7 SEL Skills with Which Youth Should Be A.R.M.O.R.E.D.

Published 6/24/2020.

This was developed in support of the Toolbox Training workshop, Promoting Social & Emotional Learning, which you can learn about more here. This content is also available via the free pdf book 100 Activities and Methods for Promoting Social & Emotional Learning in Afterschool Programs.

This page focuses on seven social & emotional skills with which all youth should be A.R.M.O.R.E.D. To learn more about social/emotional learning, check out this article here on the blog: “What Is Social Emotional Learning and Why Does It Matter?”

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There are seven social & emotional skills with which all youth should be A.R.M.O.R.E.D.:

Awareness of Self Regulation Motivation Others (Awareness of) Relationship Building Emotional Intelligence Decision Making/Problem Solving

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Awareness of Self These are activities designed to help youth to: Identify their strengths & limitations Develop accurate self-perceptions Develop self-confidence

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Regulation These are activities designed to help youth to: Manage reactions Address stress Learn impulse control

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Motivation These are activities designed to help youth to: Develop the ability to motivate themselves Set goals Tackle challenging tasks

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Others (Awareness of) These are activities designed to help youth to: Practice empathy Understand diversity and other cultures Recognize social and ethical norms

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Relationship Building These are activities designed to help youth to: Establish and maintain healthy relationships Develop communication and listening skills Practice cooperation and conflict negotiation Understand how to resist social pressure

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Emotional Intelligence These are activities designed to help youth to: Identify their own emotions Recognize others’ emotions Control their own emotions

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Decision Making/Problem Solving These are activities designed to help youth to: Expand their capacity to make good choices Recognize social norms Understand the consequences of their actions

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Resources:

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Click here for additional Toolbox Training resources as well as other resources and references about social/emotional learning.

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What Is Social Emotional Learning and Why Does It Matter?

Published 6/24/2020.

This was developed in support of the Toolbox Training workshop, Promoting Social & Emotional Learning, which you can learn about more here. This content is also available via the free pdf book 100 Activities and Methods for Promoting Social & Emotional Learning in Afterschool Programs. What Is Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)? “The capacity to recognize and manage emotions, solve problems effectively, and establish positive relationships with others.” –Joseph E. Zins and Maurice J. Elias, the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) Why SEL Matters There are proven benefits for youth who participate in social & emotional learning programs in school settings.

What Goes Up: Academic achievement –GPA and standardized test scores up 11% (CASEL, Edutopia) Social and emotional skills –up 23% (Durlak) Attitude toward self, others, school (CASEL, Durlak, Edutopia) Helping/prosocial behaviors –up 9% (Durlak, Edutopia) Emotional regulation (Go Strengths) Classroom engagement (Go Strengths) Resilience (Go Strengths) Self-confidence (Go Strengths)

What Goes Down: Problem behavior –down 9% (Durlak, Go Strengths) Aggression (Edutopia) Emotional stress –down 10% (Durlak) Negative thinking decreases (Go Strengths) Substance abuse (CASEL)

Resources in parentheses are detailed at the bottom of the page. A.R.M.O.R.E.D. There are seven social & emotional skills with which all youth should be A.R.M.O.R.E.D.:

Awareness of Self Regulation Motivation Others (Awareness of) Relationship Building Emotional Intelligence Decision Making/Problem Solving

Read more about these skills here. Other Toolbox Training Resources: Toolbox Training (2020). “What Is Social Emotional Learning and Why Does It Matter?” Toolbox Training (2020). “7 SEL Skills with Which Youth Should Be A.R.M.O.R.E.D.” Toolbox Training (2018). “100 Activities and Methods to Promote Social & Emotional Learning” Toolbox Training (2018). 100 Activities and Methods for Promoting Social & Emotional Learning in Afterschool Programs (free downloadable pdf book) Toolbox Training (2017). Promoting Social & Emotional Learning (workshop) Additional Resources and References: Aukeem Ballard @ Edutopia.org (2017). “When Mindfulness Feels Like a Necessity” Building Community: Social Emotional Learning and the Library (slide show) CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning) (2017). “What Is SEL?” CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning) (2015). “ What Does Evidence Based Instruction in Social and Emotional Learning Actually Look Like in Practice?” Center for Social and Emotional Education “Cultivating Caring Learning Communities” Centervention (2017). “Free Social Emotional Learning Activities” Francis Institute for Child and Youth Development and Metropolitan Community College (2014). Professional Development for Afterschool/Youth Workers. “Module 12: Social and Emotional Development.” Metropolitan Community College; Kansas City, MO. GoStrengths.com (2017). “What Is Social Emotional Learning?” Aimee Hosler (2014). TeachThought.com: “10 Team-Building Games That Promote Critical Thinking” The George Lucas Educational Foundation (2013). “5 Keys to Successful Social and Emotional Learning” (video) Emelina Minero (2017). “13 Powerful SEL Activities” Pinterest.com/toolboxtraining (2017). “Social and Emotional Learning” Brenda Priddy @ OurPastimes.com: “List of Motivational Games for Kids” Sequim School District (2016). “Social Emotional Learning – SEL” WallaceFoundation.org (2017). “Navigating SEL from the Inside Out – Looking Inside & Across 25 Leading SEL Programs: A Practical Resource For Schools And Ost Providers.” www.WeAreTeachers.com (2016). “21 Simple Ways to Integrate Social-Emotional Learning Throughout the Day.”

