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Cultivating Emotional Intelligence

by: Second Grade Teachers Emily Gorski and Claire Shroba

Photo of a classroom poster that all students signed with Rossman's Core Values

Parents and educators alike know that social and emotional intelligence is as important as academic skills. Social and emotional learning (SEL), is the process of acquiring the competencies to recognize and manage emotions, develop care and concern for others, establish positive relationships, make responsible decisions and handle challenging situations effectively. In other words, it is the holistic process of learning grounded in ethics of care. It combines cognitive, social, emotional and relational aspects of learning to enhance learners’ well-being, academic success, and active global citizenship, promoting positive social change.

SEL is at the heart of all that we do at Rossman. From our core values to the implementation of Responsive Classroom practices, social and 

emotional learning is the thread that sews each academic lesson together from junior kindergarten through sixth grade.

Why is it important to teach?

  • Cultivates our Rossman Values of Kindness, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility
  • Helps students form meaningful relationships with peers
  • Raise awareness before difficult situations arise
  • Practice makes better
  • Lifelong interpersonal skills help students with cooperative learning and eventually in personal and professional interactions.

How do we teach it at school?

  • Social stories and modeling
  • Read aloud and novel study
  • Morning meetings
    • Identifying feelings in ourselves and others
    • Self talk
    • Perspective taking
photo of a white board asking students about happiness and how they cope with big feelings

What does this look like in the classroom? 

Modeling and role-playing can help students prepare to demonstrate the Rossman values. This is where the phrase “looks like and sounds like” comes in handy. To help students understand and visualize expectations, we ask “What would it sound like if you are being respectful at the library?” or “When you are responsible for your homework, what does that look like?”. This helps students to put themselves in the situation or environment and make a plan.

There will also be times where it is difficult for students to demonstrate the Rossman values. Feelings impact behavior, and we want our students to know that this is ok! It is hard to be patient and quiet when a lesson is taking longer than expected, just as it is challenging to stay kind and calm when your morning has felt like the plot of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. This is why we identify our feelings, prepare calm down strategies, and role-play situations before a challenging situation occurs.

To help children recognize when they demonstrate these skills, we highlight students’ growth with a quick check in. This could be telling a child that we noticed them taking deep breaths to respond with kindness during a frustrating situation, or that we appreciate their honesty in admitting a mistake. This helps children to establish intrinsic motivation and a sense of self-accomplishment.

What are some tips for reinforcing concepts at home?
Zero Prep: Tips to Try Tonight
Favorite Read Aloud Series

Sources:
unesco.org
responsiveclassroom.org