Connections - Spring 2021

REAFFIRMING OUR MISSION:
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
Students exercising Executive Function Skills at their lockers where they show organization.
Enhancement Teacher, provides a variety of lessons intended to help our
5th and 6th grade students increase life skills that will help them target
their emotions and enhance their academics.
The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL)
has documented more than two decades of research demonstrating that
education which promotes social and emotional learning gets results.
These results include improved rates with student achievement, health,
classroom management, and the prevention of youth problem behaviors.
So what do the students have to say about their experience with Social
Emotional Learning? Read on for some comments from our 5th and 6th
grade students.
(the pronoun, “they” has been used to keep the students’ comments
anonymous).
“I learned I was an introvert.” This quote was taken from a student who
explained that they used to think that something was wrong with them
because they weren't outgoing like some of their peers but now they know
what an introvert is and that nothing is wrong with them.
“This class is changing me.” This particular student was reflecting on their
experience of understanding a classmate who was having a bad day. They
further explained that in the beginning of the year they would have never
noticed or thought about it.
“The skills that I learn in your class are ones I will
use the rest of my life. The interview skills that you
taught me were so helpful… The administrators
asked the same questions that you told me to expect,
so I was well prepared because of you!” This quote
comes from a student describing the joy of knowing
all the answers to interview questions for their next
steps after JCDS.
Aside from these quotes, the 5th and 6th grade
students have shared that they are having so much
fun learning about themselves. They love learning
about their personality, their strengths, their impact
in the community, and more.
Just as CASEL has shown in the past 20 years of their
research, we too are finding that social emotional
learning is beneficial for our students. In addition
to mental health benefits, it has also been reported
that behavior incidences have been lower this year
than in years passed. This finding also aligns with
the national research being completed.
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WWW.JDCS.COM | SPRING 2021