SEL in Action at Los Ranchos Elementary School
In this month’s spotlight, we celebrate a teacher at Los Ranchos, Christine Lintner. By integrating Restorative Practices with the Leader in Me framework, she has cultivated a classroom where emotional intelligence is just as important as academics. Below, she shares how she builds a foundation of kindness and leadership every single day:
“In my classroom, academic learning and social-emotional growth go hand in hand. Two years ago, I began integrating Restorative Practices into my teaching, and it has transformed the way we build community.
We start each morning with a student Greeter who welcomes every classmate by name at the door and offers a friendly “Good Morning.” This simple routine reinforces Habit 1: Be Proactive. Students learn they have the power to influence how others start their day, and that leadership can be as simple as helping someone feel seen and valued.
Our daily Community Circles are the cornerstone of our classroom culture, giving every student an equal voice and a strong sense of belonging. By using a talking piece and Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood, students practice listening respectfully and speaking thoughtfully. Circle discussions focus on kindness, inclusion, problem-solving, and connection – often linking directly to Habit 4: Think Win-Win as students reflect on how their choices affect the entire community. Over time, quieter students gain confidence sharing, while more talkative students learn the importance of listening. Combined with weekly Zones of Regulation lessons from our school counselor, students gain a shared language to identify their emotions and communicate with empathy.
When conflicts arise, we use Restorative Conversations to reflect on our actions and focus on making things right, aligning with Habit 2: Begin With the End in Mind. This approach teaches accountability while preserving relationships. Students learn that mistakes are opportunities for growth, and that repairing harm is an essential life skill.
In a 2nd/3rd grade combination classroom, I see Habit 6: Synergize in action as older students model leadership and younger students find their own unique strengths, illustrating that working together and valuing differences makes our classrooms stronger.
By blending these practices, we have created a culture where kindness is the norm and students resolve conflicts with respect. My goal is to help them grow into compassionate leaders who truly understand that their feelings – and the feelings of others – matter, and that they are an essential part of the community we’ve built together.”
