Social & Emotional Learning
What is Social and Emotional Learning?
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is how students learn to manage their emotions, develop and maintain healthy relationships, work toward goals, make responsible decisions and develop their identity (CASEL, 2020). SEL focuses on five key competency areas including self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making. Students who have received SEL programming have been shown to have increased academic performance, demonstrate more positive classroom behaviors, and students are better able to manage stress, anxiety, depression and overall mental health in the short and long term (CASEL Impacts, 2020). SEL provides students with the opportunity to learn and practice crucial life skills while discovering their personal strengths and unique identities.
How is SEL used at Cologne Academy?
Kindergarten-Fourth Grade:
Students in kindergarten through fourth grade receive SEL as a part of their regular schedule. Typically, students will have SEL once a week for approximately 30 minutes. Cologne Academy is proud to use the Positive Action curriculum for students in kindergarten through fourth grade. Positive Action focuses on teaching students how to positively and healthfully manage their thoughts, actions, and feelings. Specifically, Positive Action focuses on six key competency areas for students including: self-concept, positive actions for your body and mind, managing yourself responsibly, treating others the way you like to be treated, telling yourself the truth and improving yourself continually. Students will receive lessons in each of these areas and will have the opportunity to play games, read books, discuss and practice these skills! Cologne Academy's SEL team will send updates and ways to practice these skills at home to families so students can continue building SEL and character skills at home!
Fifth-Eighth Grade:
Students in fifth through eighth grade receive SEL lessons as a part of their advisory time. Typically, students will receive one to two SEL lessons a month during their advisory period. SEL lessons for students in fifth through eighth grade focus on the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) five key competencies which include: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making. SEL will be a time for middle school students to learn about and practice key academic skills (e.g. studying, organization), relationship skills (e.g. problem solving, healthy relationships), emotional regulation skills (e.g. managing anxiety, coping strategies), and developing their identity (e.g. learning about future college/career options, personal strengths). Cologne Academy's SEL team will send updates and ways to practice these skills at home to families so students can continue building SEL and character skills at home!
