EPS Students Growing Through Social Emotional Learning

June 21, 2018 EPS Students Growing Through Social Emotional Learning As part of our strategic plan, Elizabeth Public Schools focuses on creating safe and caring environments by promoting social, intellectual, and physical wellness. One of the ways in which we accomplish that is by providing our students with social emotional learning. Social and emotional learning is the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. As you will see in the pages ahead, every district school is successfully using social emotional learning as a tool to provide their students with the skills necessary to grow and evolve into responsible, caring young men and women. EPS Students Growing Through Social Emotional Learning (cont.) George Washington Academy School No. 1 George Washington Academy No. 1 has implemented multiple Character Education programs including PBSIS and weekly social skill announcements. Teachers embed social skills thorough the day in an attempt to build cohesion and unity within the classroom. During the first and third semester, School 1 held an instructional event to teach students the PBSIS expectations when in the classroom, hallways, lunchroom, and playground. Throughout the year, School 1 displays the support of character education endeavors by the reinforcement of respect, responsibility, integrity. Some of those activities have been through guest speakers such as Mr. Hart, a motivational speaker discussing his life journey and Mr. White addressing appropriate conflict resolution skills. Student of the Month breakfast motivates student to continue performing adequately on a behavior and academic standpoint. School No.1 also hosts a monthly Atten-DANCE to celebrate students who have completed one full calendar month of perfect attendance. For students who continue to demonstrate poor social skills within the classroom, the RISE program provides social skills and character building education during lunchtime in an attempt to move away from consequences for maladaptive behaviors and move toward building coping skills and positive relationships among students and school personnel. Winfield Scott School No. 2 Winfield Scott School No. 2 has been using Generation Text throughout the school year. Jill Brown, President and Founder of Generation Text, meets with individual teachers in an effort to listen to and support them in their lessons. She supports them by demonstrating the social and emotional teaching and learning (Gen Text Framework) in their classroom. The Gen Text framework is designed to assist and support teachers in practicing cultural responsiveness and establishing a safe, supportive and inspiring culture in the classroom. It uses role modeling, technology, teacher facilitated discussions, inquiry based instruction, collaboration, critical thinking, games and experiential learning to teach these skills. The framework modules include “Active Listening, Eye Contact, and Respect”; “Empathy, Compassion, and Trust”; “Acceptance, Tolerance, and Inclusion”; “Mean vs. Nice, Actions, and Reactions”; and “The Eight Essential Questions to Ask Yourself When in Conflict”. Peekapak is also taking place in first grade classrooms on a weekly basis. Each lesson targets character education on building positive relationships that focus on kindness and self-regulation. EPS Students Growing Through Social Emotional Learning (cont.) Nicholas S. LaCorte – Peterstown School No. 3 Toward the end of October, the whole Nicholas S. LaCorte – Peterstown School No. 3 community created “Kindness Quilts,” paper quilts connected homeroom by homeroom demonstrating what kindness, respect, and community mean to them. Students were able to draw pictures displaying their ideas, write our their thoughts, or use a combination all on brightly colored paper that was then attached and displayed proudly throughout the first floor hallway of the building for all faculty, staff, students, and visitors to see. Students also became active with WOOP (Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan) mid-year. Students came up with classroom-wide goals that directed and drove their behavior and academics. Some of the older grades, who switch classrooms throughout the day, would collaborate on goals and compete with one another. For example, two fourth grade classes participated in a friendly student-driven competition to see which class could have a higher percentage of students pass a certain test. These goals and activities created by the School 3 community highlight the heart and purpose of Character Education, and they continue this education inside and outside the classroom. Joseph Battin School No. 4 Peekapak, a program designed for teachers to help prepare students to become caring citizens and make their world a better place, was utilized in kindergarten classrooms this year to enhance Joseph Battin School No. 4's focus on character education. The units provided teaching tools such as literacy stories and digital games to help teach the students about respect, empathy, responsibilities, etc. The units allowed for the students to make personal connection on their level and learn through self- regulation. Peekapack, through the age of technology and people not always communicating verbally, allowed the students to communicate their feelings in class and at home. Once a week, a mini lesson would based on a concept usually related to the month's focus. Teachers and students would read stories, participate in digital games, and discuss what was learned. Peekapack is a way. EPS Students Growing Through Social Emotional Learning (cont.) Mabel G. Holmes School No. 5 Mabel G. Holmes School No.5 uses Second Steps for Pre-K, Peekapak for K-5, and Choose Love for Middle School. Teachers plan lessons and Students participate in different activities on Movement Mondays during Intervention. In addition, the School No. 5 mental health team, which includes school counselors, social workers and school psychologists, engages students in different activities such as self-awareness, anger management, social skills, and SMART life goals. Peer-to-peer tutoring is provided for fourth and fifth grade students in need of targeted intervention. The older students assist with the strategic reading focuses, on which the middle school students collaborate with their teachers before their weekly tutoring sessions. Students are expected to produce high-quality work and remain on task during peer-to-peer sessions. The School No. 5 Good Character/Conduct Award bulletin board highlights those students who are caught showing integrity. The student of good character upholds principles of morality and ethics; is cooperative; demonstrates high standards of honesty and reliability; shows courtesy, concern, and respect for others; and generally maintains a good and clean lifestyle. Students are announced Monday morning to serve as special helpers in their grade level for the week. In addition, our Student of the Month board highlights those students who have shown both academic and leadership excellence. These students are invited to our Student of the Month breakfast along with their parents. Toussaint L’Ouverture – Marquis de Lafayette School No. 6 After a successful “It’s Cool to be Kind” theme in the 2016-17 school year, School No. 6 has added the word “Bright” to its theme for the 2017-18 school year. The students hear this phrase every morning on the PA address after the Pledge of Ethics. The letters in the word “Bright” stand for Bully Free, Respect Others, Integrity, Grateful, Helpful, and Trustworthy. Students have received lessons on what it means to be “Bright” and the theme is reinforced throughout the building with posters made by our fifth grade students. EPS Students Growing Through Social Emotional Learning (cont.) Terence C. Reilly School No. 7 The character education program at Terence C. Reilly School No. 7, which has received National and New Jersey State School of Character recognition, includes the WE School Program, We Walk for Water, Peekapak, monthly character education theme/lessons, daily character education quote of the day, a Character Education Committee, a Wall of Kindness, the Week of Respect, Anti-Violence Awareness Week, socially responsible challenged based learning activities, and the Kick for Kindness anti-bullying initiative. Terence C. Reilly School No. 7 follows a “Character Education Calendar” that highlights the schools’ activities and events for each month’s pillar of character. Each month the character education committee recognizes one of the pillars of character by creating lessons and activities that enable students to celebrate the monthly theme. School No. 7 focuses on respect, responsibility, citizenship, generosity, fairness, caring, compassion, courage, trustworthiness and integrity as their pillars of character. They recite daily character education quotes that are aligned with the theme. Each daily quote has a reflection piece that allows students to think critically about the quote of the day. Students reflect on the pillars through classroom discussion and journaling. Finally, teachers can also award students with a “brick” on the “Wall of Kindness”. These are great ways of positively reinforcing displays of good character and advocating the conduct that is strived for at School No. 7. iPrep Academy School

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