Social Emotional Learning

September 16, 2020 in Blog Updates 0 by Mandy Rivzi

Learning Who We Are, Why We Matter, and How We Can Help

Social Emotional Learning is some of the most vital education that happens for children, both at school and in life. It helps children to proudly embrace personal identity, guides them to foster positive interactions with others, and helps them to discover and embrace their power and responsibility. It has the greatest impact on the person that a child will become. In a world weighted down with fear and uncertainty, Social Emotional Learning is more important than ever.

The best and most effective SEL is integrated throughout all life and academic learning experiences, is meaningful and memorable, and provides both tools for success and frequent opportunities to use these tools. These opportunities empower children to implement and evaluate solutions, and allow them to experience ongoing growth and improvement as a direct result of personal choices and decision-making. In other words, Social Emotional Learning is a continuum: a lifelong process of practice, learning, growth, and change. It depends on the development of positive habits: habits that make children happier, healthier, and more successful today and help to ensure their future success and wellbeing.

Social Emotional Learning is not one size fits all. Every child is different. Every classroom is different. Every family is different. Therefore, each teacher and parent will follow a different roadmap as they guide the individual child on the journey of becoming a whole, happy, balanced, and successful person. But the stops along the way will likely be the same.

Benchmarks of Social Emotional Learning:

WHO AM I?

Children develop self-awareness and self-regulation skills

Identifying and managing emotions and behavioral choices
Identifying aspects of self and personal identity
Linking skills and habits to personal achievement, happiness, and success

WHO ARE WE, AND HOW DO WE WORK TOGETHER?

Children develop social awareness and interpersonal skills

Identifying and respecting the feelings and perspectives of others
Identifying and appreciating similarities and differences
Communicating effectively and interacting positively
Preventing, managing, and resolving conflicts positively
Working well with others

WHAT ARE OUR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES?

Children develop responsibility and the ability to make positive decisions that benefit everyone and protect the rights of the individual

Making decisions that are safe, ethical, fair, and productive
Making decisions that increase personal success and happiness
Making decisions that help others

Our Toolkit for Social Emotional Learning:

The Toolbox Project–Tools for Learning, Tools for Life
Collaborative for Academic and Social Emotional Learning Framework and Resources
Institute for Social Emotional Learning Framework, Resources, and Training
Serendipity School C.L.E.A.R. Framework and Benchmarks
Readers, resources, and programs to support Social Emotional Learning and DEIJ
Resources and programs to teach and support Mindfulness Learning and Meditation
Learning for Justice Social Justice Domains and Framework
Resources and programs to teach and support the study of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice
Service Learning resources and materials