Get started with the BOOST approach
We have made a suggestion – a model – for how you can organize the BOOST service at your school. Below, we describe how to get started with establishing the service, what it can look like on a daily basis and how you can work with BOOST in the long run. We recommend following the steps, but also to make necessary adjustments, to make it work at your school.
How to get started?
Establish BOOST team
The first thing you do to get started, is to establish a BOOST team. The team will be responsible for facilitationg the BOOST service at your school.
Download template for how to establish and organise the BOOST teamStart-up meeting
Your BOOST team meets for the first time.
The goal of this meeting is to make a first draft of the Boost service for your school, which must be based on your schools needs and resources. In the start-up meeting you should accomplish the following:
1. Map the needs and resources, and assess the social and emotional-learning-status at your school.
2. Make goals for what you want to achieve in the coming year, within the field of social and emotional learning.
3. Make first draft of the Boost Service for your school. Define meeting points, meeting frequency, participants etc.
4. Make a plan for how to launch and establish the service, and how to get the whole school onboard.
BOOST Launch
Launch the BOOST approach with all school staff.
The objective of the launch meeting is to introduce the BOOST approach to the whole school and get everyone onboard.
1) Introduce the BOOST approach and it’s objectives. Communicate how the BOOST approach is related to policies, plans and strategies in your school and country.
2) Go through the BOOST online platform with teaching modules, tools and service model.
3) Present the draft service model, including the assessment of school’s needs and resources developed by the BOOST team.
4) Co-creation: and receive input from all school staff about their needs and ideas for further development.
At the end of the launch meeting, all school staff should have the following:
• A joint understanding of what the school wants to achieve, working with the BOOST approach.
• An overall idea of what the BOOST service looks like at your school. E.g. when there will be time to work with themes, tools, reflection arenas etc.
BOOST service release
The BOOST team communicates your school’s BOOST service to all school staff. Choose whether it is more efficient to have a joint staff meeting or to communicate electronically. Make sure to make the plan for the service available to all school staff, for them to turn to as needed.
Daily BOOST Service
On a daily basis, the BOOST service consists of studying BOOST themes and exploring tools, practicing what you learn, reflecting and depening your insights and developing your social and emotional learning skills.
Remember to keep up the organizational support, so that the BOOST service stays active and you as a school achieve your social and emotional learning goals. Evaluate the school’s social and emotional learning status on a regular basis.
Explore Tools
Explore Tools and use the ones you think will BOOST social and emotional learning at your school.
Practice
Practice what you are learning.
Reflect together
Meet with fellow school staff and reflect on what you have learned and experienced.
Support
The BOOST team oversees and ensures the continuous operation of the service.
Evaluate
Evaluate the BOOST service on a regular basis and make necessary adjustments.
Read themes
Log on BOOST website and conduct Theme 1, Module 1 etc.
BOOST in the long run
At a certain point, you may have read all BOOST themes and tried all the tools you find relevant. There is no reason, however, to stop working with social and emotional learning at your school. Continue to search for more knowlegde and keep practicing. Help each other reflect, observe and give feedback to one another.