Jenna

In an age of high stakes testing, schools are feeling the pressure to meet the ever changing expectations of the department of education. No Child Left Behind has effectively left EVERY child behind in its wake. With the emphasis on those core academics (math, reading, and writing), we as educators hardly have time to squeeze in science, social studies, and specials, let alone the true basis of education - Social Emotional Learning. While those academic skills are important to helping students build the bridge to future endeavors, SEL will give them the competences to be contributing members of society. They will learn to make responsible decisions, deal with emotions in a safe manner, and relate to their fellow human beings. Students with an SEL background will come to understand that they are merely one piece of a worldly puzzle that can only be complete when we all work respectfully together.