SEL Skills

Articles

According to research, students who are explicitly taught social-emotional skills see a noticeable improvement in their academic performance. That is why the first principle of the Responsive Classroom approach is “Teaching social and emotional skills is as important as teaching academic content.”

You can find our latest articles on teaching SEL skills below.

Explore our approach, fostering safe, joyful, and engaging classrooms. We prioritize social, emotional, and academic growth, guided by principles.

First Weeks of School Hopes and Dreams Interactive Modeling
Our Hopes and Dreams for School

Inviting students to name learning goals (hopes and dreams) right away shows them that school is a safe place, that they’re important members of the classroom, and that they can look forward to an engaging, challenging, and fun year of learning.

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Classroom Management & Discipline Classroom Organization
Success with Signals

Simple signals for attention—whether visual (a raised hand) or auditory (a chime, rain stick, or other pleasant-sounding instrument)—are an essential classroom management tool.

When I was student teaching, one of my professors said he could tell if a teacher had good management skills by watching whether she could get her students’ attention whenever she needed it. This lesson stuck with me, and once I had my own classroom, the first thing I always modeled was how students should respond to my signals for attention.

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Families Positive Community
Building Bridges

Taking time to get to know parents sends an important message: We’re a team with a shared goal of helping students have a successful school year. Plus, parents have invaluable insight that can help us better meet students’ learning needs. Forging strong connections with parents is an ongoing process—and it begins with the first days and weeks of school.

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SEL Skills

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