Nobody can deny that educators are incredibly valuable in the life of a student, and often their value goes beyond the basic academic curriculum. They are passionate about teaching young people the skills needed to advance and thrive, both in and out of the classroom.
But as teachers are given greater responsibilities and face growing challenges, time and energy to meet the needs of the students is harder to come by. Therefore, more school districts are starting to incorporate social-emotional learning (SEL) programs to enhance the traditional classroom learning with the following skills that will benefit high school students long after graduation.
Self-Management
Self-management is how people navigate their emotions, thoughts and behaviors. A major element of self-management is setting and meeting measurable goals, whether personal, social or work/academic. The path to goal achievement is rarely smooth, but social-emotional learning helps students learn to adapt when changes occur. Building SEL skills is helpful for a lifetime in one’s academic, personal and professional life.
Relationship Skills
Establishing and maintaining positive relationships does not come easy for everyone. Often, it’s a skill that people learn and develop over a lifetime. Cultivating positive relationships involves the skills of conflict resolution and effective communication. These competencies will help high school students navigate the difficulties during a season in life that’s typically filled with emotions. Relationship skills also benefit students in the classroom, enabling them to engage effectively with teachers and peers, using effective communication and working through conflicts.
Acquiring these skills is not the same as having all the answers. Some social emotional learning activities in high school also teach students how to seek out support when needed.
