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The importance of SEL needs to be recognized at the school level in contemporary China and the implementation of SEL requires a lot of support from educators. School administrators and teachers could collectively contribute to creating learning environments that support SEL among elementary school students in China. Here, we provide suggestions for administrators in integrating SEL into the existing curriculum and enhancing teacher training to create a positive classroom environment. On the educator front, the emphasis is on integrating SEL into daily lessons, incorporating mindfulness practices, and participating in professional development.
School Administrators
School Administrators
Recognizing the importance of social and emotional learning for students' ability to learn and develop in elementary school years, we found some possible ways to support components of SEL in schools. For school administrators, we suggest:
Incorporate SEL into Current Curriculum
Schools could work on developing and implementing SEL curriculum that aligns with current academic standards and requirements. Not only creating tools and materials, but also applying existing SEL programs could help simplify the process to facilitate the implementation of SEL in elementary schools. Furthermore, SEL approaches should extend beyond the traditional school day, including after school and summer programs, community-based organizations, and other settings where children and youth gather. This approach aims to make SEL implementation more accessible in school settings.
Enhance Teacher Training on SEL
It is crucial to increase teachers' understanding of SEL principles and provide them with the skills necessary to create a positive and supportive classroom environment. By building greater competence in SEL, educators become more confident and effective in leading systemic social and emotional learning in the classroom. Moreover, teachers' social and emotional competence and biases influence their teaching practices and how they support students in the classroom. The effectiveness of SEL program enactment greatly depends on the teacher’s competence, it is wise to invest in teacher's professional development in SEL.
Provide Enough Counseling Services
Increasing access to counseling services within schools is also important to address students' social and emotional needs. Currently, a lot of schools in China don’t have enough counseling teachers or services provided in elementary schools. By expanding these services and hiring more professionals, schools can be more supportive and professional in students’ social and emotional learning and development. By combining increased access with specialized training, schools can establish a more effective support system that promotes both academic success and each student's emotional and social development, contributing to a healthier school community.
Educators
Educators
Educators are essentially critical in promoting social and emotional learning among students. As the understanding of the significance of emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills in lifelong success deepens, educators find themselves at the forefront of initiatives aimed at cultivating social awareness, self-regulation, and interpersonal competencies. We want to emphasize their capacity to create learning environments that support cognitive growth and lay the foundation for emotional resilience and empathetic citizenship. Thus, we provide the following recommendations for educators in Chinese elementary schools to provide a better SEL experience for students.
Integrate SEL into Classes
As we mentioned above, educators can promote SEL by implementing a systematic approach across all schools rather than confining it to the classroom. This involves embedding SEL into daily lessons and the standard curriculum, ensuring it is systemic and integrated into all parts of the school system. By doing so, SEL becomes a fundamental part of the learning experience rather than an isolated component. For example (Stanford, 2022):
Create opportunities for group work in lesson plans so students can learn to work as a team and create social connections.
Teachers can use the principles of SEL to improve classroom management skills, learn how to engage students of different backgrounds in learning better and have fair and clear behavioral expectations.
Incorporating mindfulness practices, such as deep breathing exercises or meditation, into the daily routine.
Encouraging students to reflect on their emotions and how they can manage them in different situations.
Comprehensive Professional Development
Teachers can advocate that everyone in the school environment is involved in SEL, not just the students. This includes providing professional development for teachers, principals and support staff to provide them with the necessary skills to teach and model SEL for students. Professional development is a critical component in the implementation of SEL programs. Teachers should actively engage in ongoing training to ensure the sustainability of SEL programs.
Transparency and Community Engagement
In addition, educators can be proactive by being transparent about the SEL curriculum and its objectives. By allowing parents and community members to view the exact lessons students are learning, teachers could effectively eliminate the misconceptions about SEL and emphasize its role in teaching students basic life skills such as communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Educators can get greater support and engagement from the broader school community by promoting a clear understanding of SEL.
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