EDU 764 - Raising Self-awareness: Social Emotional Teaching Practices That Impact Student Learning

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Proposes to advance the professional teacher’s self-assessment to meet standards that require an inherent ability to connect with students on a human/personal level and consequently demonstrate the ability to be receptive to the social, emotional, and academic engagement of all children (Keystone Center, 2014). Begins a five-step cycle to meet the five core competencies required by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education. Self-awareness, the first of the competencies, is defined as the ability to accurately recognize one’s emotions, thoughts, and their influences on behavior. Includes assessing one’s strengths and limitations and possessing a well-grounded sense of confidence and optimism.

Through a balanced approach the course provides the professional educator with an overview of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) as a cultural competency, the Massachusetts Core Competencies of SEL, with the opportunity to develop an Educator Plan appropriate for their level of evaluation aligned with the state standards. Under the umbrellas of social cognitive theory, and self-regulated learning theory, the course will provide theory-based instruction including measurement of teacher-efficacy, self-monitoring, and self- evaluation.