Social Emotional Learning at PS 39

Morningside Center defines social emotional learning (SEL) as the process by which we develop our capacity to understand and manage our feelings, relate well to others, deal well with conflict and other life challenges, make good decisions, and take responsibility for improving our communities – from the classroom to the world. These are referred to as the five competencies of SEL.

Each competency is made up of a number of skills. For example:

Understanding and Managing Our Feelings

• The ability to be aware of and name our feelings
  
• Understanding of the physical cues to emotions
  
• Insight into what triggers certain emotions
  
• The ability to express emotions appropriately and constructively
  

Making Good Decisions

• Awareness of the motivations behind our choices
  
• Engaging students’ ability to assess the consequences of their choices
  
• Thinking about how the decisions they make will affect them, others, and the larger community
  
• Looking back at decisions made and their assessing their impact
  

Ability to Relate to Others

• The ability to read the emotions of others
  
• The ability to empathize, listen actively, and communicate assertively
  
• The capacity to understand similarities and differences and work respectfully across differences
  
• The ability to examine one’s own assumptions and stereotypes
  

Taking Responsibility for Improving Our Communities

• Harnessing the previously described skills in the service of social justice
  
• Identifying situations of injustice
  
• Identifying the actions of those who’ve made a difference in our society
  
• The ability for students to see themselves as capable of taking responsible action both individually and with others
  

Dealing Well With Conflict and Other Life Challenges

• Emotional self-management
  
• Effective Listening and Communication Skills
  
• Understanding that what one asks for in conflict and what one really needs may not be the same
  
• The ability to come up with alternative solutions to conflict
  
• Skills to evaluate possible solutions
  
• Commitment to solving problems in a way that meets the real needs of all parties
  

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The 4R's Curriculum

The 4Rs is a grade specific curriculum that uses high quality children’s literature and engaging interactive activities to develop students’ skills and understanding in seven areas:

1. Building community
2. Understanding and handling feelings
3. Listening
4. Assertiveness
5. Problem-solving
6. Diversity
7. Cooperation & making a Difference

While the literature and activities change depending on the grade, these seven key areas (units) remain constant across all grades.

How Is the 4R Curriculum Taught?

• Each unit begins with a Read-Aloud of a children’s book carefully chosen for its relevance to the unit’s theme.
• Next, is Book Talk that includes discussion and role playing to deepen students’ understanding of the book and connections to their lives
• Then comes Applied Learning which provides students with opportunities to practice skills related to the theme.

What does morning circle/SEL time look like at PS 39?

• Morning circle/SEL time takes place every morning in every classroom K-5 between 8:25-8:50.
• We begin be saying the No Place for Hate Promise (M, W, F) or Pledge of Allegiance (T, TH) followed by guided breathing (Square Breathing) together as a school.
• Then classes participate in class circles. During class circles students may:

• Participate in a 4rs lesson
• Participate in a restorative circle to address a class need (i.e. - class emotional check-in, problem solving, etc.)