Juggling a myriad of tasks and to-do lists on a daily basis becomes second nature for adults, but the balancing act can be overwhelming for children as they navigate life on and off campus.
Much of multi-tasking is learning how to think strategically, planning ahead and following through. It’s a tall order for many young students and perhaps still a challenge for adults as well.
In an effort to prepare Orange County students to lead the nation in college and career readiness and success, the Orange County Department of Education is working with 28 local school districts, charter schools and county-run campuses to teach these skills through social-emotional learning, or SEL.
It’s a process of developing the self-awareness, self-control and interpersonal skills that are vital for school, work and life success. These skills are listed among the World Economic Forum’s top 10 job skills of tomorrow.
“There is direct alignment between social-emotional learning programs in schools and academic outcomes,” said OCDE’s Social-Emotional Learning Coordinator Colleen Ferreira. “We’re working in partnership with families, and providing opportunities for practice and reflection, to prepare students for lifelong success.”
The department’s Educational Services division supports schools and districts through professional learning opportunities and technical assistance around SEL implementation. How teachers implement the lessons varies from classroom to classroom, but it starts with a teacher who ultimately is a caring adult who is mindful of how they lead.
In conjunction with Social-Emotional Learning Day on March 10, OCDE’s Media Services team highlighted Irvine Unified School District’s Culverdale Elementary and how it is supporting students academically, behaviorally and emotionally in the video above.