Social-Emotional Learning: Self-Awareness

Recently I have been volunteering to support a resiliency training and realized that the biggest change, the most necessary one is about our own perception.

In the classroom, how do we perceive students? Are they acting out or manipulative and naughty? Or, are they just emotionally dysregulated and trying to get their needs met with  the only tools they have learned to use? 

How can we understand ourselves better, so that we can help our students?

Social-Emotional Learning: Responsible Decision-Making

Making decisions is not always easy. Making responsible decisions is an important skill to learn - like to realize when it is safe to go fast, or when we need to slow down. Literally or figuratively. Just because the consequences of NOT slowing down would be scary.

I learned to drive in Finland, where we had winter conditions for too many months (to my liking). It IS very beautiful, of course! But one must be very mindful about the icy roads being very slippery. 

Sometimes we have too much on our plate, and that forces us to slow down. My students often have too much on their plates: studies, work, family, and so on... and I get to remind them that I care for their safety. 

I don't perceive students as disengaged or uncaring, but overwhelmed.  And I am there to help them with their studies.