I'm not exactly sure how this first month of school managed to slip
by so quickly, but I am both inspired and excited about the willingness
of our students to "think outside of the box" as they engage in our SEL
classes. The first month of school has focused on Self-Awareness, which
is a critical first step toward the acquisition of social skills on any
level. We have challenged our students to identify and label their own
feelings under various circumstances, as well as to practice and role
play problem solving strategies to repair social situations as they arise.
We have also talked about times when we can solve our own problems, as
well as how we can ask for help, depending upon the need. I am always amazed at how well
the children role play specific situations at a moment's notice,
brainstorm solutions as a group, then demonstrate new learning both in
class and around campus throughout the day!
The next
month or so will concentrate the understanding of how our feelings
affect our behaviors, and consequently those of others with whom we come
in contact throughout the day. We will talk about perspective taking,
caring about the feelings and viewpoints of others, and being aware of
others' perceptions of us based upon our actions. We will rehearse active listening skills and
empathic responding to the feelings and concerns of our friends. So please feel free to talk about these activities at home and practice the kinds of listening skills your children will learn. Making eye contact, nodding to confirm understanding, taking turns speaking and giving the type of feedback that indicates understanding are important and can be practiced everywhere!
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