{"id":234941,"date":"2024-09-17T14:52:34","date_gmt":"2024-09-17T14:52:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mpsschoolsites.wpenginepowered.com\/douglas\/?page_id=234941"},"modified":"2026-02-20T21:34:07","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T21:34:07","slug":"social-and-emotional-learning","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mps.school\/douglas\/academics\/social-and-emotional-learning\/","title":{"rendered":"Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.19.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.19.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_text module_class=&#8221;page-intro&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.19.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>At Andrew S. Douglas School, we combine standards-based lessons, hands-on experiences, and a unique social and emotional learning (SEL) curriculum so students feel academically and emotionally prepared for high school.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.19.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>Developed by our teachers, the curriculum uses lessons, incentives, and skill-building exercises.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are building social equity for our kids by immersing them in a character-building education,\u201d says Principal Zerda Palmer. \u201cWe are changing the narrative about who our kids are. Through teaching and practice, students see all the great things that they can be, and this is who they become.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>A Community Approach to Character Building<\/h2>\n<p>Visual reminders, shared vocabulary, and journal prompts help students focus on lessons that incorporate academic goals, character traits, and social and emotional skill-building exercises. Learning walls in every classroom display the trait and skills being studied. School announcements are an opportunity for teachers and student ambassadors to share inspiration at the beginning of the day.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>We explore a new character trait, such as empathy, every month.<\/li>\n<li>Students learn and practice skills to strengthen these traits. Skills change weekly. Students work on active listening during the first week of school.<\/li>\n<li>An inspirational quote and weekly journal prompt help students measure, reflect, and write about their growth. Students reflect on empathy by responding to this prompt: \u201cWrite about a time when you received support during a difficult period or situation. How did empathy help you through it?\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Staff review school-wide academic, attendance, and behavior data every month. As a team, we select traits, skills, and learning experiences that address students\u2019 changing needs.<\/p>\n<h2>Building Calm Into School Culture<\/h2>\n<p>Our social and emotional learning curriculum helps students learn to identify and regulate their feelings. When quiet and calm are needed, students can request permission to check into Tulia Chumba, a \u201ccalming space\u201d just for them. This space provides tools and time for students to meditate, journal, or engage their senses. Written reflections can help them remember what works for next time and practice writing and critical thinking skills.<\/p>\n<p>Even our cafeteria is designed with calm and community in mind. Round tables encourage small-group conversation and help keep the volume down so students can truly relax and recharge during break time.<\/p>\n<h2>Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)<\/h2>\n<p>Students learn through positivity and consistency, and Douglas School joins schools across MPS and the country in using the PBIS framework. Staff and students work together to identify, communicate, and reward behavior that makes our school a safe and welcoming space.<\/p>\n<p>PBIS expectations are consistent throughout the school year. Staff adjust PBIS best practices and focus areas monthly based on academic, attendance, and behavior data.<\/p>\n<h3>Douglas School PBIS Expectations<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>\u201cBe safe\u201d begins with reminders to always walk in the building.<\/li>\n<li>\u201cBe responsible\u201d asks that students bring their assignment and agenda to every class, every day.<\/li>\n<li>\u201cBe respectful\u201d includes using kind words and practicing active listening skills.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Rewards are part of the program. Teachers hand out HERO points for good behavior, which students spend in our school store. Student surveys tell us pizza parties, dances, and free time in our PBIS game room are powerful incentives.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>At Andrew S. Douglas School, we combine standards-based lessons, hands-on experiences, and a unique social and emotional learning (SEL) curriculum so students feel academically and emotionally prepared for high school.Developed by our teachers, the curriculum uses lessons, incentives, and skill-building exercises. \u201cWe are building social equity for our kids by immersing them in a character-building [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":33,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_mc_calendar":[],"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-234941","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mps.school\/douglas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/234941","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mps.school\/douglas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mps.school\/douglas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mps.school\/douglas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mps.school\/douglas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=234941"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mps.school\/douglas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/234941\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mps.school\/douglas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/33"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mps.school\/douglas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=234941"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}