Teach social and emotional skills
Help students to develop social and emotional awareness, regulation and spiritual connectedness.
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Use Kōwhiti Whakapae
Use Kōwhiti Whakapae
Kōwhiti Whakapae is a tool based on Te Whāriki, the Early Childhood Curriculum. It provides a wealth of examples of culturally sustaining ways to develop social and emotional awareness, regulation and spiritual connectedness.
Understand social norms, diversity and masking
Understand social norms, diversity and masking
For some students, pressure to adhere to social norms and mask or hide individual differences can cause anxiety, stress and exhaustion. Consider the ways that communication varies across cultures and contexts.
For example, eye contact may be an inappropriate social skills goal as it can be uncomfortable for some autistic people and those with anxieties, and is disrespectful in some cultures.
Appropriate social skills are those that support the individual’s strengths, needs, personal goals and values. Work with whānau and ākonga to identify appropriate social and emotional goals.
Source: The neurodivergent guide to socialising, verywell mind (opens in a new tab/window)
Provide co-regulation as students learn
Provide co-regulation as students learn
Self-regulation is the ability to moderate or control emotions and actions in order to function effectively and get along with others. Support ākonga to develop interoception and provide co-regulation as students learn.
Interoception
Interoception is thought to be a prerequisite for self-regulation. Interoception is recognition and understanding of the internal physical states of the body, for example, being aware of the physical signs that you are thirsty, cold or becoming angry or upset. It is a first step in managing emotions.
Co-regulation
Co-regulation is the ability to regulate emotions and manage stressful situations with the support and direction of others. Support may come from a range of people.
Self-regulation
Self-regulation is the ability to moderate or control emotions and actions independently. In the classroom, self-regulation supports students to engage in learning activities, participate in social interactions and get along with others.
Get Ready to Learn – Student Wellbeing Hub
This Australian booklet has 39 activities to develop interoception. Use your knowledge of, or access to, te ao Māori to adapt or expand the activities to Aotearoa contexts.
Support social and emotional development
Support social and emotional development
Provide targeted learning and a range of supports to support social and emotional development of students.
Begin with co-regulation, helping students recognise emotions and manage stressful situations. Reduce support as ākonga develop skills.
- Use modelling and coaching to help students recognise how they feel or how someone else might be feeling.
- Use whole class visual and verbal prompts to support awareness.
- Teach and practise conflict-resolution and cooperative skills.
- Develop problem solving skills by analysing events.
- Take a tuakana-teina approach, to build self-confidence, a sense of belonging, and enhance academic skills.
- Teach reflective listening.
Integrate SEL into the classroom
Integrate SEL into the classroom
SEL is most effective when it is part of daily classroom life.
Closed Captions
Useful resources
Useful resources
Kōwhiti Whakapae
Kōwhiti Whakapae is a tool based on Te Whāriki, the Early Childhood Curriculum. It includes examples of culturally sustaining ways to develop social and emotional awareness, regulation and spiritual connectedness.
Understanding social and emotional learning
Resources to support social and emotional learning. Includes Ata and Oho cards and activities.
He Māpuna te Tamaiti
Resources to help teachers support social and emotional competence in early learning.
Sparklers website
Collection of resources for students and teachers to help grow ākonga wellbeing and emotional literacy. Can be filtered by topic, competency, activity type and Te Whare Tapa Whā.
Publisher: Sparklers
Kei Whea A Mauri Tau
Resource for parents and teachers to read to tamariki aged 6 to 8 years to help them learn about connecting with themselves, others and the environment and how to respond to their emotions.
Publisher: He Paiaka Tōtara
Get ready to learn
Australian booklet with 39 activities to develop interoception and self-regulation.
Publisher: Education Services Australia
Next steps
More suggestions for implementing the strategy “Embed social and emotional learning”:
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Current page Teach social and emotional skills
Return to the guide “Behaviour and learning”
How to use this site
Guide to Index of the guide: Behaviour and learning
Understand:
Strategies for action:
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Commit to whole-school approachesShow suggestions for Commit to whole-school approaches
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Foster relationships and partnershipsShow suggestions for Foster relationships and partnerships
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Design learning for allShow suggestions for Design learning for all
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Foster wellbeing and mental healthShow suggestions for Foster wellbeing and mental health
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Embed social and emotional learningShow suggestions for Embed social and emotional learning
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Be proactiveShow suggestions for Be proactive
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Respond in challenging situationsShow suggestions for Respond in challenging situations
