Social, Emotional, and Physical Wellness for Students and Teachers

(Grades PreK-12) / Flex Course

PDI Course Number: 136T02 / UCSD Course Number: EDUC42343


Course Description

Are you noticing a drop in overall wellness and mental health, not only for you personally, but for your students and your entire school community as well? As most teachers are acutely aware, being a teacher is an awesome privilege, which is why it is one of the most rewarding and satisfying professions; however, it also has the potential to be one of the most stressful. This online course for teachers is specifically designed to assist PreK-12 educators as they search for ways to make wellness, mindfulness, and mental health a priority, not just for their students, but for themselves as well. Teachers will learn specific self-care strategies for both students and staff. Teachers will explore ways to cultivate a more joyful classroom and school environment so that everyone’s social and emotional needs are better met. Specific strategies to cultivate empathy, compassion, and diversity are shared, including circle practices, modeling, making curriculum meaningful, connecting with the greater community, and celebrating student success. By the end of this continuing education course, teachers will feel more confident and successful in their quest to uncover strategies to embed the principles of social-emotional learning into their own teaching practices so that the wellness needs of both students and teachers are more wholly and efficiently met. This online professional development course is worth 3 ⅓ semester units/5 quarter units (50 hours of training) from University of California San Diego (UCSD) Division of Extended Studies. For detailed information on receiving university credit for your PDI professional development course, visit our credit page.

Need help? Kimya Nabavi, PDI Program Coordinator, is ready to assist.

"This class was really amazing. It focused on the social, physical and emotional wellness of teachers and students and provided some great lessons, articles, and strategies to implement in the classroom to encourage wellness. After the last few years in the pandemic, districts have tried to shift their focus more toward mental wellness and social-emotional learning which contributes to the overall success of student success. I think every teacher should take this course!" - Elisabeth Flumere


Enrollment Options

Course Only

$124 with the discount

Course with Credit from UCSD

$329 with the discount

This course is worth 3 ⅓ semester units or 5 quarter units of graduate-level credit from UCSD.

You have up to one year from the date you are enrolled to complete a flex course.


View the online course syllabus.

Print our customized course approval form to share with your school district.


TOPICAL OUTLINE

UCSD Course Number: EDUC42343

Unit One

  • The Importance of Mental Health
  • The Current Mental Health Crisis
  • The Importance of Community for Staff and Students
  • Assignment #1: Write an autobiography
  • Test #1

Unit Two

  • What is Self-Care?
  • Understanding Changing Circumstances
  • Self-Care at School for Staff
  • Assignment #2: Article reflection
  • Test #2

Unit Three

  • Challenges with Students’ Self-Care
  • Relationships to Promote Self-Care
  • Self-Care at School for Students
  • Assignment #3: Share your expertise
  • Test #3

Unit Four

  • Creating Joy in School
  • Academic Benefits of Joy
  • Making Time for Joy
  • Test #4

Unit Five

  • Cultivating Empathy and Diversity
  • Circle Practices and Restorative Justice
  • Modeling Patience and Compassion
  • Test #5

Unit Six

  • Making School Meaningful
  • Service Learning and Giving Back to the Community
  • Celebrating Student Success
  • Assignment #4: Respond to classroom scenarios
  • Assignment #5: Course Reflection

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