Mental health is a critical part of students’ overall health and well-being. Students today face a range of demands that can impact their mental health. From meeting high academic expectations to navigating the world of social media to maintaining relationships with their peers, students often have busy schedules that result in a lack of sleep … Continue reading How can we incorporate mental health education into schools? Consider the 5 T’s.
We expect teachers to handle a lot: create engaging learning experiences, differentiate instruction based on student needs, manage behavior, motivate students to learn, and tackle persistent gaps and inequities. More and more, teachers are meeting this challenge by embracing social-emotional learning (SEL), which can support academic learning, teach and reinforce positive behavior, motivate students to … Continue reading Want to build an equitable classroom? Start with social-emotional learning (SEL)
When you really want to focus on social-emotional learning (SEL): Selecting a standalone SEL program
Standalone social-emotional learning (SEL) programs are helpful tools for teachers who want to build students’ social-emotional skills in the classroom setting. However, it can be challenging to select an appropriate, practical, and effective classroom-wide curriculum that will work for all students. We have simplified the process to help teachers and other practitioners make a well-informed decision.
Although most teachers recognize the importance of teaching social-emotional skills, many are also concerned about having time to fulfill their other responsibilities. Here we highlight one approach to teaching social-emotional skills in the classroom: incorporating social-emotional learning (SEL) into everyday academic instruction.
In state-funded preschools, children are expelled at 3 times the rate of K-12 students, and private preschool programs expel children at more than 13 times the rate of K-12 students. Our researchers have developed an interactive guide with recommended policies and practices to support early education program leaders in reducing and preventing suspensions and expulsions.
We were presenting to a group of teachers about our project examining the effects of a group-based intervention for middle schoolers experiencing traumatic stress. I was describing the effects of trauma on students’ academic performance when a teacher stood up and loudly exclaimed, “But what about OUR trauma? Who is helping US?”
To successfully navigate their school and home lives, students need more than just academic skills. Learning social-emotional skills can benefit all students. Social problem-solving is one social-emotional skill that can help all students in a classroom learn to better manage their emotions and behaviors, cooperate and communicate with peers, and make safer, more responsible decisions.