Incorporating Social Emotional Learning Into Your Literacy Block

More than ever our students need us to not only teach academics but they need us to foster and model social emotional learning and character development. We live in a time where students are stressed, worried, confused and trying to navigate through an unpredictable world.

You might be wondering why SEL and why should you implement it into each and every day in your classroom? Social Emotional Learning is teaching your students the skills to be aware and manage their own emotions. Show empathy and love for others. Learn how to make friends and maintain positive relationships. Manage decision making and growth mindset to set and achieve personal goals.

The only way to be able to educate the mind and the heart is to combine the two and I want to share how I incorporate SEL into my literacy block so that I get the two most important skills into my learning day. As teachers we know that we are so overwhelmed by standards and testing expectations we are all faced with no matter the grade level we teach. I have found that teaching academic skills with meaning help students understand the importance of both. In this blog post I will share three ways to include SEL into your literacy block.

My very favorite part of my day that I never miss is read aloud. Books teach so many life skills but also model fluency, expression and build on reading comprehension. I always tell teachers it doesn’t matter if you teach first grade or 8th grade, your students will benefit from picture books because of the message they teach. I keep an excel spreadsheet (I know I am a math nerd) of all the picture books that I love and cherish as well as their message and what they teach. That way when my students are faced with a challenge and are having a difficulty with something say at recess, I can pull a picture book title and have a meaningful read aloud lesson to address the concern. Never doubt the power of a good read aloud!

The best way for you and I to share our feelings, frustrations and celebrate the good times is through written expression. Journals are a powerful way for students of any age to get their thoughts out. Start this foundation at the earliest ages. Allow students the opportunity to build on character education by letting them write and then offer the chance for them to share if they are comfortable with this. Don’t force any child to share personal experiences if they don’t feel comfortable with it. That’s why journals are beneficial because they allow those that are outgoing to share their feelings because that’s what they do best and then gives students who are introverts the opportunity to reflect and write about what’s going on inside without the stress of others knowing.

There are many different types of journals and having a basic lined notebook for students to write their own thoughts is the easiest and very effective. I also have a few options for class journals where students share their thoughts in a shared book set-up. Each student responds on a topic or focus skill and then it’s made into a class book that can be shared throughout the year or put in the classroom library to teach character skills or meaningful SEL lessons when real life examples occur.

Making SEL and character education a focus in your classroom will provide opportunities for students to build confidence in being able to trust and share emotions and feelings. Building a classroom community with a positive and accepting atmosphere helps foster this within your 4 classroom walls. I love having different places throughout my classroom where students are sharing and complimenting others. It builds self confidence when others are recognizing and showing empathy and concern for their classmates.

I know as I understood SEL and character education more and began to implement it, I found it easier to build my classroom around it both in classroom set-up and lesson planning. Learn more about Social Emotional Learning and be an example to the other teachers at your school so that you can all work together and do what’s best for students.

Check out my Mindful Minutes units that are perfect ways to teach a quick meaningful lesson each and every day on a character skill. I have  monthly units that give you a daily lesson to focus on that will only take 10-15 minutes. These quick moments are the most meaningful for your students.