School is no longer just about learning math, language arts, science, and social studies. In recent years schools are starting to integrate social and emotional learning into the classroom. Research is showing that to excel academically students need some basic social and emotional skills.
Learning about one’s self.
Students are learning about themselves. They are learning what emotions are and how they feel. This helps students notice when they are feeling angry and upset. With knowledge comes power. Once students are able to recognize emotions they are able to start to regulate and control them.
It is ok to feel angry. However becoming so angry that one starts hitting others and throwing desks becomes a huge problem in the classroom. SEL helps students recognize their emotions and gain control over them. Instead of throwing desks when they are angry they can take that anger and use it appropriately.
Learning about others.
Knowing how to regulate one’s emotions is a great skill to have. It also helps students understand how others are feeling. It helps them learn empathy. Empathy is a skill that is crucial in interacting with others. It is what helps us know if someone is upset or hurting. We become understanding and compassionate.
Once students start to learn how to develop empathy for others they start to learn communication skills. While crying might get us what we need as babies, it rarely gets us what we need once we are able to talk. Students learn how to actually listen to one another.
We all know that no matter how much empathy or listening skills we develop we will eventually disagree. This is a natural life event. SEL curriculum helps students learn how to disagree respectfully. It teaches students how to compromise and share one’s feelings in a respectful way.
Learning to excel academically.
Have you ever wondered how well you could do if you weren’t afraid to fail? SEL curriculum teaches students that their brains are continually growing. It teaches that even when things are hard or they haven’t mastered it YET that they can continue to try and they CAN actually get smarter.
SEL programs help students learn that failure is ok. Failure can lead them to learn something new and learn from their mistakes. There have been many great failures that have ultimately turned into amazing success.
SEL also teaches students how to have Grit. Grit is a quality that embodies perseverance and resilience. The skill that keeps them going when the going gets tough or they just don’t feel like it today.
Learning decision making skills.
An SEL program would not be complete without learning how to make decisions. Students learn a process to evaluate and make decisions. They learn how to look at all of their options and the consequences that go along with each one.
Students will also learn what peer pressure is and how to say no. They learn that they are not only influenced by the people standing next to them but that they are also influenced by what they see on social media and media.
Through an SEL program, students learn how to stand up and say no even when that is not the popular answer. They learn that it is ok to be themselves and strategies for sticking to their values.
Social Emotional Learning Curriculum
Social-Emotional Learning programs help students excel at school and in their personal lives. They give them skills that can directly be used in their career field such as perseverance, communication, and problem-solving. SEL programs look at improving the whole student and not just increase their academic knowledge.
Check out this post on How SEL programs help students excel at school.
Learn more about The Mind Trek Programs.
Try our free sample lessons here.
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