Teachers want specialized training to work with students Pre-K — high school

Teaching Social-Emotional Skills

Helping students learn positive ways to express feelings at school

Over the past two decades schools have seen a growing number of students with little anger control, who have few or no social skills, and who are unable to meet emotional challenges positively in a classroom or public environment. The result has been a dramatic increase in disruptive behavior, in the number of students who can’t get or sustain good grades, and who lack the ability to form healthy relationships with peers or adults. The number of suspensions and expulsions has also increased, with students bringing weapons to school, bullying other kids, and even attacking students or teachers inside the school or on school grounds. Police and school security officers are being called on to intervene more frequently.

The ability to form healthy relationships, handle anger and criticism, treat other people and their property with respect, honesty, and other socio-emotional skills are first learned at home. Children growing up in an unsafe and unhealthy home and community environment surrounded by abuse, parental or sibling drug and alcohol addictions, gang activity, e.g. are rarely exposed to healthy interactions. Psychologists have linked some school violence to students who come from homes where there is little positive social or emotional support…