WELL-BEING The classroom setting provides a unique opportunity to nurture the social, emotional, and mental well-being of children through literacy. This can be done by providing instruction and leadership rooted in a deep understanding of the biological and physiological processes that are related to learning and development. In a brief published by the Center for Responsive Schools, language instruction was found to be one of the most important and effective areas for improving social, mental, and emotional well-being. Dresser (2013) argues that “A cognitive-only approach to teaching language arts is fundamentally incomplete because addressing students’ emotional needs and being responsive to their needs as individuals is an essential prerequisite to their comprehension of the material.” This point was expanded on by Schlund (2019), who explained that “Literacy, in particular, provides rich opportunities for reflecting on the connections between our thoughts, feelings, and actions; taking on someone else’s perspective; and using language and writing to navigate social dynamics and build relationships.” CASEL (2020) has operationalized these sentiments by identifying five key areas that represent social and emotional competence. Students must build skills in each of these categories, as well as general literacy ability, to fully comprehend and connect with text: 1. Self-awareness: The ability to understand one’s own emotions, thoughts, and values and how they influence behavior across contexts 2. Self-management: The ability to manage one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors effectively in different situations and to achieve goals and aspirations 3. Social awareness: The ability to understand the perspectives of, and empathize with, others, including those from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and contexts 4. Relationship skills: The ability to establish and maintain healthy and supportive relationships and to effectively navigate settings with diverse individuals and groups 5. Responsible decision-making: Making caring and constructive choices about personal behavior and social interactions across diverse situations
SCHOLASTIC R.E.A.L. FOUNDATION PAPER 15
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