Implementation of SEL in an Elementary Classroom
Major
Educational Studies
Submission Type
Poster
Area of Study or Work
Educational Studies
Faculty Advisor
Leah Nillas
Location
State Farm Hall
Start Date
4-13-2024 9:00 AM
End Date
4-13-2024 12:00 PM
Abstract
It has been shown in various research that Social Emotional Learning (SEL) has positive benefits on students and the classroom. In other words, the cost-benefit analysis shows that there is a net positive for incorporating SEL (Klapp, 2015). The purpose of this classroom research is to detail my teaching experiences in the classroom when creating and implementing SEL materials. I analyzed which methods worked for students to learn the SEL strategies, recall them, and then apply them. I collected data in a first-grade classroom in a small rural town, this classroom consisted of 14 students. The classroom had a higher percentage of female students than male students. My data was collect through various methods throughout the semester, to record observations I used a student survey at the end of the semester as well as field notes collected in my voice memos and anecdotal records throughout the day. Also in my data I have included: lesson plans for different SEL skills, photos of the classroom, exciting Second Step SEL curriculum and, paper assignments/worksheets addressing the SEL concept for that week. Each week, I taught a new concept and built on it throughout the week. I utilized CASEL (2020) framework to incorporate and analyze the key components of SEL (i.e., self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision-making, relationship skills, and social awareness). I expected to find that some slideshows may work better than others, this may be because it gave examples that they relate to more than others. These included the presentation styles that are more interactive such as read-alouds. Findings from this study will inform my teaching when I have my own classroom as a licensed teacher. I expect in this study to find the effective ways for teachers to include SEL lessons in their classrooms in order to best target the SEL skills such as: kindness, groupwork, and listening. I also expect to find effective ways to teach students emotional regulation strategies to deal with a variety of emotions they may expereince in first grade and guide them in how to respond.
Implementation of SEL in an Elementary Classroom
State Farm Hall
It has been shown in various research that Social Emotional Learning (SEL) has positive benefits on students and the classroom. In other words, the cost-benefit analysis shows that there is a net positive for incorporating SEL (Klapp, 2015). The purpose of this classroom research is to detail my teaching experiences in the classroom when creating and implementing SEL materials. I analyzed which methods worked for students to learn the SEL strategies, recall them, and then apply them. I collected data in a first-grade classroom in a small rural town, this classroom consisted of 14 students. The classroom had a higher percentage of female students than male students. My data was collect through various methods throughout the semester, to record observations I used a student survey at the end of the semester as well as field notes collected in my voice memos and anecdotal records throughout the day. Also in my data I have included: lesson plans for different SEL skills, photos of the classroom, exciting Second Step SEL curriculum and, paper assignments/worksheets addressing the SEL concept for that week. Each week, I taught a new concept and built on it throughout the week. I utilized CASEL (2020) framework to incorporate and analyze the key components of SEL (i.e., self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision-making, relationship skills, and social awareness). I expected to find that some slideshows may work better than others, this may be because it gave examples that they relate to more than others. These included the presentation styles that are more interactive such as read-alouds. Findings from this study will inform my teaching when I have my own classroom as a licensed teacher. I expect in this study to find the effective ways for teachers to include SEL lessons in their classrooms in order to best target the SEL skills such as: kindness, groupwork, and listening. I also expect to find effective ways to teach students emotional regulation strategies to deal with a variety of emotions they may expereince in first grade and guide them in how to respond.