4 minute read
Brain Science Helps us Understand How to Learn Most Effectively: SEL in the Enumclaw School District Explained
The mission of the Enumclaw School District is to inspire students to learn, lead and impact their community and the world by providing opportunities to develop relevant skills and preparing students for success beyond the classroom. When looking at the necessary skills students need to develop to find success; we consider the whole child. Understanding and demonstrating competency in subject-based content is critical for growth and learning. But what about the emotional state of a student as they receive new content and attempt to develop skills? How effectively do you learn new information or develop new skills if you feel unsafe, upset or dysregulated?
To address the needs of the whole child, the Enumclaw School District focuses on instructional practices (developing Reading and Writing skills for example) and on developing social and emotional skills to achieve the highest level of learning.
I’ve heard the term “Social Emotional Learning (SEL)”, what does it mean?
Social Emotional Learning is the process of developing self-awareness, self-control, and interpersonal skills (the skills we use to interact with others) that are critical for school. Examples of emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills include verbal and nonverbal communication, the ability to handle conflict, teamwork, empathy, flexibility, and listening. These are essential skills for success in life and careers beyond the classroom.
Is SEL a subject or class students take?
We do not teach SEL as a separate subject or class, social and emotional learning opportunities are integrated throughout the day and often taught in the moment when incidents or opportunities arise. Our primary resource for addressing the SEL needs is Conscious Discipline. Conscious Discipline is focused on safety, connection and problem solving.
What is Conscious Discipline and why does ESD use this resource to address social and emotional learning?
Conscious Discipline is a researched and evidence-based, trauma-informed approach to behavior management that provides strategies and classroom structures to cultivate learning opportunities for both adults and students. Conscious Discipline utilizes brain research and focuses on skills for self regulation, problem solving and creating a culture of community and belonging. The intent for approaching behavior management in this way is to empower students, and the adults working with those students, to apply strategies to regulate themselves and maintain a brain state that allows for the greatest potential for learning.
Conscious Discipline is based on brain research that indicates our internal states dictate our behavior and ability to effectively learn. The approach is based on three distinct brain-body states in adults and children; the Survival State (brain stem), Emotional State (Limbic system), and Executive State (prefrontal lobes).
The Three Brain States According to Conscious Discipline and the Brain State Model
The Survival State
In a survival state where we feel triggered by threat, these skills are flight, fight or surrender.
The Emotional State
Emotional State is our response to upset – soothed through connection. An upset emotional state is triggered by the world not going our way.
The Executive State
Executive State is the optimal state for problem-solving and learning. As we learn to regulate and integrate our internal state to be one of relaxed alertness, we are able to access our own brilliance. We are empowered to change and make wise choices. An integrated executive state frees us from past conditioning, attunes us to the feelings and experiences of others, enables us to remain focused enough to set and achieve goals, and allows us to consciously respond instead of automatically react to life ev
What DOES THIS LOOK LIKE AT ESD?
Creating a school and classroom family
Greeting Students in the Hallway
Structured Check-ins
Wish Wells
Safe Spaces
Class Meetings
The Paws Room
