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Wayfinder
Pros: Substantial resources; lots of opportunities for adaptation; good support for teachers; Spanish translations available.
Cons: Requires admin to set up; assessments are somewhat limited.
Bottom Line: A fantastic resource for teachers looking to integrate SEL into their classrooms and lessons.
Wayfinder provides teachers the opportunity to follow a preset curriculum of activities that include lessons, action items, and reflections. There are lesson guides and slide decks for each chapter. These lessons follow a printed book (or digital versions) and walk students and teachers through various SEL concepts. Teachers also have the option to pick and choose individual activities to suit their own lessons and to adapt the lessons based on time and resources available. Finally, they can also choose to follow a Collection that includes activities on a specific topic like "Back-to-School" or "Bullying Prevention" or "Planning and Prioritizing." Keep in mind that although many of the activities are presented in digital format, the lessons are meant to be completed together in person.
Each lesson includes the grade level, time, and core skill covered. It also includes the prep, materials, learning objectives, why it's important to learn, and the lesson background, which details the research to support the activity. You can switch a node on or off to see the long or short version of the lesson.
The lessons are designed to be adaptable, including options to fast-track the content if you are limited on time and ways to integrate the SEL content into many different curriculum strands. The activity database also has a substantial filter system that allows you to narrow down activities to meet your specific goals (grade, time, amount of prep required, cross-curricular connections, etc.).
Formative and summative assessments are also provided with a series of premade questions teachers can use to check in on their students and how they are feeling.
Wayfinder activities are based on six core principles: adaptability, self-awareness, collaboration, empathy, agency, and purpose.
The core curriculum is well laid out and contains everything a teacher needs to integrate the lessons into their classroom, including methods to adapt the lessons as required. The core lessons follow an accompanying print workbook (with digital copies available) and are easily integrated with various learning management systems. Individual lessons can also be found in the activity database or in special collections focused on different topics, like brain breaks, games, and icebreakers. Teachers can also make their own collections, rate activities, and save activities they find of value.
Overall, Wayfinder provides teachers with a wide variety of materials to bring SEL into their classrooms in a diverse and engaging way. The lessons are in-depth and provide worksheets, slide decks, and even integrations with customized Google Jamboards.
The lessons are open and adaptable enough that they can be used across a wide variety of grades and subject areas. They provide real, actionable activities that students can engage in to learn more about themselves and their peers. There are also independent activities that students can do on their own to dig deeper into their own thoughts and feelings.
The assessments provide teachers and students with a chance to reflect on learning and to understand how their thoughts, feelings, and actions affect themselves and others and how they can change over time. These assessments can also guide teachers to identify any potential issues in their classrooms or areas where their students may be struggling. Administrators can also use the assessments to see how their student populations are doing.
Formative “Waypoint” check-in surveys are delivered to students periodically; these ask students questions that align to Wayfinder's six core skills. Teachers can use the responses to suggest future activities for students.
There are also lots of resources available for the teacher on how to use Wayfinder and its activities. These include videos and how-to guides, along with professional development ideas and even adult SEL activities that teachers can do to improve their understanding of their own thoughts and feelings.
Learning Rating
Overall Rating
Want Cringeless SEL? Look No Further!
I have taught the same lesson from Wayfinder and Second Step and have had far better experiences and learning outcomes with the Wayfinder lessons. In the ten years I’ve taught Second Step, I have never had students refer back to a lesson. In the one year I’ve used Wayfinder, I’ve had students refer back to or request to hear or see something again from the lessons on several occasions.
The slide decks that are already created for you (and editable) are masterfully done and they don’t look like a whack cartoon trying to convince you bullying is wrong. It’s strange to think other SEL curricula think our students need cheesy graphics to understand purpose, caring for others, and developing relationship skills. Wayfinder teaches to what’s actually relevant and developmentally appropriate for students at every level, and it’s based on real research.
Our students’ overall wellbeing matters. Using second-rate curricula to teach SEL skills says that it doesn’t. Our kids deserve more.