Students often find academic lessons difficult and frustrating. Many wish they were given clearer reasons why the subject matter is important and how it will benefit them in their future careers.
Educators can foster SEL through classroom interactions and educational methods, including online education. This can be accomplished in various learning formats, such as K12’s virtual classroom and rapid credit recovery courses.
Interactive Study Materials
In the classroom, students can use interactive study materials to improve their social and emotional skills, such as recognizing emotions, controlling impulses, working productively with others, and more. These skills are essential for success at school and in life. They help students stay focused in class, listen well to a teacher, and understand what’s important to them.
Teachers can also integrate social-emotional learning activities into their classrooms without a specialized curriculum. For example, a simple daily “emotions check-in” allows kids to share their feelings with classmates. Other SEL activities include using emoji cards to teach students how to identify their and others’ emotions. And reading a “must-have” picture book to explore a specific theme can be a great way for kids to practice empathy.
Some SEL programs promote racial equity by helping students reflect on their personal and social identities, examine beliefs about race and culture, and disrupt and resist inequitable practices. In addition, a private school can use tools like Restorative Practices and the PBIS/MTSS toolkit to implement strategies for supporting all students’ social-emotional development.
Self-Study
Teachers can foster social and emotional learning by teaching students self-awareness and empathy. This empowers students to make better decisions, build relationships and develop a sense of community. The skills taught in SEL help students of all ages curate healthy self-identities, manage emotions, cultivate positive relationships, and achieve personal and academic goals.
A teacher uses SEL in everything she does in her classroom, from how she welcomes her second-graders each morning to how she guides them through math activities. However, her methods have drawn backlash in some states.
Some critics have argued that SEL promotes progressive views on race, gender, and culture. But a teacher believes social-emotional learning is essential for developing the next generation of leaders and innovators. They are working to ensure that her students understand diverse viewpoints and cultures, preparing them for a more peaceful world.
Parent Involvement
Parents are a child’s first teachers, and their involvement in the learning process directly impacts student achievement. Research has shown that students with involved families have better school attendance and perform better academically.
Parents prioritizing communication with their children and teachers help them stay on track and develop positive attitudes toward K-12 education. They also teach their children how to set goals and overcome obstacles that may arise, and they encourage them to study hard.
Parental involvement in education is crucial for younger children, but it can positively impact kids of all ages. This is why it’s so important for schools to have programs that reach out to families and make them feel welcome. This could include a website where families can find resources, books, and FAQs about social-emotional learning and a platform for parents to communicate with teachers about classroom concerns.
Faster Pace of Learning
A social-emotional learning curriculum teaches students of all ages to understand their emotions deeply, cope healthily, and practice empathy. It also equips them to build and maintain positive relationships and make responsible decisions.
Educators who incorporate SEL into their teaching may find students more engaged in classroom lessons and less likely to check out subject classes mentally. It can also help reduce student anxiety and boost their self-esteem.
Earning College Credits
Educators focusing on students’ emotional well-being and academic skills help them better understand how different aspects of their lives can impact their academic progress. Students often have a more well-rounded perspective on their academic journey and feel equipped to handle challenges that arise along the way.
A graduate degree in SEL can also support teachers and school administrators to address better non-academic barriers that prevent student success.
Educators can also incorporate the SEL curriculum into traditional academic courses.
Certification Programs
Anyone can teach students academic content and give them class lessons, but educators need to connect with them on a different level to impact students’ lives. Teachers can help their students overcome obstacles and become well-rounded individuals by learning how to foster social-emotional development.
Educators can learn how to teach these skills in an online certification program, which allows them to advance their careers while keeping their current job. The specialized curriculum in these programs gives them the tools and skills to develop supportive classroom environments.
Teachers can incorporate social-emotional learning into their core classes using this approach. The curriculum can help students learn to be resilient in facing challenges, such as the pandemic or remote online education. It can also help them navigate tough situations, like losing a family member. It can also help them cultivate healthy relationships with their peers.
