Social Emotional Learning Programs Essay -2
docx
keyboard_arrow_up
School
National University College *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
151
Subject
English
Date
Dec 6, 2023
Type
docx
Pages
7
Uploaded by MagistrateSeaUrchin3677
Lesley Quintero
ENG 240
Professor Relf
12/18/21
Social Emotional Learning Programs Essay
Social emotional learning programs are designed and implemented in schools for students
that may need additional support in acknowledging their own emotions and positively expressing
them with others. J. Khan (2013) wrote in “ Reading, Writing, and Emotional Intelligence,”
“John Dewey argued against the development of purely vocational elementary schools, insisting
that the true purpose of schooling was simply not to teach children a trade but to train them in
deeper habits of mind, including “plasticity” and interdependence.” (p.44) As Dewey has
mentioned,
school is not for students to simply just attend because it is mandatory but rather for
them to learn new objectives of what is revolving around
them but to
learn within
themselves
mentally and emotionally.. Students are required to attend school to learn how to work in groups
and independently.
J. Khan (2013) wrote “But while prevention programs tend to focus on a
single problem, the goal of social-emotional learning is grander: to instill a deep psychological
intelligence that will help children regulate their emotions” (p. 45). Social-emotional learning
programs were implemented to provide students mentally and emotional support in and outside
of school. To help students understand their feelings, and how they can either prevent or control
them in public. Social-emotional learning programs can be beneficial for students’ academics by
providing them with support in the classroom, interpersonal dynamics, and expressing
themselves often.
Every student is unique and learns using different learning modalities.
Children
need
support and instruction to manage successfully in school. Skills like recognizing and managing
emotions, controlling impulses, communicating effectively, and working with others are
invaluable in and outside of the school setting. At a young age students are grouped with
classmates to learn how to share and work together. Students that may need the most support are
the students that are in the age group of five to eighteen years old. When social emotional
learning programs are implemented at an earlier stage in their education it is easier for them to be
able to communicate their feelings easily. On some occasions it can be extremely difficult for
students to work with classmates.
Younger students are the individuals that take advantage of
these social-emotional learning programs from the beginning. Social emotional learning
programs are beneficial for all students especially for k-12 students. When social emotional
learning programs are included at an early age students learn to talk about their emotions with
others.
“Researchers and practitioners have described key social - emotional skills that young
children need as they enter school, including self confidence, the capacity to develop positive
relationships with peers and adults, concentration and persistence on challenging tasks, an ability
to effectively communicate emotions, an ability to listen to instructions and be attentive, and
skills in solving social problems.” (Ashdown & Bernard, 2012 p. 76). Implementing social
emotional learning programs at an early age will benefit students as they continue their
education.
They are two ways that implement social emotional learning programs in the school
setting. The school can provide social emotional learning programs as a resource for students to
work on their interpersonal skills. If it is provided as a resource they work one on one with the
resource teacher until they feel comfortable to talk about their feelings with others. After the
student is able to communicate their feelings with the resource teacher they start doing group
activities with other students. The teacher serves as a mediator where students talk about their
feelings and emotions during the session. The second way that social emotional learning
programs are implemented would be in the classroom by their teacher. All students participate in
group activities where they are asked about their emotions. Students use an “emotional wheel”
with color coded emotion vocabulary where they say or point to how they are feeling at the
moment and why they think they feel like that. When social emotional learning programs are
implemented in the classroom at an early age students can easily talk about themselves with
others as they get older.
Having support in the classroom in order to be able to express their needs an additional
benefit of social emotional learning programs is interpersonal dynamics.
Interpersonal dynamics
describes the interaction among individuals in a specific social context such as school. It
describes the way students relate to each other.
Interpersonal dynamics is fundamental for
students of all ages and must be learned at an early age. It
involves how one person feels and
behaves toward another. Being able to verbally express your feelings positively towards others is
one of the major focuses in social emotional learning programs. For example, students that are
part of social emotional learning programs are able to feel empathy towards others, participate in
the classroom without being called on, and establish and maintain positive relations with
classmates.
“ The National Academy of Sciences reported that 60% of children enter school with
the cognitive skills needed to be successful, but only 40% have the social-emotional skills
needed to succeed in kindergarten” (Ashdown, D. & Bernard, M. 201, p 398). Based on the
National Academy of Science research, less than half of the students that enter school have the
needed social emotional skills to build connections positively with others.
