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How to Teach Social Emotional Skills in Whole Group

teach social emotional skills

For the last couple of years, I have decided to teach social emotional skills in a very intentional way.  In whole group.

Now, that is not to say that I don’t teach social skills all day long when the opportunities arise. Because I totally do.

But, now I have just added in a whole group component. Which was actually quite game changing, in ways I didn’t suspect. You can read about that here.

So, what components go into a whole group social emotional lesson?  Well, here is what I’m doing and it works for me…

1. We read a book related to the topic.

2. We discuss the topic using pre-determined questions/discussion starters.

3. We sing a song related to the skill.

4. Do an extension activity if time allows. Ex: Scenarios, Acting out the skill, Sorting…

We do this one day a week during our whole group time.

The skills I focus on are determined from this list: 

But, I’ll go through them all here!

  • Month 1. I am Me
    • Week one: I am Special
    • Week two: I have Feelings
    • Week three: I have Strengths
    • Week four: I have a growth mindset
  • Month 2. Appreciating Differences
    • Week one: How we are Alike
    • Week two: How we are Different
    • Week three: Being Respectful
    • Week four: Having Empathy
  • Month 3. Calming the Stress
    • Week one: Listening to your Body
    • Week two:When I’m Angry
    • Week three: When I’m Sad
    • Week four: When I’m Frustrated
  • Month 4. Impulses & Self-Discipline
    • Week one: Sometimes we Fail
    • Week two: I Can Follow Rules
    • Week three: Waiting Is Hard
    • Week four: Sometimes we Fail
  • Month 5. Listening & Speaking
    • Week one: Expressing Yourself
    • Week two: Conversational Turn-Taking
    • Week three: Ways to Get Attention
    • Week four: Accepting ‘No’
  • Month 6. Making Friends
    • Week one: How to Make a Friend
    • Week two: Including Others
    • Week three: Sharing & Turn Taking
    • Week four: More Friends = More Fun
  • Month 7. Being a Good Friend
    • Week one: What is a Good Friend?
    • Week two: Showing Kindness
    • Week three: How to Apologize
    • Week four: Listening to our Friends
  • Month 8. Handling Peer Problems
    • Week one: Problems Friend Have
    • Week two: Talk It Out
    • Week three: Ways to Handle Problems
    • Week four: Getting Help

I’ve been so pleased with the results and outcomes of these whole group lessons I plan on doing them year after year.

If you are looking for a time saving, already done for you option to teach social emotional skills- you can check the bundle here.

Social Emotional Learning Guide

Go from frustration to real progress with student behaviors in your preschool classroom by teaching social emotional skills.

How? This FREE GUIDE will show you!

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