- Investigate your school's efforts
to support SEL. Keep in mind
that programs take on many forms and are called by many different
names, including character education, leadership, conflict resolution,
or peer mediation. Author Elias has identified four ideal components
of a school's SEL program: a specific program to support social-emotional
learning, problem-prevention and health promotion activities,
support services to address transitions, crises, and conflicts,
and a commitment to community service. Ask your child, his or
her teacher, and your school principal about activities and programs
in each of these key areas.
- Organize guest speakers. Work with your
school's parent organization to identify experts within your community
who can speak to parents and teachers about strategies for nurturing
emotionally intelligent children.
- Get involved. Consider volunteering for
a school or a school district committee responsible for overseeing
the implementation of programs to support SEL. Note: At a district
level, these programs are often (though not always) part of a
safety or violence prevention department. Celebrate diversity.
Work with other parents and school staff to organize programs
and events to celebrate and honor the many cultures in your school
community.
- Begin the discussion. If your school
does not have any programs around social and emotional learning,
work with others in your school and larger community to create
what Linda Lantieri, director of the Resolving
Conflict Creatively Program, calls a "web of support." Bring
together leaders from throughout your community - business people
and law enforcement, parents and educators -- to discuss ways
in which your community can make the emotional health and wellness
of children a priority.
What
Do counselors Do in School? Read more here>>
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