At Cherokee Point Elementary School, first-grade teacher Hagit Patolai roams her classroom to asses student progress on a “fact versus opinion” writing assignment.
She crouches down to read over the shoulder of a boy, asking him to point to the words (beautiful and cool) that indicate his illustrated story about a rainbow is based on his opinions.
Why are people’s opinions important, she asks. It’s a question that gets at more than the lesson at hand.
Patolai keeps detailed records on the performance of her students, sending home weekly progress reports to families. But she also promotes and tracks “social and emotional learning.”
“We can’t solve the problems students have at home, but we can teach them how to cope,” she said. “And we can build in supports that will help them at school and in life.”
Situated in the heart of City Heights, Cherokee Point implemented social and emotional learning curriculum years ago when it became a “trauma-informed” school. The concept was born out efforts to help students who would show up to class often overcome by the effects of poverty, crime, abuse, language barriers and stress.
Now social and emotional learning has emerged as a national movement, driven by attempts to address bullying, improve school climate, help students make connections with adults, and boost academic achievement.
The California Department of Education this month appointed a team of educators to develop grade-by-grade social and emotional learning guidelines for schools throughout the state.
The panel will represent California in the new multi-state “Collaborating States Initiative,” established by the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning, a Chicago-based nonprofit.
Over the next two years, the project aims to help state educators grasp the concept of social and emotional learning. That means teaching students social awareness, relationship skills, how to respect themselves and others, manage stress and set goals.
The idea is to infuse social and emotional learning into everyday lessons instead of adding to a list of new demands for teachers.
This is exactly what happens at Cherokee Point. The school has become a model in the community and the nation.
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