How Can Teachers Build SEL in the Classroom

Teaching can be stressful and become hard on you with students not understanding, getting along, having fun, making friend and so on. You get up and go to school and there’s always that little kid that sits in the back away from everyone else and you don’t understand why they feel that way or what’s going on with them and why they refuse to partake in activities and school groups, etc. So how can you support them in enjoying school? How can you encourage them to be social and have a good time?

Social and Emotional Learning activities that will:

• Better their social skills
• Boost their confidence in themselves
• Encourage them to communicate
• Encourage teamwork
• Make learning fun

SEL Activities to Start with Your Students Kids love to run and play tag or hide and seek. Moving burns off energy and also helps their bones grow and become stronger as well as their creativity. They love to get dirty and have fun and while doing so, they are also learning on their own. When we were kids we all had recess. We had the old Monkey Bars, Swings, Slides and plenty of space to run around and let off steam. We had what most schools don’t, and another thing they don't have enough of today is an encouragement.   

Start with a Warm Greeting

Each day you are in your classroom, start it with giving a warm smile and ‘Good morning…’ to each student. Show them you are happy to see them and help them feel more comfortable in your class. This doesn’t have to be a long process, just simple and sweet.

One simple little smile and hello does wonders for a young child who already has had a bad day. It helps to build a relationship between you and your students as well as communication skills.

One Fun Story

With all the hard work a lot of students do, they get bored and tired of working in school and need to take a break and do something that doesn’t require a lot of thinking. Giving their brain time to relax helps it develop in a positive way and makes their overall behavior better.

We recommend telling a fun story from your childhood or what you did over the weekend that relates to your lesson. Children are encouraged by stories and it teaches active listening in a relationship just because it's fun for them.

Work Together both Group and Partners

It is always better when we aren’t alone. Make lessons fun by pairing and grouping your students, let them choose and help put those who aren’t very social in different groups. This encourages them to:

• Talk to one another
• Listen to one another
• Compliment one another
• Ask each other questions
• Learn about Teamwork

There is no I in Team and showing them that helps them develop social and emotional skills with others.

The best part to this activities is after everyone has had a little time with the group or partners you put together, switch clockwise. This switch allows them to learn to work with everyone and better their communication and social skills and be successful.

Childhood is always better with friends and being comfortable with ourselves.