GCU acknowledges that every learner has unique life experiences that contribute to their learning and engagement with course content. In this course, we will address the topic of suicide prevention which you may find triggering. This material is integrated into the curriculum for the purpose of building knowledge to support learners in professional practice. If you encounter a topic that is triggering for you, GCU encourages you to access support through available resources, such as the following: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) GCU Wellness Check: (602) 639-8100, [email protected] Apple or Android App: A Friend Asks, from The Jason Foundation A family night is often held at the beginning of the school year for parents/guardians to receive critical information regarding students learning during the school year. At this event, parents/guardians often want to know ways to best support their students at home. For this assignment, imagine the school in which you are teaching has seen a decline in the social and emotional learning students are exhibiting. Create a digital newsletter for families to communicate strategies for supporting students' personal and social growth and development. The newsletter will be provided to families who attend an upcoming Family Night and emailed to those who are unable to attend. Using a free digital platform of your choice (e.g., Canva, Word, Genially, Visme), create a two-page digital newsletter. Your newsletter should include the following:
- Provide 2-3 social and emotional learning (SEL) strategies that are universal for all students and can also be reinforced at home. Some suggestions may include strategies to address cyberbullying, digital citizenship, self-esteem, and peer pressure.
- Discuss 2-3 community-building strategies you will employ throughout the year to promote inclusivity, cultural awareness, and acceptance among all students in the classroom.
- Discuss 2-3 suicide prevention strategies, including warning signs and/or risk factors for suicide in children and early adolescents.
- Provide at least one resource for families for each of the following categories: SEL strategies, community building, and suicide prevention.
Since the newsletter will be used to communicate with parents and guardians, keep the tone and language appropriate for the audience and communicate the information in a powerful but empathetic way. The newsletter should include graphics that are relevant to the content, visually appealing, and use space appropriately. Support your newsletter with 2-3 scholarly resources. Submit a link to or PDF of your digital newsletter and resources in a single document. Ensure that others can access and view the link prior to submitting. While APA Style is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and documentation of sources should be presented using APA formatting guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
Family Night Digital Newsletter – Rubric
SEL Strategies 18 points
Criteria Description
5. Target 18 points
The social and emotional learning (SEL) strategies that are universal for all students
and can also be reinforced at home are insightful and exemplary.
4. Acceptable 15.3 points
The social and emotional learning (SEL) strategies that are universal for all students
and can also be reinforced at home are clear and effective.
3. Approaching 13.5 points
The social and emotional learning (SEL) strategies that are universal for all students
and can also be reinforced at home are simple or superficial.
2. Insufficient 11.7 points
The social and emotional learning (SEL) strategies that are universal for all students
and can also be reinforced at home are ineffective or unclear.
1. Unsatisfactory 0 points
The social and emotional learning (SEL) strategies that are universal for all students
and can also be reinforced at home are implausible or omitted.
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Community Building Strategies 18 points
Criteria Description
5. Target 18 points
The community-building strategies that are employed throughout the year to
promote inclusivity, cultural awareness, and acceptance among all students in the
classroom are insightful and exemplary.
4. Acceptable 15.3 points
The community-building strategies that are employed throughout the year to
promote inclusivity, cultural awareness, and acceptance among all students in the
classroom are clear and effective.
3. Approaching 13.5 points
The community-building strategies that are employed throughout the year to
promote inclusivity, cultural awareness, and acceptance among all students in the
classroom are simple or superficial.
2. Insufficient 11.7 points
The community-building strategies that are employed throughout the year to
promote inclusivity, cultural awareness, and acceptance among all students in the
classroom are ineffective or unclear.
1. Unsatisfactory 0 points
The community-building strategies that are employed throughout the year to
promote inclusivity, cultural awareness, and acceptance among all students in the
classroom are implausible or omitted.
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Suicide Prevention Strategies 18 points
Criteria Description
5. Target 18 points
The suicide prevention strategies, including warning signs and/or risk factors for
suicide in children and early adolescents, are thoughtful and compelling.
