Social and Emotional Learning Part 2

http://www.edutopia.org/social-emotional-learning-introduction-video
http://www.edutopia.org/social-emotional-learning-overview-video

In the shorter video, it had an excellent way of getting this message of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) into the minds of students.  They did this by having the students give presentations in younger classrooms about successful and non-violent ways of resolving a conflict.  Teaching something makes you know that thing even more, and by teaching about SEL, then you learn so much more than if you had just heard a teacher standing in front of the class and talking to you about it.

Students in programs that emphasize strong SEL practices on average score 10% higher on state tests.  This is a fact that was given in the shorter video, and I am blown away.  Because in our society, it seems that we want to make everything easier, and we don't want to put too much time into something.  So, we want something that we don't put too much time in and it does amazing things.  We can't have it both ways, we, as teachers, must take time and make our lesson plans fun and interesting and, I would say, emphasize SEL in our classroom.  It will take time, but look at that benefit, we in our society teach to the test.  But they teach to the student and the student does 10% better on these tests than those who are just taught what is going to be on the test.  Why are we not emphasizing SEL?  Why is it that I did not know about this, I had heard the name, but I didn't know anything about it.

So, what is Social and Emotional Learning?  Social and Emotional Learning is the connection of the mind (academics) to the heart (emotions, feelings, interpersonal relationships, intrapersonal relationship).  It is the strengthening of the student's ability to deal with tough situations through a wide array of ways (i.e. emotions, non-violent problem solving, etc.).  This, if you ask me, is like the Bible for teaching students with Emotional Behavioral Disorders.  It is a core concept that must be taught because it can help these students who need help.  And incorporating the video that I watched a few days ago on neurology and SEL, SEL changes the brain's function and structure.  That is huge, because think about it in regards to a student with Schizophrenia, SEL can change their brain's function and structure.  Now, I am not going to say that SEL is a cure-all to and for all students.  But it is something that can help to the biggest degree imaginable.

So, now that I know what SEL is, where I have I seen it this semester?  In the movie "Freedom Writers," Erin Gruwell uses many theories and practices of SEL.  She does the line game, which shows her students that they have more in common than they think.  She also assigns them to write in their journal every day, which is a way of encouraging them to embrace their feelings.  And to embrace their feelings is SEL right there.  Like this, the teacher in the movie "Precious" does this with the journals.  She also takes the time to get to know her students and allow them to get to know her (by taking Precious into her home).  And finally, when that woman from the alternative school came in, she gave us a packet of writing that was a lot like Freedom Writers the book.  And a lot of what she said, namely that some students had a gun to their head five hours previous to coming to school, so how are they supposed to learn?

SEL is something that fascinates and invigorates me and I plan on doing even more looking into it because it can help students so much.

I'm going to leave with this one thought.  In Milton Chen's book Education Nation, he talks about continuous learning, learning that happens 24 hours a day and 7 days a week instead of what is seems to be now which is 8 hours a day and 5 days a week.  SEL asks students to think about their life, and incorporating the core stuff with SEL, it is strengthening that possibility that they will learn all the time because you are putting them in real life situations.