Beyond traditional academics, Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is an educational strategy that aims to develop important life skills. Its main objectives are to help kids become more self-aware, learn how to recognize and control their emotions, develop goals, and learn social cues. Additionally, SEL focuses strongly on social awareness, encouraging tolerance and respect. It promotes teamwork and effective communication while offering students the fundamental social abilities they need. How will it play a role in the Brewster Central School District? The district hopes to foster an open and supportive atmosphere where students can overcome obstacles, form long-lasting connections with each other, and flourish intellectually as well as emotionally by incorporating SEL into the classroom.
In order to address the unique requirements and challenges faced by elementary school students, the Brewster Central School District has a plan in place to implement SEL techniques through Brewster’s Second Step Program. This entails meticulously designed lessons, programs, handouts, videos, and brain-building activities that focus on establishing healthy connections, enhancing emotional resilience, and giving students the tools they need to make responsible choices. This program will begin at John F. Kennedy Elementary and C.V. Starr Intermediate School, with a web-based platform designed specifically for students in kindergarten through grade 5. At John F. Kennedy Elementary and C.V. Starr Intermediate School, the Second Step lessons will be taught throughout the year by each child’s homeroom teacher. Depending on the grade, lessons will be weekly and will be around 15-30 minutes per lesson. Lessons start with a brain-building activity to help kids pay attention, use their memory, and manage their behavior. Additionally, children will interact with brief daily practice activities to gain opportunities to practice newly learned skills every day. This curriculum, which is divided into four modules that are relevant to all grade levels and are designated as Growth Mindset & Goal-Setting, Emotion Management, Empathy & Kindness, and Problem-Solving, accommodates its ideas to the developmental stage of each grade’s students. The curriculum stresses variation through the incorporation of student voice and decision, permitting individuals to share their personal experiences throughout discussions. This design enables teachers to mold classes to better engage with all of the experiences as well as the viewpoints of their students to better resonate with them.
What’s the goal for BCSD?
Beyond academics, social and emotional learning (SEL) in BCSD is geared toward facilitating students’ overall development. SEL has the power to create a supportive and optimistic environment in schools when it is put into effect across the board in the school community. This comprehensive strategy also improves the well-being of administrators and teachers. Schools can promote improved emotional and social intelligence among all members by putting a high priority on SEL principles. This means that it will generate an environment that is beneficial for expanding and will have an overall impact on people’s mental endurance as well as their academic success. SEL develops an environment of confidence and integrity where everyone in the school community can succeed together.
Where do parents/guardians play a role in the newly-planned program?
Developing children’s SEL at home is vital for promoting the full development of their children. Students who receive SEL are provided with the tools they need to succeed in life, such as self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and successful social interaction. Families play an instrumental role in guiding children to cope with their emotions, building healthy relationships, and achieving responsible decisions through the use of SEL principles at home. The emotional and social skills that students acquire in the classroom and how they are utilized in everyday situations connect seamlessly thanks to this support. On top of that, encouraging SEL at home allows a happier family atmosphere, which improves kids’ general well-being and prepares them with the strength and empathy they will need to face life’s obstacles.
Due to the involvement of families in each and every child’s SEL, educators at BCSD will send out information weekly through ParentSquare to the families. It will include the key concepts for that week and a discussion question that prompts students to practice or talk about the week’s skills with their families at home. By keeping families in the loop about what their child is learning at school, parents and guardians will be able to connect closer with their kids, as well as learn new skills along with them.
Overall, this new program will include many benefits for the children and their families regarding their future. SEL will provide a foundation for emotionally intelligent, resilient, and socially adequate adults who can succeed in navigating the various challenges in life—challenges that our parents went through without the privilege of learning about SEL programs.