In recent years, the pendulum of education trends have swung back to emphasize the importance of relationships to learning. Schools are using social and emotional learning curricula to help students develop interpersonal skills and learn ways to solve problems peacefully. But there's still debate around which social and emotional skills are the most important to teach -- such as empathy, executive functioning or persistence -- and some educators feel unprepared to take on a role that seems more like parenting.
In a video series called "Schools That Work," Edutopia offers some examples of social and emotional learning routines that successful schools use. At Highlander Charter School in Rhode Island, elementary school students talk about the importance of morning meeting to their day.
While elementary school may seem like the perfect place to learn social and emotional skills, often by high school the focus of educators and parents has turned to academics. But adolescence is a crucial time for young people to know an adult cares about them and can serve as a mentor. At Summit Preparatory Charter High School in Redwood City, California, students take a "Habits, Community, and Culture" class devoted to improving their emotional intelligence and the skills that will help them cope with stress, setbacks and crises of confidence that are typical in high school. Their teacher, Aukeem Ballard, wants each teen to feel seen, heard and known.
To read more of Katrina Schwartz' article, visit: https://www.kqed.org/mindshift...al-learning-routines
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