It has been demonstrated that social emotional learning benefits kids both socially and academically.
A new free course from Rutgers and Saint Elizabeth University intends to assist school administrators in creating environments where students may acquire critical life skills, as students confront many problems beyond test-taking.
Any school leader in the state, including principals, vice principals, and supervising teachers, is eligible to enroll in the course as of June.
According to the state Department of Education, social and emotional learning teaches children how to control their emotions, exercise understanding and compassion for others, and seek out and accomplish their goals.
According to Elizabeth Hansen, president of the advocacy groupSEL4NJ, social-emotional skills are crucial for New Jersey kids because they truly position them for academic success in the classroom, in [their] job, and in life. Given some of the difficulties that students face today, possessing that combination of social-emotional abilities truly equips them to handle any stressors that may arise.
The state Department of Education awarded $150,000 to the initiative, which began in July 2023, to support its activities until October 2025.
To create the course, Rutgers University and Saint Elizabeth University collaborated with a number of organizations and social and emotional learning specialists. These included the New Jersey Alliance for Social-Emotional and Character Development and the advocacy organization Character.org.
Teachers will examine examples of schools that have successfully integrated social-emotional learning, understand the fundamentals of social-emotional learning, and discover how to foster a healthy school climate in five 90-minute courses.
According to Maurice Elias, director of Rutgers’ Social-Emotional and Character Development Lab and one of the course authors, the course is asynchronous and remote to provide school administrators around the state with access to the content.
According to Elias, this course is for everyone. It’s crucial that our schools serve as venues where our children may learn how to pass life’s tests rather than just passing them.
Numerous studies have demonstrated that students who receive instruction in these abilities do better academically, have better attitudes, and have fewer behavioral issues.
Although the state Department of Education has encouraged social and emotional learning in schools, Hansen pointed out that sometimes busy school administrators are unsure of how to put the skills into practice at their institutions.
Hansen remarked, “They already have so many other things to do, and this is a really lovely onboard ramp.” That is really crucial. It provides them with a starting point.
The state Department of Education chose to collaborate with Rutgers and Saint Elizabeth colleges to develop the course in part to make social and emotional learning more accessible.
According to Michael Yaple, a spokesman for the state Department of Education, the relationship enables the Department to effectively utilize distinctive, locally accessible resources and experience to assist New Jersey schools.
The state Department of Education website has further information for school administrators who are interested in enrolling in the course.
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