and responsibility. The "We Thinkers!" series provides a structured and engaging way for students to learn about social thinking concepts, helping them to better understand themselves and others.

Through the stories and activities in the "We Thinkers!" series, students can explore important social concepts such as perspective-taking, flexible thinking, and problem-solving. These lessons have enhanced their social skills and contributed to a more positive and inclusive school environment.

The "We Thinkers" series is one component of a classroom-wide approach to integrate social and emotional learning (SEL) into every aspect of the school day. Using the CASEL framework as a guide, the Personal and Social competencies are taught in the five domains of learning: self-management, self-awareness, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.  These principles are crucial for the holistic development of our students and for creating healthy classroom and school communities.

Leaning into this process takes a team. The teaching and support staff are noticing that having a common language to describe social thinking has supported their students inside and outside the building.  The noon-hour supervisors have been trained to use the same key phrases so that social thinking language is consistent.  The grade five student lunch monitors have also participated in learning how to read their peers' emotions and body language—providing some positive disengagement strategies and language around how to support their friends in the school and on the playground.

One teacher comments:  "I have really appreciated having consistent language to use when directing the kids. (ie. keep your body in the group, what’s the group plan?, etc. [sic.])."

The Board's strategic plan prioritizes the "improvement of student sense of well-being so that they can be engaged, challenged and prepared for a lifetime of success."​  The "We Thinkers" initiative by the staff at Ten Broeck is a responsive and proactive approach to supporting student well-being to impact the greater community.   We are incredibly proud of our progress and are excited to continue this vital work in the months and years to come. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this effort – your dedication and passion make a difference.