4. Acceptable 15.3 points
The suicide prevention strategies, including warning signs and/or risk factors for
suicide in children and early adolescents, are appropriate.
3. Approaching 13.5 points
The suicide prevention strategies, including warning signs and/or risk factors for
suicide in children and early adolescents, are shallow or partially complete.
2. Insufficient 11.7 points
The suicide prevention strategies, including warning signs and/or risk factors for
suicide in children and early adolescents, are inappropriate.
1. Unsatisfactory 0 points
The suicide prevention strategies, including warning signs and/or risk factors for
suicide in children and early adolescents, are incomplete or not included.
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Family Resources 18 points
Criteria Description
5. Target 18 points
At least one resource for families for each of the following categories: SEL
strategies, community building, and suicide prevention are realistic and meaningful.
4. Acceptable 15.3 points
At least one resource for families for each of the following categories: SEL
strategies, community building, and suicide prevention are logical.
3. Approaching 13.5 points
At least one resource for families for each of the following categories: SEL
strategies, community building, and suicide prevention are artificial.
2. Insufficient 11.7 points
At least one resource for families for each of the following categories: SEL
strategies, community building, and suicide prevention are illogical.
1. Unsatisfactory 0 points
At least one resource for families for each of the following categories: SEL
strategies, community building, and suicide prevention are not included.
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Aesthetic Quality 9 points
Criteria Description
Aesthetic Quality
5. Target 9 points
Design is pleasing. Skillful handling of color, text, and visuals creates a distinctive
and effective presentation. Overall, effective and functional audio, text, or visuals
are evident and clearly communicate the purpose of the assignment.
4. Acceptable 7.65 points
Design is clean. Differences in type size or color are used well and consistently. A
variety of objects, charts, and graphs are integrated to amplify the message and
promote the purpose of the assignment.
3. Approaching 6.75 points
Design is fairly clean, with a few exceptions. There is some variation in type size,
color, and layout that is unnecessary. For the most part, visuals add to, not detract,
from the purpose of the assignment.
2. Insufficient 5.85 points
Design is inconsistent, fragmented, and detrimental to the purpose of the
assignment. Visuals detract from the content.
1. Unsatisfactory 0 points
Design is not appropriate for the content or does not fit the purpose of the
assignment.
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Supporting Research and Documentation of Sources 4.5 points
Criteria Description
Uses appropriate designated style and formatting to document sources in citations
and references.
5. Target 4.5 points
Supporting research is compelling and thorough. No errors in formatting or
documentation are present.
4. Acceptable 3.82 points
Supporting research is credible and relevant. Appropriate format and
documentation are used with only minor errors.
3. Approaching 3.38 points
Supporting research is minimal and somewhat inaccurate. Appropriate format and
documentation are used, although there are some obvious errors.
2. Insufficient 2.93 points
Supporting research is limited or insufficient. Appropriate format is attempted, but
some elements are missing. Frequent errors in documentation of sources are
evident.
1. Unsatisfactory 0 points
Supporting research is not included or is irrelevant to the topic. Appropriate format
is not used.
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Mechanics of Writing 4.5 points
Criteria Description
Includes spelling, capitalization, punctuation, grammar, language use, sentence
structure, etc.
5. Target 4.5 points
No mechanical errors are present. Appropriate language choice and sentence
structure are used throughout.
4. Acceptable 3.82 points
Few mechanical errors are present. Suitable language choice and sentence
structure are used.
3. Approaching 3.38 points
Occasional mechanical errors are present. Language choice is generally
appropriate. Varied sentence structure is attempted.
2. Insufficient 2.93 points
Frequent and repetitive mechanical errors are present. Inconsistencies in language
choice or sentence structure are recurrent.
1. Unsatisfactory 0 points
Errors in grammar or syntax are pervasive and impede meaning. Incorrect language
choice or sentence structure errors are found throughout.
Total 90 points
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