Social-Emotional Learning

The Benefits of SEL and Why It’s Integrated into Our Curriculum

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Social emotional learning (SEL) is a process through which children and adults develop the fundamental skills for life effectiveness.

According to the Texas Pre-Kindergarten Guidelines, early experiences influence brain development, establishing the neural connections that provide the foundations for language, reasoning, problem solving, social skills, behavior, and emotional health. All children benefit from direct social skills instruction, explicit teaching, and repeated opportunities to practice skills. The development of these personal and social skills enables children to a build a sense of who they are and what they can do. Children who can follow directions, communicate their wants and needs effectively, and get along with other children are more prepared to enter an academic environment as school-ready. Additional information about the SEL learning standards in the Texas Pre-Kindergarten Guidelines

Impact of SEL

Behavior: Social skills and behavior directly impact academic achievement in pre-kindergarten and beyond. 9% reduction in discipline referrals, 10% reduction in emotional distress, fewer disruptive classroom behaviors prevents and reduces bullying

Academic Achievement: SEL instruction has a positive impact on academic achievement. Students receiving systematic SEL instruction showed an 11% increase in academic performance. SEL increases student engagement and motivation to learn.

The foundational SEL domains included in the Texas Pre-Kindergarten Guidelines are:

  • Self-Concept Skills: self-awareness of one’s feelings, thoughts, abilities, likes, and dislikes, as well as awareness of one’s body in space.
  • Self-Regulation Skills: social awareness of classroom rules and routines, opportunities to expand their attention span, and build self-control and learn acceptable and unacceptable ways of dealing with social and emotional stress and/or excitement.
  • Relationships with Others: children develop friendships with peers and increase their feelings of comfort, pleasure, and confidence in their social world as they build a sense of empathy and caring for others.
  • Social Awareness Skills: support child-child and child-teacher interactions while deepening their understanding that others have perspectives and feelings that are different from their own.

Lifelong Impact: SEL has long term benefits including higher education levels, better paying jobs, and healthier relationships at home and at work.

Career Readiness: SEL develops skills for college, career, and military readiness, such as complex problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, collaboration.

Staff: Teacher turnover costs $7.3 billion dollars. SEL reduces teacher stress and improves morale.

Climate & Connectedness: SEL improves school climate and increases connectedness. Students who feel connected to school have better attendance and are less likely to engage in substance abuse and other high risk behaviors.

MECC Celebrates World Nursery Rhyme Week

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The global pandemic has had a deep and widespread impact on early childhood development and education including crucial language and communication skills, literacy, and socialization.

World Nursery Rhyme Week is a fun, enjoyable initiative aimed at children from newborn to 7 years-old and participation is free of charge. Nursery rhymes help to boost early language, communication and literacy skills in a way that is exciting and engaging for young children. We were excited to celebrate World Nursery Rhyme Week and the impact nursery rhymes have on our Cardinals. Nursery rhymes provide bite-sized learning opportunities for young children to develop key developmental skills and can often be the trigger for hours of creative and open-ended play. They are a powerful learning source in early literacy and enable children to become interested in the rhythm and patterns of language.

MECC Participates in International World Kindness Day Assembly

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On November 14th, we celebrated World Kindness Day. We took part in a live assembly with the 52 Lives kindness charity where we learned about what it really means to be kind, how kindness is contagious, the impact kindness has on our physical and mental health, and how we can each play our part. The theme was “reaching out” and so we are reaching out to our parent community to continue to spread the word about kindness! Families can join the School of Kindness Kids’ Kindness Club for free here: https://schoolofkindness.org/kids-club where you will find lots of helpful resources, kind stories, inspiration and you can even earn a purple kindness badge.

How Parents, Teachers, and Kids Can Take Action to Prevent Bullying (part 2)

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This is a two part series for Bullying Prevention Month. Part one was released Wednesday the 19th.

Children might not always speak up when they are being bullied. Ripped clothing, reluctance to go to school, a reduction in food, nightmares, sobbing, or general despair and anxiety are all warning signs. Do not tell your child to “let it go” or “suck it up” if you find out they are being bullied. Instead, engage in open-ended discussions to find out what is actually happening at school so that you may take the necessary action to make things right. Above all else, let your youngster know you’ll be there for them and that they should strive not to strike back.

Work together with your child to help them deal with bullying without succumbing to it or losing hope until something can be done on an administrative level. Practice bullying scenarios with your kid at home to help them learn to ignore bullies and/or to use assertive coping mechanisms. If your kid is concerned about being bullied, help them find teachers and friends who can support them.

