For years, we have been reading the research that shows us the benefits of having social and emotional learning in the classroom. Despite the research, we have had to gain buy-in from teachers, administrators, the community, and most importantly our students. Making SEL relevant to high school students can be challenging but doesn’t have to be a chore!
Build Relationships
Building relationships with students is key to getting them to do anything. Students we have relationships with are much more likely to go out on a limb with us and try something new. The students we have no relationship with us might just look at us like we have spawned a third eye.
Fostering relationships in the classroom is also a great way to introduce something new. SEL can make students feel vulnerable. If they are already in an environment where they have strong relationships they are much more likely to jump in with classroom discussions.
If you do not have strong relationships among students in your classroom you can start with a quick 5-minute question. One of my favorite ways to do this is to have a theme of the day. For example, Motivational Monday, Tell Me About It Tuesday, Think About it Thursday, and Fun Fact Friday.
These are simple prompts that your students will know are coming. It is amazing how quickly you can build relationships in the classroom. Students get excited to share their quotes, story, fact, or answer.
Make SEL Relevant to High School Students
SEL is relevant to high school students. We often believe that this is just for elementary students. SEL is just as important for High School Students. We are teaching our students the skills to be successful in life.
Have students find the relevance on their own. For this activity, I would encourage you to have students look up the top reasons people are fired from jobs. Hold a discussion when they find the answers. Spoiler Alert: Soft Skills, the skills taught in SEL, are the skills that get people fired most often.
Do a survey around the room and ask students what they think are the biggest reasons that high school relationships end? Ask them what they think are the biggest issues that friends have with one another. Once students answer the questions connect the answer back to the topics you are covering in your SEL lessons.
Older students might be offended when you tell them that they need to learn social skills or how to control their emotions. At this age, they often feel like they know everything and they are ready to go out into the world on their own.
Instead, frame your lessons as skills to help them get and maintain a job. Show them that you are teaching them the skills to be a better girlfriend/boyfriend. Not only that you are teaching their boyfriend/girlfriend how to be a better partner. Listening, communicating, and conflict resolution are key skills for a successful relationship. No one wants a partner that can’t listen to them.
Make SEL Age Appropriate for High School Students
There are thousands of resources for social-emotional lessons at the elementary level. There are cute little pictures, storybooks, and videos. Of course, high school students don’t want to feel like they are being babied. Look for an SEL curriculum or lessons that are age-appropriate. The Mind Trek SEL Program for High School is a great place to start.
Once you find your lessons and teach them to your students you can take it a step further. Have students prepare lessons for younger students in the district. Partner up with an elementary class or middle school class. Give your high school students a chance to teach the topic they are learning about to younger students.
Pairing up high school students with younger students is a great way to make Social Emotional Learning relevant to high school students. They are no longer just learning for themselves, but they are learning so they can teach younger students. The younger students look up to the older students as role models. You can develop an amazing student mentor program this way. Both ages of students will benefit.
Interested in learning more? Try The Mind Trek SEL Program for free.
