How to Support Social Emotional Goals Through Classroom Activities

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Introduction:

With the school year in full swing, teachers everywhere are noticing that academic success isn’t just about lesson plans and worksheets. It’s about social emotional goals too. Supporting students’ emotional well-being while keeping your classroom running smoothly is the secret sauce for a positive learning environment.

Why Social Emotional Goals Matter

Setting social emotional goals helps students learn how to manage feelings, build relationships, and navigate challenges. When students feel safe and understood, they are more likely to engage in learning and cooperate with peers. Weav SEL strategies into your daily routines and activities.

SEL Activities That Work

Here are some ways to integrate SEL into your day:

Morning Check-Ins: To begin the day, start with a quick emotional check-in. Students can share how they feel using emoji cards, mood meters, or voice output devices, helping you gauge their readiness.
Next, Collaborative Projects: Throughout the week, include opportunities for group work. These projects encourage teamwork, empathy, and communication—all key components of social emotional learning.
Finally, Role-Playing Scenarios: To wrap things up or during social skills time, practice handling challenging situations, such as conflict resolution or asking for help, in a safe and structured way.

Establishing Classroom Routines

Consistent routines not only give students a sense of security but also help reduce behavioral challenges throughout the day.

To start, establish clear start-of-day procedures. Simple steps like unpacking, morning jobs, or lining up help students know what to expect and begin the day calmly.
Next, incorporate transition signals to guide students smoothly between activities; using visual or auditory cues reduces stress and keeps the day flowing with ease.
Finally, close the day with an end-of-day reflection, such as a circle time or journaling activity, to reinforce SEL skills and celebrate daily successes.

Extend Learning with Resources

If you’re looking for ready-made tools to support social emotional goals, these resources are perfect:

Random Acts of Kindness for Christmas Calendar –A PDF file with a calendar of 25 Acts of Kindness students can complete each day of December leading up to Christmas.

Christmas Mosaic Coloring Collaborative Worksheets – Experience the joy of collaboration this holiday season with our Christmas Mosaic Coloring Collaborative Worksheets! Each page has parts of a festive masterpiece that your students can work on together. Spark creativity, teamwork, and holiday spirit in your classroom.

End of the Year Quilt of Memories Activity or Kindness Class Coloring Quilt – Nothing is more sentimental than creating an entire class quilt together! Have each student design their own piece that is meaningful to them, and the tape or tie all of the pieces together to form one giant quilt! This is a great end of the year activity to display memories, and there is also a “kindness” quilt version included!

These resources are designed to save teachers planning time while giving students meaningful opportunities to practice social skills and emotional regulation.

Download:

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