Key points:
- Sensory spaces help students practice self-regulation
- See also: Schools are key to solving mental health equity gaps
- See also: Technology as a bridge–not a shortcut–to student relationships
- For more news on SEL, visit eSN’s SEL & Well-Being page
Since COVID, many schools across the country have been investing ESSER funds into sensory spaces. The availability of this funding, along with the complex trauma issues brought on by the pandemic--including social isolation, depression and generalized anxiety--have prompted educators to increase their focus on the importance of social-emotional learning (SEL) to address all students’ needs. As 2023 winds down, it is important to note this trend and its origins from use primarily in special education to the current, continuing shift towards universal design and inclusion.
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