NYT - Teaching Social and Emotional Skills

Feature on teaching empathy to middle schools kids

Apr 05, 2009
bubble 2 comments
Submitted by: Ginny Deerin

Read today's New York Times article:  Gossip Girls and Boys Get Lesson in Empathy.  The focus is Scarsdale Middle School.  "The emphasis on empathy here and in schools nationwide is the latest front in a decade-long campaign against bullying and violence. Many urban districts have found empathy workshops and curriculums help curb fighting and other misbehavior. "

Read all about it - it makes the case that ALL kids need empathy (one of the five big skills that make up emotional intelligence.) Although WINGS is targeting to elementary school age kids who are growing up in poverty we advocate for social and emotional learning for all.

Notice the picture from the article.  Maybe it was just a bad day but check out how bored the kids look.  WINGS has figured out how to teach social skills activities by weaving them into a fun and fresh after school program.  That a look at our kids "doing" WINGS.

 

Related topics:  social development in children, learning life skills

Visit WINGS: Learn more about after school programs that teach life lessons

 

 

if we all had WINGS in elementary school.....

On April 16th, 2009 Liz Mester says:

we wouldn't have such a social and emotional intelligence crisis in middle school.  It is always interesting to see how other states, organizations and programs are cramming SEL into the school systems - but I am certain no one does it with such intention, intelligence and accuracy as WINGS.  Our research shows that WINGS works and our kids love the program.  Charleston is lucky that WINGS lives here. 

Always step into other's shoes

On April 12th, 2009 cristy mccrery says:
This article shows me how far WINGS has come and the progress that the program has made. The WINGS Creed tells us to "step into their shoes and see what they are going through." I say this line multiple times throughout a WINGS day. I say it so much, I hear kids saying it to each other when someone's being mean or talking about another kid. In the article, it says that one school has learned to figure out the problem first before jumping to the chance of punishing the kids. Well...yeah! How are kids learning when they're just being punished? I would hope parents, teachers, and all role models would spend a few minutes to talk to kids about what's going on, who's talking about who, and how are they feeling at the moment rather than skipping all of that because punishment is easier and more convenient for the adults. I also think that no matter what anyone's socio-economic status is, everyone has problems, it's just that the problems are different. So with that in mind, everyone can learn how to be empathetic...and I do believe this can be taught when it's being ingrained in a kid everyday on a regular basis. It's not just urban kids who need to learn empathy, everyone can learn how to be empathetic. Gossiping and in and out crowds happen in every school, rich or poor, successful or failing. It would be easy to say teaching empathy doesn't work, and in the end, the kid will choose to do what he/she wants to do anyway. But then that's us as adults, role models, and educators giving up. If we do everything we can to steer them in the right direction to make the best choice for themselves, then we've done our job. Let's step into their shoes, and think if we would've liked that kind of help when we were their age. Hopefully this school catches on to the importance of social and emotional activities and will branch out to teach SEL skills.