“How do I teach skills that will increase Social and Emotional Learning?”

The list of challenges facing educators today is becoming increasingly complex.

Substance abuse, violence, media influence, diverse cultures, suicide, family issues—and the list goes on..

There is solid research that shows building Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) skills in children not only increase social and academic success, SEL also promotes emotional and physical health. Teaching children skills that build healthy social relationships and emotional well-being begins with teaching them healthy self-awareness. The I Can Relate Game is a resource that supports teachers and parents in fostering healthy and positive social awareness and self-awareness in children.

Topics for Educators:

• SEL and the Neuroscience of Well-being

• Using Neuroscience to Cultivate Self-Awareness and Self-Regulation Skills in Children

• Cultivating Mindful Self-Care for Educators

• Powerful Tools for Coping with Anxiety

• Building SEL Skills by Connecting Feelings and Needs with Kind Actions

• Teaching Parents the Power of Developing Social-Emotional Learning Skills

• Developing Empathy Skills in Children that Increase Kindness in Schools and Communities

Topics can be modified to meet the goals of the in-service training. The training will include tangible tools and a simple, yet effective, process for helping students, staff, and parents relate in ways that honor the needs of everyone.

“Children strive to make sense of situations that impact their lives. Their minds are wired to create cohesive stories. By sorting through situations that affect them socially and emotionally, they are learning skills that enhance their overall well-being.”

~ Dr. Beverly Lonsbury

Why is this training different?

Research shows that playing a game is a powerful way to develop social and emotional learning skills in children.

The SEL and Self-Awareness training include the I Can Relate Game™ and process. The game provides a tangible approach for having conversations in a way that is respectful, clear and enjoyable. It is a safe, non-threatening approach that teaches children how to use empathy and respect as they develop relationships with others. Using practice situations allows children to imagine a variety of ways an issue can be addressed and teaches empathy skills that build kindness toward all involved in the situation.

Children learn to focus on the positive aspects of life and approach the challenging aspects with a clear process that fosters empathy and understanding. With practice, children build healthy integrative patterns (healthy neural pathways) in their brains and in the process teach their brains to focus on health and well-being.

Who Should Attend?

• Elementary and Middle School Teachers
• Preschool Teachers and Directors
• School Counselors
• School Administrators

What will Educators learn?

Educators will learn skills in building Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) by:

• Enhancing children’s Self-Awareness and appreciation for the Positive Situations in life.
• Helping children become clearer about how to relate to others in Challenging Situations—and by responding with intention to difficult Situations rather than simply reacting impulsively.
• Increasing children’s Emotional Awareness by learning vocabulary words that describe Feelings and Needs
• Helping children sort, clarify, and name the most prevalent Feelings and Needs being experienced in the Situation.
• Teaching Empathy Guessing skills to increase children’s empathy and kindness toward others and toward themselves.
• Teaching the Mindfulness practice of being present in the moment by helping children become Self-Aware through naming Feelings and Needs/Values they are experiencing.
• Developing Social Awareness by helping children relate to the perspectives of others.