Lana Learn academic coaches incorporate social and emotional learning strategies into tutoring sessions to provide a safe learning environment for students.
This month, we kicked off the third semester of our High-Impact Tutoring (HIT) sessions at Roosevelt High School! Our team worked with school staff to select student participants for both math and English language arts (ELA) tutoring. So far, we have identified 18 students for this cohort and are looking forward to reaching 30 students in the coming weeks. Math students will be focusing on algebra, while ELA students will hone their argumentative writing skills. To promote student success, we have incorporated social and emotional learning into our curriculum.
The start of the semester consists of collecting permission slips, meeting new students, and gradually beginning sessions. We are incorporating social and emotional learning (SEL) activities into sessions to create a safe learning environment for the students. Additionally, we are guiding our students to set goals for themselves in both grades and attendance rates. This is important because it gives each student a personal target to work towards. We focus on individualizing learning plans to meet each student where they’re at now. In general, all students are striving to improve class attendance and either improve or maintain their grades in ELA and math.
SEL Benefits
The first month of sessions includes SEL strategies, so we can get to know students. SEL activities have many benefits for the students overall success. Some of these benefits are:
- Improved Academic Performance: SEL activities enhance students’ ability to focus, manage stress, and regulate their emotions. This leads to better academic performance.
- Enhanced Social Skills: SEL activities help students develop crucial social skills such as communication, cooperation, empathy, and conflict resolution. These skills are essential for building positive relationships with peers and teachers.
- Emotional Regulation: By engaging in SEL activities, students learn to recognize and manage their emotions effectively, which promotes a positive classroom environment and reduces disruptive behavior.
- Increased Self-Awareness: SEL activities encourage students to reflect on their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, fostering self-awareness and personal growth.
- Greater Empathy and Compassion: Through SEL activities, students develop empathy and compassion for others. This leads to a more inclusive and supportive classroom community.
- Better Decision Making: SEL activities help students develop critical thinking skills and make responsible decisions, both academically and socially.
- Reduced Stress and Anxiety: SEL activities provide students with tools and strategies to cope with stress and anxiety. This promotes overall well-being and mental health.
- Positive Classroom Climate: Implementing SEL activities creates a positive and supportive classroom climate where students feel valued, respected, and safe to express themselves.
- Long-term Success: The social and emotional skills acquired through SEL activities are not only beneficial for academic success but also essential for success in life beyond the classroom, including career success and healthy relationships.
Positive Feedback
So far, students in this cohort have given us positive feedback on the tutoring sessions. One good news story comes from an ELA student. She’s already expanded her vocabulary and knowledge in essay writing since beginning sessions the first week in February. She commented that another teacher asked her how she had improved so much in her writing skills in just a few short weeks, and her response was that she learned how to do so in her HIT ELA tutoring sessions.
We are excited to continue this good work and serve the students at Roosevelt High School.
