The Mercury News – Sophie Mattson
“At Redwood Shores Elementary School, the energetic first-graders sat quietly on the carpet as their teacher pointed to a poster that explained how to listen to others properly. Then Caroline Archibald read a book to the class about a boy who was a poor listener while the children shared how it made them feel when people didn’t listen to them. These were no ordinary exercises, but a part of social emotional learning — interactive lessons aimed at teaching children how to process their emotions more effectively and relate better to others. It’s a practice that educators say pays off and is gaining in popularity throughout the Bay Area. The lessons, known by their acronym, SEL, teach students how to get along with others in a group, how to handle anger, frustration, disappointment, anxiety and other negative emotions. It also uses positive reinforcement by allowing children to recognize their personal strengths and set goals and is typically taught in pre-school to middle school classrooms.”(more)