It is important for children and adults to develop emotional intelligence. As stated by Brackett (2005) “The emotional climate of a classroom seems to be the best predictor of student engagement, student performance, as well as student behavior.” One's ability to recognize, understand, label, express, and regulate emotions is critical to daily functioning. Using the RULER approach can improve one's decision making, cognitive functioning (i.e., attentiveness,) and their relationships (i.e., making and maintaining friendships and relationships). In addition, this approach can help improve one's physical and mental health, as well as their performance (i.e., academic, social, behavioral) (Brackett, 2005).

In school, emotional learning is rarely embedded within the school curriculum and aligned to the Florida Standards. Second grade teacher, Carly Lustig (2014) emphasizes how RULER and the Mood Meter can be used to help students label and understand the emotions of characters in a story. This in turn, can help students draw inferences and conclusions based on text evidence. Using context clues, students may be able to identify causes and consequences of behavior within fiction and nonfiction texts. Having a deeper understanding of emotions and emotion "words" can build a student's vocabulary (i.e., receptive and expressive language). It can also increase a student's ability to make explicit text-to-self connections.

Difficulty regulating emotions affects:

1. Cognitive functioning

2. Decision making

3. Relationships

4. Physical and mental health

5. Performance and creativity

Student outcomes have included:

• Better school climate

• Increased emotional intelligence

• Decreased anxiety and depression

• Reduced likelihood of bullying; and

• Better leadership skills and attention.

(Brackett, 2005)

Be self-reflective

Recognize emotions in yourself and in others (i.e., facial expressions, body language, behavior).

Understand causes and consequences of behavior

Analyze the underlying themes around feelings.

Label emotions

Reference the Mood Meter (i.e., anxious, disappointed, angry, relieved, optimistic, hopeful, etc.)

Expression (Give yourself permission to feel)

Meta-emotions (feelings about feelings)

Regulate emotions (Strategies)

"It is okay to feel, but do not let the feeling have power over you" (2005).