By Kaitlin Anselmo Pothireddy
Emotions are a fundamental part of daily life, and in the post-COVID world, helping students understand and manage their feelings is more important than ever. As administrators, supporting teachers in introducing social-emotional learning (SEL) in the classroom can lead to a more harmonious and effective learning environment. After all, kids can’t learn effectively if they’re trying to stand on desks or if they’re overwhelmed by their emotions.
Here are some practical tips to help educators integrate SEL in the first quarter of the school year. (And if you’re ready to learn about how you can implement an affordable, district-wide SEL system, complete this form).
Understanding the struggles
Let’s face it—getting back to a structured routine after the chaos of the pandemic isn’t easy for anyone, especially kids. Teachers are on the front lines, balancing academic goals with the emotional needs of their students and dealing with all the other challenges that come with back-to-school season. Introducing SEL can feel like adding one more task to an already overflowing plate. But with the right tools and support, SEL can transform classrooms into spaces of ordered joy, where students are ready to learn.
Start with the basics: identifying emotions
One of the first steps in SEL is helping students identify and recognize their emotions. This foundational skill can set the stage for more complex emotional and social skills. Khan Academy Kids offers a free emotion-wheel worksheet that teachers can use to help kids identify their feelings.
Imagine a classroom where students can point to a picture on an emotion wheel to express how they’re feeling instead of acting out or shutting down. It’s a small tool with a big impact.
Integrate interactive lessons
Interactive lessons can make learning about emotions engaging and fun. Khan Academy Kids provides a series of lessons about BIG feelings like happiness, sadness, and everything in between. These lessons are designed for preschool through second grade and cover emotions like disappointment, embarrassment, anger, and boredom.
Using these lessons, teachers can create a classroom environment where emotions are openly discussed and managed. Picture a lesson where animated characters from Khan Academy Kids stories experience big emotions, helping students see that it’s okay to feel and express a wide range of emotions.
Promote mindful moments
Incorporating short, mindful moments throughout the day can help students manage their emotions and focus on learning. These moments don’t require a lot of time or resources but can make a significant difference in the classroom atmosphere.
Encourage teachers to start the day with a brief breathing exercise or a guided visualization. It can be as simple as asking students to close their eyes and imagine a calm place. Khan Academy Kids includes a range of mindfulness activities that can be easily integrated into the classroom routine.
Create emotional check-in stations
Designate a space in the classroom where students can check in with their emotions. This can be as simple as a feelings chart or a box where students can drop notes about how they’re feeling. These check-ins can provide teachers with valuable insights into their students’ emotional states and help address issues before they escalate.
Khan Academy Kids offers digital tools that can complement these check-in stations, making it easier for students to express their feelings in a safe and engaging way.
Encourage storytelling and role-playing
Storytelling and role-playing can be powerful tools for helping students understand and manage their emotions. Encourage teachers to incorporate these activities into their lessons. For example, they can use prompts related to the pandemic to help students process their experiences.
Khan Academy Kids’ Stories with People features diverse human characters and scenarios that provide relatable contexts for students to explore emotions and develop social skills. These stories can be a great starting point for classroom discussions and role-playing activities.
Support and professional development
Providing teachers with the support and professional development they need is crucial. Offer training sessions on how to effectively integrate SEL into the classroom. Highlight the resources available through Khan Academy Kids, which include comprehensive guides and activities aligned with national education standards.
By equipping teachers with the right tools and knowledge, administrators can ensure that SEL becomes a seamless part of the classroom experience.
Adding ordered joy to classrooms
Incorporating SEL isn’t about adding another layer of complexity to the school day. It’s about bringing order and joy to the classroom, creating an environment where students feel safe and supported. In this post-COVID world, students need more than academic instruction; they need emotional guidance and support.
With tools like Khan Academy Kids, administrators can help teachers create classrooms where learning and emotional well-being go hand in hand. The new lessons in the Khan Academy Kids app cover a wide range of emotions and are designed to be engaging and interactive, making it easier for teachers to introduce SEL concepts.
Building a resilient and joyful learning environment
As we navigate the challenges of the new school year, prioritizing social-emotional learning is essential. By supporting teachers and providing them with practical tools and resources, administrators can help create classrooms where students are emotionally equipped to learn and grow.
Explore NEW SEL lessons available through Khan Academy Kids and see how they can transform your school’s approach to social-emotional learning. And if you like what you see, consider booking a call with us–we’d love to ensure every student in your district has access to our nonprofit resources.
The post From Chaos to Calm: SEL Solutions for PK-2 Classrooms appeared first on Khan Academy Blog.
By Kaitlin Anselmo Pothireddy Emotions are a fundamental part of daily life, and in the post-COVID world, helping students understand and manage their feelings is more important than ever. As administrators, supporting teachers in introducing social-emotional learning (SEL) in the classroom can lead to a more harmonious and effective learning environment. After all, kids can’t
The post From Chaos to Calm: SEL Solutions for PK-2 Classrooms appeared first on Khan Academy Blog. Khan Academy Kids, News, SEL Khan Academy Blog
