Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) is a huge buzzword right now in education.
What does SEL look like in the classroom? No matter if you are new to education, or ready to revive your learning environment, here are easy ways to boost social-emotional learning in your classroom.
Relationships, Relationships, Relationships
Develop trusting and supportive relationships with your students. Everyone needs to be seen and heard and feel a sense of belonging (educators, too!).
Building relationships with students will establish a foundation for trust and engagement. Relationships also decrease discipline issues. You have a stronger connection with your students and they know you are an adult they can seek out when needed.
Rita Pearson said it best in her Ted Talk when she said, “Kids don’t learn from people they don’t like”. If you are like the majority of people in education, you chose this profession because of your love of helping students grow and learn.
If your students feel loved and respected, you are helping the social and emotional growth in your classroom. If this is an area you want to strengthen, watch Rita Pearson’s Ted Talk and see how you can make stronger connections for student success.
You create a learning environment where all students feel safe and have resources for support. Our students experience the following daily…
Crises
Grief
Trauma
Hunger
Abuse/Neglect
Depression/Anxiety
You don’t have to have all the answers, but you seek out support when students show signs of distress. Students feel safe coming to you for help. A safe environment allows your students to gain skills to develop healthy and supportive relationships.
Here is a principal who is leading the way of providing a safe and supportive learning environment…
You give your students questions, assignments or projects that require empathy, teamwork, and critical thinking skills. Working in teams is an essential workforce skill. Critical thinking skills have been hyped as one of the most important “soft-skill” for the future.
Including these skills in your classroom supports your students’ emotional development and helps refine their skills for leadership and workforce readiness (and getting along with others!).
Check out The Ron Clark Academy for the ultimate life skill goals!
You stretch your students to dream and explore beyond your classroom. What resources do you share to help your students learn opportunities, foster their interests and experiences beyond your classroom?
If you have connections with local businesses, invite them to share careers, skills, or opportunities in your classroom. Explore field trips that inspire students or expose them to exciting cultures, causes, or interests. If a field trip is out of reach, could you Skype with a classroom or organization to take your students beyond your four walls?
Here are some wonderful resources for taking your students beyond your building…
You do so many things for your students every day. Know that no one is perfect. The most important thing you can do for your students is to take care of yourself.
You can’t pour from an empty cup. Your social and emotional well-being is important. Educators put themselves on the back burner too often.
Take care of yourself. Find supportive friends, seek out counseling, do things you love, and don’t take your mental health as a luxury. Even on your worst day, now that you are changing lives and making a difference!
Best, Heather
~I would love to hear from you! Write a comment below or reach out to me on social media. We are better together!
Check out my other posts on engagement, favorite books, and connecting your students to the world beyond your classroom!
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