Are you adding Social Emotional Learning to your Curriculum?
Social and Emotional Learning is the process through which children effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. Do you have mechanisms in place at your school to support this type of student growth? Well many schools do... we know at least 59% of schools already have in place Social and Emotional programming to address this social development need. Several years ago, as an administrator, I would partner up with external providers but now it is becoming mandatory to include these resources at your school site. This allows for servicing the whole student but it also puts much more on the average teacher. Teachers are already responsible for their current core subjects but somehow they must carve out time during the day to effective teach one more thing. Overall, these programs had positive effects on the various social emotional competencies. Our student population in general displayed positive attitudes about self and others in school and used much of the strategies in their daily lives. Using program like Community of Caring, Quest, and Second Step and have been known to reduce conduct and internalizing problems, as well as improved academic performance on achievement tests and grades. When looking for a program, look for these instructional practices, program effectiveness, and implementation supports.
SEL Instructional Practices· Academic Integration Strategies· Self-Awareness Social Awareness· Self-Management· Relationship Skills· Responsible Decision Making
Program Effectiveness:· Evidence of Effectiveness· Documented Behavioral Impacts· Given Designation in Federal Reviews
Implementation Supports· Professional Development· Student Assessment Measures· Classroom Implementation Tools· Schoolwide Coordination· Family Partnerships· Community Partnerships
Students were more self-aware and confident about their learning capacities try harder when faced with challenges. If you are looking for the healthy development of emotional skills, attitudes, behavior, and academic performance then I strongly suggest looking into a Social Emotional Learning Program. Take a look below to identify some of the top rating programs byCasel out there to find the right one for your school district.
★ Community of Caring(Growing Up Caring)
K-6
★ PATHS (Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies): K-6 www.preventionscience.com
★ Second Step1991, 1997www.cfchildren.org
★ Community of Caring(Growing Up Caring)
K-12
★ Peace Works (Peace Education Foundation): www.peace education.com preK12
★ Skills, Opportunities, and Recognition (SOAR) 2001 www.prevention science.com K-6
★ High/Scope Educational Approach for Preschool and Primary Grades
preK-3
★ Productive Conflict Resolution Program: A Whole School Approach: www.schoolmediation center.org K-12
★ Social Decision Making and Problem Solving Program 1989 www.umdnj.edu/spsweb K-6
★ I Can Problem Solve (ICPS)
preK-6
★ Project ACHIEVE 2001 www.coedu.usf.edu/ projectachieve preK-8
★ Teenage Health Teaching Modules 1983, 1991, 1994, 1996, 1998
6-12
★ Know Your Body www.kendallhunt.com K-6
★ Quest (Violence Prevention series) K-12
★ Tribes TLC®: A NewWay of Learning andBeing Together2001 preK12www.tribes.com
★ Learning for Life www.learning-for-life.org K-12
★ Reach Out to Schools: Social Competency Program (Open Circle Curriculum) www.open-circle.org K-5
★ Voices: A ComprehensiveReading, Writing,and Character EducationProgram: 2002-03 K-6www.aboutvlf.com
★ Lions-Quest (“Skills” series) www.lions-quest.org K-12
★ Resolving Conflict Creatively Program (RCCP) 1997-98 www.esrnational.org K-8
★ Michigan Model for Comprehensive Health Educationwww.emc.cmich.edu K-12
★ Responsive Classroom® 1996 www.responsive classroom.org K-6
