The holder of an Illinois Professional Education license, Suzana Ustabecir is an instructional effectiveness specialist with Chicago Public Schools. Previously the principal of Harriet E. Sayre Language Academy, Suzana Ustabecir developed protocols for social emotional learning (SEL) which decreased annual suspension rates by 50 percent.
SEL provides a foundation for positive and safe learning in today’s multicultural, multilingual classrooms. It has also been linked to improved student performance and increased pro-social behaviors like sharing, kindness, and empathy.
There are five key skills taught in SEL:
1) Self-awareness
Students are taught to understand their emotions, values, and personal goals. They learn to accurately evaluate their strengths and weaknesses, develop a positive mindset, and establish positive thought-feeling-action patterns.
Students are taught to understand their emotions, values, and personal goals. They learn to accurately evaluate their strengths and weaknesses, develop a positive mindset, and establish positive thought-feeling-action patterns.
2) Self-management
Students learn to manage their own emotions and behaviors. This way, they are more adept at managing stress, controlling impulses, and persevering through tough times.
Students learn to manage their own emotions and behaviors. This way, they are more adept at managing stress, controlling impulses, and persevering through tough times.
3) Social awareness
Students are taught to understand people from different backgrounds, especially with regard to how social norms and behaviors differ. This allows them to empathize better with schoolmates from different backgrounds.
Students are taught to understand people from different backgrounds, especially with regard to how social norms and behaviors differ. This allows them to empathize better with schoolmates from different backgrounds.
4) Relationship skills
Students are taught the importance of healthy relationships and are given helpful tools to build and maintain them. In the process, they develop their communication, listening, and conflict resolutions skills.
Students are taught the importance of healthy relationships and are given helpful tools to build and maintain them. In the process, they develop their communication, listening, and conflict resolutions skills.
5) Responsible decision-making
Students are taught to consider ethics, safety, and the well-being of others when making decisions. They learn to make constructive choices since their actions have consequences.
Students are taught to consider ethics, safety, and the well-being of others when making decisions. They learn to make constructive choices since their actions have consequences.
