Social and Emotional Focus in Education

The emphasis these days on the social and emotional focus in education is making a big difference to schools and children throughout the country. Daniel Goleman, author of the book Building Academic Success on Social and Emotional Learning, states that it used to be assumed that the type of learning that goes on at school doesn’t have much to do with a child’s social environment or emotions. However, we are learning that neuroscience says the exact opposite.

The emotional parts of the brain are intricately woven with the neocortical centers involved in cognitive learning, says Goleman. So, when a student is caught up in an emotion, the centers used for learning are temporarily stalled. Goleman adds that the child’s attention is basically preoccupied with whatever distressing emotion he or she is experiencing at the time, and that will make it difficult, if not impossible, to remember, understand or even hear what a teacher is saying. In a quality SEL program, students are motivated, positive and are enjoying the learning process.

An article by the research organization, Brookings, states that SEL learning doesn’t only help at school but can also assist greatly once a child is grown and in the workforce. For instance, the article points out that employers want to hire people who are self-motivated, know how to set goals and have good self-esteem—all qualities that kids learn in a good SEL program.

The Brookings article continues by stating that minority kids from low-income families are more likely than their white peers to exhibit behavioral problems and academic indifference due to emotional and social deficits. As such, social and emotional learning can play a pivotal role for all kids and quite possibly have an even bigger influence with minority children. Channing-Bete, an organization committed to families, can’t emphasize enough that for kids to reach their full potential, teachers must provide instruction in not only academic but SEL strategies as well.

Finding educational programs that support ELL students’ first language, such as The Latino Family Literacy Project, can make an enormous difference on their overall academic and language acquisition success.