Social Emotional Intelligence: some whys and some hows of sowing new seeds
Social-emotional intelligence seems to be the new catch phrase in educational theory. Movers and shakers in the field are researching and recommending ways to include these skills. This post on Edutopia explains how SEL can impact student success. But it is not just in the classroom where learning emotional intelligence skills can create lasting impact.
Humans seem to have lost the ability to empathise or even communicate. My encounter with my partner’s uncle, highlights how hard it is to simply talk with people without some kind of conflict breaking out.
For so long society has been focused on raising the most successful kids. Valued skills included competitiveness, drive, working beyond expectations, a fighting spirit, winning at all costs, physical prowess and an ability to shut up and keep going no matter what. Depression and anxiety, the destruction of nature, toxic masculinity, violence, suicide, bullying, political divisiveness and attacks against otherness are now the hallmark of our species. I venture that we are reaping the fruit of exactly the seeds that were sown.
But this idea holds a kernel of wisdom that may indeed change the world. We can sow new seeds. We can teach kids how to be kind, empathetic and compassionate. We can learn how to communicate with ourselves and with each other. It takes the intentional act of defining and valuing these skills and there are resources out there to help us do just that.
In the comments section of this thoughtful post by @freemotherearth, I shared a lesson by Teaching Tolerance. This site has a fantastic collection of resources and lesson plans to help teach valuable social emotional skills. Whether you are a classroom teacher, a homeschooling family, or you simply want to engage in a little self-reflection, this resource gives you a way to sprout social emotional growth.
Being human is all about learning. If you know better, do better. When we learn something different, then we can do differently. I am one mom of two, learning how to live a loving human life. Please join me in teaching seedlings of all kinds how to be loving humans. Maybe one day, those seedlings will grow into a forest of love that will blanket the Earth.
What other ways do you engage in social emotional growth? Please share your resources with us!
I am grateful to find a place with rich soil to grow a community. May we take root, and flourish together.
All artwork, photographs, and content are original and created by @bia.birch unless otherwise credited
Teaching, nurturing and modelling tolerance, kindness and forgiveness is IT. Our world desperately needs more of this.
I love this part about living in Thailand so much... the "up to you" mindset which echoes through all levels of society and enables and allows a staggering level of difference and diversity.
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@bia.birch
Reading this post immediately made me think of non-violent communication and how that seems to relate to or crossover social-emotional intelligence. The title is definitely what grabbed my attention so good job on that! The term social-emotional intelligence is a new enough term for me to ask myself;
"Do I actually know what social emotional intelligence is?"
To which my honest answer was;
"Well maybe not but I have an idea..."
As I read your post I began to feel you putting words to thoughts I have been having lately. Thoughts like;
"Why does it often seem so hard to communicate with each other?"
"Where is all the compassion?"
"Why aren't people treating each other they way they want to be treated?"
I decided to check out the link you shared to Teaching Tolerance. I clicked on the lessons tabs and the first thing to pop up:
"Why Do We (Still) Celebrate Columbus Day?
In this lesson, students will address misconceptions they likely have about Christopher Columbus and the colonization of what is now the United States."
I think these sorts of potentially uncomfortable topics of conversation DO need to be discussed and really picked apart in the classroom in a constructive manner in which everyone can learn from. I have long since felt that we (U.S.) will never get anywhere as a nation until we face the music about some of the deeply rooted and ever-present issues we have in this country founded on genocide and slavery. I am of the opinion that we cannot heal from these traumas as a collective until we all can first acknowledge them.
One of the ways in which I feel we can all engage in social-emotional intelligence is by setting an intention each day to remain loving no matter what arises. Now this may seem challenging for some but try and make it your dominant intention each day and renew this intention throughout the day as often as you feel necessary. I was inspired to do this after listening to https://johnsmallman2.wordpress.com/ and I can honestly tell you it has made a notable different in my life and in the way I feel and show up each day. It doesn't take much for us to make kindness a priority and choose our words carefully. Communicating your message with tact cannot be underestimated. I think it is important for all of us to cultivate this skill. I personally strive to get better at this each day. I am a sensitive and emotional being and never want to hurt anyone's feelings, intentionally or otherwise. I think its important to see ourselves in others and see others in ourselves to the best of our ability.
In conclusion it makes me very happy that schools are incorporating social-emotional intelligence into there lesson plans. I come from a family of teachers and so I think I have a natural interest in our education system. Thank you for sharing this quality content! <3
Thank you @colibrifremedies for your quality reply! Teaching Tolerance is a gem. I used it all of the time as a public school classroom teacher, and use those lessons now with my own children as part of our daily life unschooling "curriculum." I just started reading Nonviolent Communication - my partner has been through some of the training and totally resonates with it. I agree that this method is a mindful way to live life and raise little people. I will check out the other resource you recommended too 🌱
@bia.birch You are very welcome! Yes unschooling is extremely important. It's a constant process to undo all the constant programming. I am still learning a lot about nonviolent communication day by day in my own life and in reading. I havent been through any of the training although that would seem like a logical next step. Perhaps I will look into it!
P.S. - The resourse, although not directly related to non violent communication or social-emotional intelligence IS completely connected and one might argue a perfectly divine embodiment of those very concepts...enjoy! <3
SEL really does seem to be becoming a rarity. One of the things our children could end up strugging with is being in the minority when using it. It can end up taking a strong character to continue to be compassionate and kind when everyone around you is out for themselves and will readily trample you on their way to what they want.
Man, isn't this the truth! I guess teaching resilience must go hand in hand with teaching SEL. Thank you for posting this thought to chew on 🌱
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STOPTo support your work, I also upvoted your post!