Students thrive when they are resourceful, resilient, and confident in dealing with the social interactions they face. Recent brain research has shown that the cognitive centers are fully engaged only when our emotions are in balance. In the 21st century, students will need skills to be resourceful and confident in order to thrive and compete in our rapidly-changing society. It is critical for them to develop motivation, sustained attention, and self-regulation behavior to engage in social interactions—a big task for all of us to work toward.
At Prospect Sierra, our social and emotional learning curriculum has developed over the years to support the development of these much-needed abilities. Toward this end, the teachers have cultivated specific, developmentally appropriate skills for each grade level. These skills relate to the school-wide themes of caring for ourselves, courtesy, inclusiveness, and integrity.
To supplement this curriculum, Tapscott teachers trained last summer in a research-based social and emotional learning program which has at its core twelve simple “tools” – the Toolbox many of you have been hearing about. These tools are powerful personal and social skills that build a child’s ability to exercise personal power and responsibility to solve problems and practice self-control.
These are the twelve “Tools for Learning:”
- Breathing – Calming ourselves – checking in.
- Quiet/Safe Place – Remember your quiet place.
- Listening Tool – Listen with our ears, eyes and heart.
- Empathy Tool – Caring for ourselves, caring for others.
- Personal Space – Where my space ends and yours begins.
- Using our Words – Right words at the right time for the right reasons.
- Garbage Can – Put it into the garbage can and walk on by.
- Taking Time Tool – Time in and time away.
- Please and Thank You – Words that open.
- Apology and Forgiveness – Words that transform and repair.
- Patience Tool – Quiet waiting.
- Courage Tool – To use your tools when others are not.
These tools are being introduced throughout the year to provide everyone with a common language to talk about self-monitoring and conflict resolution. So far, the breathing tool and the listening tool have been introduced in every class, and many children are using them effectively. Ask your child the importance of taking a breath or when this tool can be used.
For our part, we have observed and noted the growing understanding of these concepts and how students are beginning to integrate these ideas into their lives over recent weeks. The children are moving toward our goal: for each child to have their own “toolbox” of skills to use for self-management, conflict resolution, and resiliency.
Join us on December 7th at two PSPA meetings designed to further introduce this program to parents. At 8:30 a.m. at the Tapscott Library, parents will receive a quick overview of the program. At 7:00 p.m. in the Tapscott Music Room, there will be an opportunity to learn more from the developers of this Dovetail Learning Program. Each tool will be fully explained, as well as the research relating to this social and emotional learning curriculum.
Sheila Puckett
Elementary School Head