Dear Parents/Guardians:
Throughout this school year, as part of a social emotional learning goal and programs focusing on emotional wellbeing your child has been learning about Social Emotional Learning (SEL). Educational researchers have found that a student’s emotional well-being is critical to their academic success (for further information please visit The Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence.) The students were taught about SEL using the five pillars created by CASEL’s SEL Framework. The pillars are as follows:
● Self Awareness
● Self Management
● Social Awareness
● Relationship Skills
● Responsible Decision Making
During the months of January through May, these pillars were studied individually by providing classrooms with related books appropriate for grades K-2 and 3-5 to be read aloud. Corresponding questions were also provided to teachers to allow for an opportunity for students to investigate the issues through classroom discussions. Additionally, a bulletin board was created in a highly visible location that students passed each day to highlight the month’s SEL topic. Mindful Monday Minutes were also provided to present ideas and examples for students to learn self-soothing strategies. Positive affirmations were shared daily throughout the month of January as part of the schoolwide morning message. It was our hope that the social emotional strategies taught would allow students to grow in managing their emotions, resulting in allowing them a calm, clear mind to effectively absorb the academics that were presented.
Below are images of our bulletin boards:
Self Awareness - January
Self Management - February
Social Awareness - March
Relationship Skills - April
Responsible Decision Making - May
Below is a list of books that were read:
Self Awareness - January
● K-3: Exclamation Mark is a tale of self discovery
● Grades 4-5: Red: A Crayon’s Story this book is about finding the courage to be your inner self.
Self Management - February
All grades read:
● Over-Scheduled Andrew by Ashley Spires. This book shows students how to manage their time
● My Mouth is a Volcano by Julia Cook. This book teaches students to think before they speak
Social Awareness - March
All grades read:
Even Super Heroes Have Bad Days by Shelley Becker Readers learn how these champions channel their energies in positive ways.
Students also did a “Turn and Talk” activity with classmates to promote social conversation.
Relationship Skills - April
All grades read:
● Up the Creek - This book teaches students the importance of working together toward a common goal
● Do Unto Otters - This book encourages politeness and natural conversations among students.
Responsible Decision Making - May
● All grades read: Unplugged by Steve Antony This book explores the idea of balancing screen time with real-life experiences.
● Grades K-2 also read: Good Egg by Jory John This book provides a positive message about self-care and acceptance. It also addresses the importance of prioritizing your own emotional, mental, and physical well-being by making good decisions.
This article 5 Easy Social Emotional Learning Activities For Kids To Do At Home, provides some ideas you can try with your child to continue to focus on these important ideas at home.
Throughout the 2022-2023 school year the Hood School Community will be focusing on the following goals which will be included in our school improvement plan for the upcoming year.
● The current J. Turner Hood School Wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports as well as schoolwide expectations (SRR) will be updated as a means to reflect current research and school based practices. By the end of the 2023 school year a new updated behavioral support and expectation framework will be established and implemented in 100% of the grade level classrooms.
● To build on the work of schools, families should think about social-emotional learning as an all-day idea as family-school partnerships are a two-way street. Parents and caregivers will be engaged as the school highlights the central role of Social Emotional Learning in their child's education. To enhance the family and community engagement, the school will host a Social Emotional Learning Family Night during the 2022-2023 school year.
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