 

Workshop: Promoting Social & Emotional Learning

As a result of this workshop, participants will:

• Understand Social & Emotional Learning and why it matters
• Identify 7 SEL skills with which youth should be A.R.M.O.R.E.D.
• Be able to plan activities and methods to promote SEL

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Check out this video of the Power Point presentation from this workshop for an idea of what you can expect:

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To have this delivered as an on-site workshop contact Toolbox Training.

Check out the workshops tab for a full list of titles.

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For more information on SEL, check out these links:

• ToolboxTrainingOnline.com (2020). “What Is Social Emotional Learning and Why Does It Matter?”
• ToolboxTrainingOnline.com (2020). “7 SEL Skills with Which Youth Should Be A.R.M.O.R.E.D.”
• ToolboxTrainingOnline.com (2018). “100 Activities and Methods to Promote Social & Emotional Learning"
• Dave Whitaker (2018). 100 Activities and Methods for Promoting Social & Emotional Learning in Afterschool Programs. Toolbox Training: Overland Park, KS.

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100 Activities and Methods to Promote Social & Emotional Learning

First published 10/9/2018; updated 6/24/2020.

These activities and methods for promoting social & emotional learning (SEL) were put together in support of the Toolbox Training workshop, Promoting Social & Emotional Learning, which you can learn about more here. The workshop identifies seven SEL skills with which youth should be ARMORED (an acronym formed by the first letters of each of the seven words). Click on any of the below to go directly to the links for the SEL activities and methods under that category. You can also download these activities via the free pdf book 100 Activities and Methods for Promoting Social & Emotional Learning in Afterschool Programs.

Awareness of Self Regulation Motivation Others (Awareness of) Relationship Building Emotional Intelligence Decision Making/Problem Solving

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Awareness of Self 8 Phrases That Nurture Growth Mindset 26 Questions to Help Kids Know Themselves Better Brag Bracelets Expression Through Art Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset (Sharing) I Statements I Wish My Teacher Knew Positive and Negative Self-Talk Reflective Writing Self-Assessment Tools: Emoji Style Stop and Think Things I Do That Might Bug Someone Else This Is How I Think I’m Doing (Self-Evaluation)

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Regulation 8 Ways Kids Can Calm Down Anywhere Belly Breathing Calming Area Calming Strategy Cards Circle of Control Cool Down Corner Coping Skills Anchor Chart I Feel… I Can: A Coping Skills Toolbox Karma Completion (Building Resiliency) Noise Isolation Pipe Cleaners and Popsicle Sticks (Teaching Flexibility vs. Rigidity) Ready, Set, Go!: Impulse Control Strategies Visualization to Release Stress Wheel of Coping Skills Write Down, Rip Up and Throw Away Your Stress

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Motivation Bin Toss Candy Hunt Monitor Own Progress Motivational Moment Paper Planes Quote of the Day Road Signs Rock, Paper, Scissors Chearleaders Starting Positive What Can I Say to Myself?

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Others (Awareness of) Acts of Kindness Task Cards Alike and Different Appreciation, Apology, Aha Ants on a Log Back to Back Feel-Good Scavenger Hunt (Random Acts of Kindness) Find the Airplane (Perspective Taking) Guess the Emotion Game Helping Others If You Really Knew Me Interviews Mirroring Responding to I Statements Role Play Using Apples to Teach Kids About Bullying Write a Poem from Someone Else’s Perspective

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Relationship Building Alligator Swamp Buddy Binder (Making New Friends) Circle Sharing Conversation Bingo (Conversation Initiation) Decode a Joke Find Someone Who… Happening Handshake Have a Conversation with Someone You Don’t Know Hi My Name Is… I Love My Neighbor Interest and Identity-Related Bingo Lester Drop (Working Together) Puppet Show (Nonverbal Communication Activity) Shipwreck Staying on Topic Talk Time Teamwork and Strategy Telephone Game (Body Language) What Are You Doing? Where We Came From

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Emotional Intelligence Big Emotions vs. Small Emotions (Feeling Emotions Worksheet) Chameleon Moods (Identifying Emotions) Emotional Spectrum Feelings Charades (Feeling Empathy) Match the Emojis (Emotions Worksheet) Mixed Emotions Paper Chain Name the Emotion Today I Feel… Check In

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Decision Making/Problem Solving 4-Way Tug of War All Tangled Up Choosing the Right Job Everyday Machines Evolution Freeze Dance Game Group Meetings Group Work Roles How Can I Solve a Problem? Poster Hula Hoop Challenge If You Build It… Minefield Peer Mediation Principal Wild Says (Following Directions) Save the Egg Should I Or Shouldn’t I? Shrinking Vessel Switch Think Before You Speak The Worst-Case Scenario

Resources: Click here for additional Toolbox Training resources as well as other resources and references about social/emotional learning.