Specialization Teacher and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)

Social and emotional learning, or SEL, programs have been thriving in schools for the past decade. These programs vary widely, but most focus on developing five individual competencies in students: self-awareness; self-management; social awareness; relationship skills; and, finally, responsible decision making. It is important for teachers and parents to know and understand these programs. While many SEL programs focus on the social and emotional learning of K-12 students, there are very few programs that focus on developing and helping teachers explore their own emotional well-being. In this specialization, we believe that: To facilitate students’ social and emotional learning, teachers must know the student as an individual. This means that teachers must strive to know themselves. In order to help students achieve a certain level of well-being, teachers must be aware of their own well-being. In our Teacher & SEL specialization, educators (Randy Testa and Dan Liston, and Emily Price and Ben Kirschner) examine SEL programs in kindergarten through high school, looking at both established programs and lesser-known approaches that focus on community and youth empowerment. Along with looking at SEL programs in K-12 schools, we bring a much-needed focus to teacher well-being. Applied learning project Students will use the knowledge and skills gained in the course to create a "Teacher Implementation Plan" aimed at developing SEL programs for students or teachers, or a film project exploring the impact of SEL on students and teachers in educationally focused films.