Module 2: Mindfulness as Resource to Support Students Supporting SEL Competencies & 21st Century Skills

Reflect on what you’ve learned about the importance of developing social emotional competencies and 21st Century skills and tap into the collective wisdom of your peers and share your own. Post to the discussion board answering the following questions:

1. In what ways do you explicitly or implicitly support your students in developing social emotional competencies?
2. In what ways do you explicitly or implicitly support your students in developing 21st Century skills?
3. Describe social emotional learning competencies and/or 21st Century skills you’re not addressing and ways you think a mindful and engaged pedagogy can help you develop those skills. 
4. Describe how underlying institutional beliefs, norms, practices, and assumptions can limit or support you in developing student social emotional competencies and/or 21st Century skills.

Continue your discussion post by reflecting on and describing which social emotional competencies and/or 21st Century Skills you struggle with and which ones you feel are more fully developed.

1. Describe one social emotional competency and one 21st Century skill you struggle with.
2. Describe one social emotional competency and one 21st Century skill you are proficient with.
3. Evaluate how your own struggles and proficiencies with these important competencies and skills can support you in helping develop them in your students.
4. Finally, respond to one of your colleagues by sharing a connection or reaction to their thoughts. (Your response should be meaningful, with a goal to push each other’s thinking rather than offering a superficial exchange. Please see rubric)

1. Brittney O.
2. Thu Jun 15, 2023 at 8:01 am

   Supporting my students in developing social-emotional competencies involves creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment where these skills can be fostered. A way that I support my students in developing social-emotional competencies is by modeling and demonstrating. I try my best to be a positive role model for social-emotional competencies. I demonstrate empathy, active listening, conflict resolution, and other skills in your interactions with students and others. Model appropriate ways of expressing emotions, handling stress, and engaging in positive relationships. Additionally, I also build strong relationships. I make it a pint to create positive and supportive relationships with my students. I take the time to get to know them individually, show genuine care, and foster a sense of trust. 

    

   In addition to supporting my students with social emotional competencies, I also do my best to help students develop 21st-century skills. These skills are essential for success in the modern world, and I try to employ various strategies and approaches. I always try to implement collaboration and teamwork. It is imperative that I foster a collaborative classroom culture where students work together on projects, assignments, and group activities. This teaches them effective teamwork skills, such as active participation, respecting diverse perspectives, and resolving conflicts constructively.

    

   A social-emotional competency that I would like to begin addressing is encouraging self-advocacy. I want to begin to empower students to advocate for themselves and their social-emotional needs. I can do this by teaching my students how to communicate their emotions, ask for help when needed, and seek support from trusted adults or resources. I can also encourage them to identify their strengths and areas for growth and set goals for their social-emotional development. A 21st century competency that I would like to address is global and cultural awareness. I would like to teach my students how to foster understanding and appreciation of global issues, cultural diversity, and interconnectedness. I can do this by incorporating activities that promote empathy, cultural competency, and an awareness of global perspectives.

    

   My social emotional competence and 21st century competency go hand-in-hand. I often find myself struggling with the ability to identify my own emotions. I get very caught up in trying to make everyone else feel better, that I forget about myself. In my personal life, I also struggle to communicate with the people that I love. Considering I don’t know how to properly tune into myself, I can’t communicate my feelings to the people that matter. Considering I struggle with this, I can research better strategies on how to grow and then teach them to my students when I feel it is fit.

    

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