EveryKidCan: Building Social Competence to Achieve Academic Success!

My project focuses on the social-emotional competence of my students coupled with teaching them to have the skills to research social learning through technology. My students are diverse learners who struggle with academic and social deficits; yet, they are motivated to learn when they receive instruction that not only nurtures their minds, but their hearts.

In addition to working as a Diverse Learner Teacher, I am also a Social-Emotional Learning Change Agent at my school in which I provide professional development for teachers and co-teach SEL skills with my colleagues to students in grades 3-5 on self-awareness, social awareness, self-management, responsible decision making and relationship skills.

The 15 SEL books in my classroom are limited and shared among 4 teachers. Over 100 students are requesting them by popular demand! Students are captivated by the stories in the books that mirrors their lives and provides them with positive solutions as the goal is to enhance their emotional intelligence which is correlated to improved academic aptitude, positive classroom climate and school culture. Per recent survey, it was revealed that students struggled with empathy, kindness, anger, bullying, goal-setting, mindfulness, adverse words, blame, feeling overwhelmed, lack of confidence and other social issues that impacts the way they think and behave. Therefore each social-emotional learning book selected addresses each of the areas in which students suggested the need for support.

Most importantly, my students not only struggle with learning, they also struggle with self-confidence in their abilities. Providing them with literature that addresses their social needs with characters who are similar in age coupled with similar situations will help build their social competence thus leading to enhanced academic achievement. Each Social Competence Learning book and game were carefully selected and covers social awareness, self-awareness, self-management, responsible-decision making and relationship building. Thank you for your support!