Studies show that social-emotional skills such as problem-solving, self-regulation, impulse control, and empathy help improve academics, reduce negative behaviors like bullying, and create positive classroom environments.
Our school counselor, Mrs. Halpin, meets with all classes once a week for 30 minutes. She covers some pretty hard topics such as anti-victimization, safety, abuse, etc.
In the above photo, the students are doing what we call a "neighborhood chat." Mrs. Halpin has given them a prompt and their job is either to silently reflect on the prompt or to turn to their neighborhood, which is just kids around them to talk through the prompt that she has given. Neighborhood chats are different than turn and talks because turn and talks only allow students to talk to one other student.
However, one skill they are working on is having kids ask to join groups and other kids inviting students without groups into a group. This allows us to work on self-advocacy as well as accepting other people in our groups. While that may seem simple, the goal is for them to practice that throughout the day: in the lunchroom, at recess, and in class. It fosters a sense of belonging and allows students to initiate contact with people in their class who they may not have a relationship with already.