A 20-year educator and certified social-emotional learning specialist now doctoral candidate at Lesley University in Boston, MA.
At Social Success in Schools, we are committed to supporting school-wide SEL implementation by elevating adult SEL, enaging students in SEL, and embedding SEL in the natural environment of homes and schools so all youth gain access to the benefits of social-emotional learning.
Adults play a vital role in educating our youth's happy, healthy hearts and minds. When grown-up role models take the time to strengthen their own social-emotional skills and mindsets they maximize positive learner outcomes for all children.
School communities can support this part of the SEL journey by prioritizing professional learning and training opportunities to bolster educators' and caregivers' adult SEL to more effectively teach, model, and shape these skills in youth.
When adults have strong self-awareness, they can teach and model for kids to navigate self-confidence, self-advocacy, and a growth mindset while also understanding how their identities, emotions, thoughts, and values influence their social behavior.
When grown-ups have efficient self-management, they can teach and model for kids how to manage their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors to achieve personal and collective goals.
When educators and caregivers have solid social awareness, they can teach and model for kids how to understand and appreciate the perspectives of others to create inclusive social norms built on empathy, compassion, and respect.
When adults have healthy relationship skills, they can teach and model for kids how to establish and maintain supportive relationships using mindful communication, cooperation, and conflict resolution skills.
And when grown-ups have effective responsible decision-making skills, they can model for kids how to make thoughtful and productive personal and collective choices… and they teach youth to employ critical thinking that considers the effects these decisions will have on themselves and others.
Together, we got this!