Social-Emotional Learning

Each year students look forward to practicing how easy it is to be kind to others during this week-long event in January. Students shared how rewarding it was to give and receive compliments and encouraged everyone to show kindness all year long. This year, missions and acts were released via the GooseChase app which allowed classes to compete against one another by completing kind acts and submitting pictures or video evidence. The students (and teachers) had a blast! Missions included reading to other classes, smiling at 25 people, creating valentines for veterans, leaving notes around the school, reciting affirmations every morning to start their day, and even being kind to nature by creating a bird feeder.

“Kindness Week just brings a greater awareness as to how powerful kindness can be, what it looks like to be kind, and how even the smallest of actions and words can have the greatest impact on the social and emotional happiness of all human beings. “We shouldn’t have to think about being kind,” PK Counselor and Kindness Ambassador, Dr. Melanie Morgan said. “It should be effortless, automatic, and universal. When kids are presented with the chance to do something good, they want to,” Morgan said. “We have to give them those chances. When they realize how good it makes them feel, it becomes a little bit more natural for them to continue.”

“Our hearts are bursting with joy knowing that so many students are actively creating a brighter, happier, and more positive world for all. Even during the pandemic, students are finding creative ways to spread love, honor classmates, show gratitude, and offer a helping hand,” said Jill McManigal, co-founder and executive director of Kids for Peace. “We are thankful to Menchaca Early Childhood Center for providing this opportunity for their students to practice kindness and we are grateful to their students for demonstrating that kindness matters!”

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.