It is beneficial for all students, even those that have the fundamental skills to participate
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
in social emotional learning programs to continue their academic success.. If every school
includes social emotional learning programs as part of their curriculum students would benefit
and their cognitive skills would increase. In addition, “Researchers and practitioners have
described key social emotional skills that young children need as they enter school, including
self confidence, the capacity to develop positive relationships with peers and adults, an ability to
effectively communicate emotions, and skills in solving social problems.”
(Ashdown, D. &
Bernard, M. 201, p 395). Many researchers have studied and provided data that children need
interpersonal dynamics at an early age in order to continue managing and developing these skills
into adulthood. For example, in the classroom the teacher creates a safe place for the students to
talk about their feelings and emotions. Students are given a list with target vocabulary such as
“happy, sad, anxious, mad, angry, etc.” Each vocabulary word has a descriptive image as a visual
to guide students.. The teacher asks “Tom, how do you feel today?” Tom would respond by
picking one of the target words. The teacher would provide positive reinforcement to the student
and ask why he thinks he feels that way. Tom will then talk about his reasons behind his
emotions. After that the teacher would give Tom feedback and provide positive reinforcement
before moving to the next student. Students that lack interpersonal dynamics as a child tend to
become more aggressive or unable to communicate their feelings and emotions positively
towards others. For example, the student would decide not to participate in emotional group
activities. They would start crying and hit or scream at others. It is extremely important
to
understand the children's needs before doing group activities and make sure the student feels
comfortable to share his feelings positively to others.
Positively being able to express yourself towards others using verbal communication is
also one of the main foci of social emotional learning programs. “Researchers generally agree
upon five key competencies of social and emotional learning (SEL) self awareness, self -
management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making.”(Vega, V.
Social and Emotional Learning Research Review 2017,
p.1) One of the major focuses as written
on
Social and Emotional Learning Research Review
is always working on oneself. If you are
able to control how you act and interact with others you will be able to build connections easily.
In addition, studies have shown that if social emotional programs are introduced at an early age it
will benefit all students. “A 2017 research review found that SEL programs can promote
academic success and increase positive behavior, while reducing misconduct, substance abuse,
and emotional distress for elementary school students.” (Vega, V. Social and Emotional Learning
Research Review 2017, p.10).
Social emotional learning programs
are more than a targeted intervention solution
for
students with behavioral needs or a history of trauma; it helps all students of all ages. Social
emotional learning programs are much more needed for students in the k-12 age range. If social
emotional learning programs are implemented at an early age students are able to learn and
understand how to communicate their needs and wants more positively in school and outside of
the school setting early and continue learning. Effective social emotional learning practices
promote equity in schools and provide students with the needed tools for their adult life.
In social
emotional learning programs students are able to channel their emotions in a positive way in and
outside of the classroom making it easier for them to socialize and connect with other people.
Students are able to channel their emotions by talking with classmates about their feelings and
creating positive relations with others. For example, the teacher can have wellbeing
conversations where students are able to talk about their emotions in the classroom. Students are
given a list of good and bad emotions and they share with the class. “The social and emotional
learning programs also reduced aggression and emotional distress among students, increased
helping behaviors in school, and improved positive attitudes toward self and others (Durlak et
al., 2011, p.3)
In addition, over time many studies have shown that social emotional learning
programs have
increased self-awareness, academic achievement, and positive behaviors in
students. Finally social emotional learning programs are beneficial to all students and it does not
target a small population of students. We need to include social emotional learning programs in
all schools for all students. Our society must prioritize the students’ because they are the future of
tomorrow.
References
Ashdown, D. & Bernard, M. (2012) Can Explicit Instruction in Social and Emotional Learning
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
Skills Benefit the Social - Emotional Development, Well - Being, and Academic
Achievement of Young Children?.
Early Childhood Education Journal
, doi
10.1007/S10643-011-0481- x
Joronen, K., Hakamies, A., & Astedtkurki, P. (2011). Children’s experiences of a drama
programme in social and emotional learning.
Nursing Science,
doi:
10.1111/j.147-6712.2011.00877 .x
Khan, J (2013). Reading, Writing, and… Emotional Intelligence.
New York Times Magazines
,
44-49,61.
Vega, V. Social and Emotional Learning Research Review (2017).
George Lucas Educational
Foundation
Weissberg, R. Promoting the Social and Emotional Learning of Millions of School Children
(2019) doi.org/10.1177/1745691618817756