Empowering educators, nurturing hearts
At Hearts and Minds in Education, we understand the profound impact educators have on young lives. This page is dedicated to supporting your vital role in fostering social and emotional growth, equipping you with practical strategies and insights for every classroom.
Classroom Strategies From Theory to Practice: SEL in the Classroom
Infancy (0-12 months)
1. Emotion Recognition Play: Use mirrors to explore facial expressions, pairing them with emotion labels ("happy," "sad").
2. Gentle Music Time: Play calming songs during group relaxation to help regulate moods.
Toddlerhood (1-3 years)
1. Empathy Stories: Read short books about sharing and kindness, followed by brief discussions.
2. Cooperative Art: Create group murals where toddlers share brushes, paint, and space.
Early Childhood (3-6 years)
1. Role-Playing: Have children act out common social situations and practice positive solutions.
2. Feelings Chart Check-In: Each morning, children place their name or photo under a feeling, fostering emotional awareness.
Self-Regulation in Practice: Helping Children Manage Thoughts, Emotions, and Actions
Self-regulation is a child's ability to control their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors to achieve goals, even when faced with frustration or distraction (Slater, 2021).
Examples in Classrooms:
• Waiting for a turn without interrupting
• Using deep breathing when upset
• Staying focused despite noise
Modeling & Encouraging Self-Regulation:
1. Think-Aloud Approach: Narrate your own problem-solving in emotional moments (I'm feeling frustrated, so I will pause and take a breath before answering").
2. Calm Corner: Create a quiet area with soft lighting, sensory objects, and emotion cards for students to regroup.
3. Goal-Setting Logs: Model setting small personal goals with the class and track progress daily/weekly.