Teach your children not to react to or forward dangerous emails and educate yourself and your kids on cyberbullying. Add your youngster as a “friend” on Facebook and other social networking sites, and install appropriate computer filters. Make the family computer the sole computer available to kids, and keep it in a prominent, public area of the house where it can be seen. Think twice before letting your youngster use the camera feature of a cell phone if you decide to give them one. Tell them you’ll be keeping an eye on their text messages. To stop midnight bullying and improper messages, as a parent, you may mandate that phones be put away in a common location, like the kitchen, by a specific time at night.

Inform your kids about bullying. It’s conceivable that your youngster struggles to interpret social cues and is unaware of how their behavior is unpleasant. Remind your youngster that harassing others may result in legal repercussions.

Parents teach their children how to behave. Children are more likely to harass at school when they are exposed to violent conduct or an extremely tight atmosphere at home. Parents and caregivers should provide a good example for their children in how you interact with others and with them.

Bullying is frequently used by kids who lack self-esteem to boost their self-esteem. Even kids who appear liked and popular might have cruel inclinations. Parents should address and reprimand their children’s harsh behavior.

Bullying victims may endure stress, depression, or anxiety. A mental health specialist, such as a psychologist, can assist your kid in building resilience and confidence if bullying is causing them problems at school or with friends. Your child will be better equipped to succeed socially and intellectually as a result.

*adapted from APA article at https://www.apa.org/topics/bullying/prevent

How Parents, Teachers, and Kids Can Take Action to Prevent Bullying (part 1)

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This will be a two part series for Bullying Prevention Month. Part two will be released next Wednesday the 26th.

Bullying is a form of purposeful aggression characterized by a disparity in strength or power. It is a pattern of behavior that might be physical, verbal, or interpersonal in nature. Girls frequently abuse people through social exclusion, but boys may use more aggressive physical tactics. Bullying has always been a problem in schools and even workplaces. But more recently, bullying has found a new home thanks to technology and social media, broadening its reach. Bullying that occurs online and on mobile devices is referred to as cyberbullying. Kids can send harsh, continuous messages to other kids throughout the clock on websites like YouTube, Instagram, and Snapchat. Messages can be left anonymously on some websites, like Instagram.

It takes dedication to establishing a secure atmosphere where kids can grow academically and socially in order to prevent and end bullying. The American Psychological Association suggests the following measures be taken to combat bullying.

Although bullying typically occurs in places like the restroom, playground, busy halls, school buses, as well as via cell phones and computers (where monitoring is spotty or nonexistent), teachers and administrators need to be aware that it must be addressed seriously. The distinction between telling and tattling should be emphasized by educators and authorities. If a teacher notices bullying occurring in a class, he or she must act quickly to put an end to it, document the situation, and alert the relevant school officials so the issue may be looked into. Joint meetings between the bullied student and the bully are not advised since they can be humiliating and scary for the victim student.

Parents and students must participate in safety teams and antibullying task groups in order to help find a solution. Adults can learn from students about what is actually happening as well as about new technology that children are utilizing to bully others. Students can learn strategies to behave positively and to intervene when bullying happens with the aid of their parents, teachers, and school administration. Older pupils can mentor younger kids and teach them online safety precautions.

Students must have access to a secure learning environment in schools and classrooms. Students need to be explicitly reminded by their teachers and coaches that bullying is not permitted in the classroom and that doing so will result in penalties. Students are helped by creating an antibullying document that they must sign along with their parents or guardians and give in to the school office. Additionally, in order to prevent children from feeling lonely or in danger of becoming targets for bullying, teachers and administrators can help students who are having a hard time adjusting or making friends by facilitating friendships or by giving them “things” to do during lunch and recess.

*adapted from APA article at https://www.apa.org/topics/bullying/prevent

The Power of Play in Early Childhood Development at MECC

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When it comes to a child’s health and development, play is more than just a chance to have fun. The various forms of play, such as hide-and-seek, dramatic play, and centers, have a significant positive impact on a child’s brain, body, and quality of life. The American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) clinical report, The Power of Play: A Pediatric Role in Enhancing Development in Young Children, explains how and why playing with parents and peers is essential to developing healthy bodies, brains, and social connections—all things that are crucial in today’s society. According to research, play can help kids become more organized, plan ahead, get along with others, and control their emotions. Play also improves language, numeracy, social abilities, and even helps kids deal with stress.

Statistics reveal that, in spite of its many advantages, children’s playtime has been decreasing for decades. One explanation is that there are less safe places to play, more parents are working outside the home, family and school routines are rigidly organized, and media use and screen time are on the rise. Our STEAM lab has many stations set up one of which is a dramatic play area with a store, kitchen, and more. They role play which helps with oral language skills, cooperate, and have fun all while learning! Just check out these kindergarteners hard at work AND play!