SEL Connections
December Newsletter.5
Introduction to Social Awareness
Social Awareness is the ability to take the perspective of and empathize with others from diverse backgrounds and cultures, to understand social and ethical norms for behavior, and to recognize family, school, and community resources and supports.
Social awareness is a crucial component of appropriate classroom behavior, which contributes to an environment conducive to learning.
Social awareness is also widely established as an important factor in workforce success. One recent employer survey conducted by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills demonstrates that four of the five most important skills for high school graduates entering the work force are linked to social awareness: professionalism, collaboration, communication, and social responsibility.
Why This Matters: Social awareness may contribute to better behavior and achievement in school and increased engagement with community and school resources.
Positive Classroom Climate: Students and educators with strong social awareness can more easily form positive relationships, adapt to their environment, empathize with the perspectives of others, and feel supported. This, in turn, creates an environment where students can focus on learning.[3] [4] [5]
Better Relationships: Students who demonstrate strong social awareness are able to engage in constructive communication with their peers and resolve conflicts when they arise. These students benefit from peer learning and know how to take advantage of social supports.[4]
Fewer Risky Behaviors: Students who are able to adapt to new environments, understand the needs and perspectives of others, and know where to get support when they need it are less prone to emotional distress and less likely to engage in risk behaviors, such as drug use and aggression, that interfere with school success.[6]
Research shows that social-emotional skills like social awareness, self-management, and growth mindset are crucial to college and career readiness:
- Parents and teachers have long known the importance of these skills and have taught them to their students
- Current standardized tests don’t assess these skills
- Schools don’t always prioritize these skills or give teachers the support they need and the credit they deserve for teaching these skills
Being socially aware means having the ability to:
•recognize one’s own emotions and other people’s emotions
•use information about emotions to guide thinking and behavior
•discern the thoughts, feelings, and motivations of others
•understand how others view a particular situation
•understand social and ethical norms for behavior
•recognize and use family, school, and community resources and supports
•be aware of one’s own cultural identity and views about differences of culture
[3] Murray, C., & Malmgren, K. (2005). Implementing a teacher–student relationship program in a high-poverty urban school: Effects on social, emotional, and academic adjustment and lessons learned. Journal of School Psychology, 43(2), 137-152.
[4] Gehlbach, H., Young, L. V., & Roan, L. K. (2012). Teaching social perspective taking: how educators might learn from the Army. Educational Psychology, 32(3), 295-309.
[5] Murray, C., & Malmgren, K. (2005). Implementing a teacher–student relationship program in a high-poverty urban school: Effects on social, emotional, and academic adjustment and lessons learned. Journal of School Psychology, 43(2), 137-152.
[6] Greenberg, M. T., Weissberg, R. P., O'Brien, M. U., Zins, J. E., Fredericks, L., Resnik, H., & Elias, M. J. (2003). Enhancing school-based prevention and youth development through coordinated social, emotional, and academic learning. American psychologist, 58(6-7), 466
BISD Admin Dare
BISD Staff and Teacher Dare
BISD Family Dare
TEACHER WELLNESS (Article) Use the Winter Break to Renew Your Spirits and Sense of Purpose
Tested techniques to help you ease stress and recharge your batteries.
Teaching is stressful—46 percent of our colleagues report high daily stress. “I work from 6 a.m. till 8 p.m. daily, and still cannot get it done,” writes a fifth-grade teacher. “The union says don’t do it, but the teacher in me says I have to for the kids. I am now out on PTSD.”
Look in the mirror. How exhausted are you? Stress is not something to ignore. It makes bright days feel foggy and contributes to negative health behaviors, obesity, and hypertension. So let’s do something about that over winter break.
COMMIT TO INTENSIVE RECHARGING
My first day of vacation has strict rules. After removing all electronic devices with screens, I lock myself in the guest bedroom. A sign taped to the door reads “Coma Day,” to signal that nobody should have expectations of me. Next to a bag of food, a sleep machine plays fish tank sounds. With all these elements in place, I stay in bed as long as I can stand it. One time I lasted until 5:45 p.m. Following these rules is the quickest strategy for recovering from exhaustion.
GET YOUR DAILY DOSE OF HUGS
Touching another human releases oxytocin in both parties (a similar effect can be obtained by taking a hot bath or petting a dog). One study reports that five hugs a day will make you happier.
WORK ON YOUR RESPONSE TO STRESS
Here are three tools to help you improve your response to stress:
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SEL Coordinators
- Kim Bell -
- Elana Elie -
- San "Janie" Holtz -
- Laura Richard -
- Dr. Carlo Walker -
Email: sel_primary@bmtisd.com
Website: https://www.bmtisd.com/Page/6026
Location: 4315 Concord Road, Beaumont, TX, USA
Phone: (409)617-5200