Social and Emotional Learning

Today we are going to talk about social and emotional learning. This type of learning applies to any educator, parent, children, and everyone in between. Social and emotional learning is when people are taught how to manage themselves socially and their emotions. Normally in children's lives, adults teach children how to act, that is why it is important that we as adults are good role models and show students how to control themselves emotionally- even when a situation gets difficult. 

As people in students' lives, it is necessary to be a resource for students and to listen to them- to create a safe space for them. When we do this, students will feel more comfortable sharing their own experiences, which will then in turn allow us to aid the students in their learning. This also relates to one of my blog posts I've done before, where I talk about Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and why they are necessary in a classroom. 

I think it is highly important to know your own social skills and emotions, and to always work on improving them- especially when you are parenting, coaching, and/or teaching young ones. For example, I have experience working with kids of all ages, and I have two young siblings at home. I noticed when I first started tutoring and babysitting about eight years ago, I didn't have a lot of patience and I would freak out when situations would get out of control, or I felt like I couldn't control my feelings of being overwhelmed. It took a lot of practice, but I think going to therapy and reading self-help books like Daring to Lead has helped me find ways to react better to situations I cannot control. 

In an essay written by Stephanie Jones discussing educators and their emotional well-being, Jones notes that "teachers navigate stressful situations nearly every day, and students are watching. Students learn from the way teachers man- age frustration, maintain control of themselves and the classroom, stay focused in the face of distractions, and shift tactics when needed" and it is true. Whether they mean to or not, students look for teachers as examples of what people should do or be like, and it is important that we are good examples for them to follow. This means not lashing out, showing kindness, being a good listener, standing up for others/self, etc. The conditions that teachers face day to day, and the stress they are under, proves that teachers need better support financially and emotionally from the state and on a federal level.

When I am teaching my own class, I plan on being mindful and setting an example for my students. I want to create brave and safe spaces for them, but I also plan on establishing boundaries between my students and myself to prevent being emotionally overwhelmed. It is important to create a routine with students and to have them be okay talking about their emotions and feelings. That is why I currently apply SEL activities with my Changeist group, and plan on applying them to my future students. You can read examples of different SEL activities here. 

Stay mindful, 

Liz