Developing Teachers’ Social and Emotional Skills
Teachers should be supported emotionally as well as intellectually. They need to learn how to deal with stress and teach students who may be difficult to work with. Teachers also need to develop critical thinking skills to help them understand the world around them.
Social and Emotional Competencies (SEC) are important to avoid burnout and help teachers feel better about themselves. Teachers need to be able to identify their own emotions and feelings before responding to student misbehaviors. Teachers should also be able to unwind after a long day by taking time out to relax. Finally, teachers must be able to identify their internal drivers and use those to motivate themselves to do their best work.
Students learn better in a supportive environment. Adults should try to avoid gossiping and complaining. Workplaces should be welcoming and positive. Teachers should be friendly and helpful.
Why Should Teachers Develop Their SEC?
Teachers who are more secure tend to be more effective than insecure teachers. Students learn better when teachers feel safe. Teachers who are more confident tend to be more effective as well as more positive.
Teachers’ SEC influence the quality of teacherstudent relationships
Teachers should be calm, positive, and happy. They should try to make sure that students feel comfortable around them. This means that teachers should be calm, positive and happy.
Teachers model SEC for students intentionally or not
Students pay attention when their teacher is calm and confident. Teachers should be aware that students may try to distract them by doing things like talking back or playing loud music. When teachers become frustrated, they should take deep breaths and count slowly to ten before responding. Teachers should also know that if they lose their cool, they could end up losing control over their class.
Teachers’ SEC influence classroom organization and management
Teachers should be organized and have a sense of calm. They should also be friendly and have a positive attitude towards students. This will encourage creativity and student autonomy.
How Can Teachers Develop Their SEC?
Six seconds, the Emotional Intelligence network, has an action plan to use emotional intelligence in daily life. This model starts with three important pursuits: becoming more aware, more intentional, and more purposeful. To know yourself means clearly seeing what you think and feel, knowing your strengths and weaknesses, and recognizing your behavior pattern.
Choose yourself means proactively responding to life situations instead of reacting on auto pilot. Give yourself means putting your vision into motion, knowing your purpose, doing things for a reason, and being aware of your emotions. We experience emotions all of the time, but we seldom pause to reflect on what those emotions are or how they impact learning. In this EQ Model, the first step is developing and cultivating emotional awareness. Emotional awareness starts by identifying how you feel, not only the obvious feelings, but also the ones that may be hidden.
I felt sad when my friend died. I felt angry when my boss didn’t give me a raise. I felt happy when my son got an A+ on his test. I felt scared when I saw a scary movie. I felt lonely when I went out alone. I felt sad when I lost weight. I felt proud when I won a race. I felt excited when I found a new job. I felt frustrated when I couldn’t get my car fixed. I felt anxious when I had to go back to school. I felt nervous when I took a test. I felt ashamed when I lied. I felt guilty when I broke a promise. I felt relieved when I finished a project. I felt disappointed when I failed
I felt ashamed because I was afraid of being rejected by my friends. I ignored my fear and decided to be brave. I had to face my fears and tell my friends what happened.
I’d be careful about being too hard on myself when I’m feeling down. I’d try to focus on the positives instead of dwelling on my mistakes. I’d also try to get some sleep.
I think we should start by asking ourselves what our purpose is in this world. We need to ask ourselves if there is something bigger than us, and how we can contribute to that. Then we should try to be aware of our thoughts and feelings, and learn to control them. We should also try to understand others better and make sure we’re not being too judgmental or critical.
