Social Emotional Learning

Simple phrases and ideas for diffusing tough situations with your child.

Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. This site is dedicated to sharing resources and information to help support our SEL district initiative. Check here often for new articles, links, and curriculum.

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February 9, 2021

Dear Taunton Public Schools Families,

TPS is committed to providing our students with both academic excellence and effective social emotional health. There has been much talk lately about “Social Emotional Learning”. What is it? How is it incorporated during the school day? What new efforts in Social Emotional Learning are coming to our district? Below we have provided some information to answer these questions.

What is Social Emotional Learning?

A user friendly summary can be found in the video link below. This video can be found on the Taunton Public Schools Website under the Families Link. (Social Emotional Learning).

https://www.edutopia.org/video/5-keys-successful-social-and-emotional-learning

Let’s take a closer look at the five areas and how they are described below!

How is Social Emotional Learning taking place in our classrooms? These are just a few ways:

Many teachers are doing a “Morning Meeting.” (Morning meeting is a community building time where classrooms develop relationships and give space to every member to feel safe and supported.)
Many of our classrooms are using the “Mind Up” lessons (Newly available curriculum)
Many of our students and staff in classrooms are taking the time to breathe, meditate, and practice goal setting.
At the high school we have purchased an on line resource called “Purpose Prep.” (Newly available curriculum)
Our work to provide more SEL supports to our staff and students continues through our Community Input Team (this group meets monthly and is made up of teachers, parents, administrators, school committee members, local business stakeholders, and personnel from our Catholic school partners)

What are our new efforts with Social Emotional Learning?

Continue providing Professional Development to all staff
Implement SEL lessons in all classrooms across the district
Perform a Social Emotional Screener (short survey of questions) for students in grades 4, 5, 8, and 10 (SELIS)
Continue providing on-line resources in SEL for all staff members to use including videos of lessons and and samples of how to incorporate skills within the classroom

You can stay connected to our ongoing work in SEL by continuing to visit our Families Tab on the Taunton Public Schools Website:

Sincerely,

Kathy Perry

Director of Student Services, Transportation, and Title IX Coordinator