One study found that students who participated in more cooperative learning exercises were more likely than their peers to say they liked cooperating with other students whereas, students who said they liked competing were significantly more likely to act aggressively toward their peers and try to do them harm.

Students with more empathy also tend to have higher GPAs and, eventually, greater success in college.

Increased empathy can also decrease bullying and aggression among kids and make them kinder and more inclusive toward classmates.

Students who are empathetic are more cooperative in class, have better relationships with their teachers, and are more engaged in school.

More specifically, several components of social awareness and relationship skills show the following outcomes: Empathy benefits students, both relationally and academically. In addition, SEL skills positively impact education, employment, and mental health outcomes into adulthood. Overall, research reveals time and again that students with social and emotional skills perform better academically, have stronger relationships with peers and teachers, experience greater well-being, and engage in less risky behavior. For example, when students attempt to resolve a conflict between themselves (relationship skills), the process is made easier when both are able to empathize with each other (social awareness). Ultimately, social awareness and relationship skills are closely linked. Seeking or offering support and help when needed.

Approaching relationships with positive presuppositions.Practicing teamwork and collaborative problem-solving.Sharing one’s thoughts and feelings (appropriately).Initiating contact with others and cultivating friendship.To encourage teamwork in lab groups at the beginning of the year, a chemistry teacher has students practice positive communication skills such as listening, conflict resolution, and cooperation. These skills also include the ability to resist pressure and to seek out and offer help. “Relationship skills” is the ability to build positive relationships, especially with diverse individuals and groups, using a variety of methods such as active listening, and communication and conflict resolution skills. Caring about and being motivated to contribute to the well-being of one’s family, friends, school, community, the environment, and the greater good.Recognizing situational demands and opportunities.Identifying diverse social norms, including unjust ones.Showing concern for the feelings of others.Identifying social cues (verbal, physical) to determine how others feel.Skills that develop social awareness include: Social awareness involves the ability to understand and empathize with others, particularly with people from different backgrounds than one’s own.Ī history teacher cultivates students’ empathy by encouraging them to “put themselves in the shoes” of people on opposing sides of history to help them understand both how they came to their views in the first place and why certain decisions were made. Social awareness and relationship skills are two of the five components that make up CASEL’s model of SEL. Topic 6 – Supporting SEL through Family and Community EngagementĪccording to the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional, Learning ( CASEL), social-emotional learning (SEL) is “the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions.”.Topic 5 – Teaching for Social, Emotional, and Academic Development.Topic 4 – Committing to Racial Equity and Cultural Responsiveness.Topic 3 – Addressing Trauma and Adversity: Supporting Student Mental Health.Topic 2 – Safety & Belonging in Classrooms and Schools.Topic 1 – Caring for Ourselves: The Science of Emotional Resilience.School Challenge: Addressing Students’ Stress & Anxiety.Ethical Decision-Making & Social Responsibility.

Social questions for kindergarten