Building a classroom community where students feel safe enough to express how they feel is super important. There is a strong emphasis on promoting social and emotional learning on our campus. Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is teaching the students skills to better help them understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships and make responsible decisions. Throughout the year of teaching and reinforcing these goals I found these 5 Social Emotional Learning aides to help support student growth.
Having a communication corner in my classroom has been a game changer. This is an inconspicuous place where the students can drop of little things like drawings for me or book recommendations but it can also be a great social emotional learning area. I created this No Drama Llama spot where students can share with with me things that are going on in their life or on the playground. This is an easy way to lessen anxiety for some of your more shy students or those who don't want to be the "tattle tale" and it was super easy to set up thanks to the No Drama Llama Bulletin Board Set.
Shop it
Managing, identifying and communicating how we feel is super important. In my class, we have a direct conversation about our emotions and feelings. This Color Your Own Emoji Mood Spinner Wheels is a great way to introduce this important concept at an age-appropriate level. After recess and lunch we check in about how we are feeling so that students can start to self regulate and manage how they feel. They also have a chance to check in with how others in the class are feeling and practice empathy and healthy communication.
Shop it
Sometimes when students don't understand what the lesson is about they can get anxiety. If the student is shy or embarrassed about needing more help they might be too afraid to ask the teacher for assistance. These I Need Help Mini Flip Charts are the perfect way to help out timid students. They help them communicate with the teacher about whether they need help, feel moderate or 100% understand the concept being taught.
Shop it
Mindfulness is a great practice to integrate into social emotional learning. Helping students practice being aware of their body, mind, and feelings in order to calm down is an amazing skill to regulate emotions. Using The Coloring Book of Mindfulness Adult Coloring Book to help students calm down from an emotional high is an easy classroom tool to help students take ownership of their feelings.
Shop it
These Water Color Stress Balls are perhaps the easiest thing to implement into the classroom. They are a great way for the students to "work things out" or help focus their attention during various classroom activities. The student especially love using them during tests. A note to the wise: be sure to give clear behavior expectations with this social emotional learning tool in particular, because a lot of students will want to roll, throw and bounce them.
Shop it