Aligning emotional learning w/character development for kids

Dana Sheridan, Lower School Counselor at The Village School, delves into empowering young girls in education. Strong emotional well-being is essential for academic success, requiring consistent practice of social-emotional learning both at home and in school. Collaboration between parents and teachers ensures children are equipped with the tools and resilience to thrive academically and personally. Today, Dana discusses aligning emotional learning with character development for kids.
About the speaker

Dana Sheridan

The Village School

- The Village School

Dana Sheridan is Lower School Counselor at The Village School

Show Notes

  • 01:16
    Social emotional learning and character development in schools
    The Village School prioritizes initiatives that focus on social-emotional learning. They've implemented monthly character traits across all grade levels, and daily morning announcements focusing on character are delivered by the Head of School.
  • 03:18
    The Village Schools character trait development program
    The Village School's superhero program focuses on one character trait each month. Through movies, themed dress-up days, and community partnerships, they promote character among students, culminating in the recognition of standout individuals in each class.
  • 07:35
    Supporting character development at home
    The Village School provides parents with weekly newsletters containing themed activities and volunteer opportunities aligned with the monthly character trait. Additionally, parents receive articles, books, and tips to practice traits like caring at home with their children.
  • 09:37
    Supporting students struggling with emotional behavior
    At The Village School, children take on roles like "kindness catcher" to independently recognize and learn kindness. They're also encouraged to create presentations on topics like the power of words, fostering learning opportunities for emotional behavior struggles instead of punishment.
  • 12:09
    The value of peer mentorship for social emotional learning
    The Village School encourages older students to mentor younger ones, which often boosts self-esteem in both groups. The self-confidence that results from these activities sets the ideal foundation for students to tackle and overcome academic and emotional hurdles.
  • 15:09
    Addressing a lack of social emotional support at school
    Parents should communicate openly with school staff to address their child's social-emotional needs. Adopt a collaborative approach, providing external support through therapy or community resources, while also working with school staff to align approaches.

Quotes

  • "If a kid is struggling with being kind to others, we assign them special roles like 'kindness catcher.' This allows them to observe and recognize acts of kindness in others, fostering an internal understanding of kindness." - Dana Sheridan

  • "Observing a fourth grader, once hesitant to read aloud in class, confidently reading to kindergarteners is inspiring. And you can build on that self-confidence." - Dana Sheridan

  • "You can't learn anything academically if you aren't in an emotionally safe space and have those ready-to-learn behaviors." - Dana Sheridan

  • "As a parent, the key is to approach school staff with a collaborative mindset: 'How can we support each other? What small actions can I take at home, and what can you do at school? Let's work together as a team.'" - Dana Sheridan

  • "We have kids six and a half hours of the day, five days a week, and then parents have them a lot of time at home. So, we have to help the whole kid. We can't just address one problem at school and not at home." - Dana Sheridan

About the speaker

Dana Sheridan

The Village School

- The Village School

Dana Sheridan is Lower School Counselor at The Village School

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