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Importance of Social Emotional Learning for Oklahoma City Public Schools

Student’s Name

Institution
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Social Emotional Learning for Oklahoma City Public Schools

Both new and seasoned educators face unique challenges in classroom such as
management, student academic performance and job satisfaction. The aim of this research is to
examine the impact of implementing Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) methodology for
Oklahoma City Public Schools. SEL is a technique the aids students’ engagement through
positive social interactions, concise decision making, improve emotional intelligence, effective
problem-solving schools and better academic performance. Studies shows that adoption of SEL
programs benefits both students and teachers. A learning environment where educators and
learners implement SEL together positively contribute to school development and growth. The
involved stakeholders are able to adapt and adopt new attitudes and beliefs whose impact
enhances learning while reshaping the school culture.
The Need for Research and Application of Social Emotional Learning in Oklahoma
The Oklahoma State Department of Education 2019 statistics showed a significant
increase in teacher turnover averaging 5,000 annually representing 23.6% turnover rate.
Particularly, turn over rate is extremely high among the minority and low performing institution.
This prevents the efforts to close the achievement gap due to lack of experienced educators,
institutional memory and continuity. Other challenging factors that hinder learning include
juvenile delinquency, dysfunctional families, lack of parent’s involvement, substance abuse and
conflicts in homes. Behavioural problems in schools include swearing, bullying, violence and
disruptions in classrooms.
Studies shows that new and seasoned teachers are likely to quite their careers when the
working environments are challenging. This are characterized by low-academic performance and
disadvantaged neighbourhoods. This is evident by higher rates of turnover in high poverty areas
compared to low-poverty areas. Educators are also likely to leave due difficult working
conditions such as poor learners’ behaviour, lack of participant or motivation from students,
continuity in instruction and inadequate parental involvement. Darling-Hammond (2010)
postulate that the ability to teach effectively relies on students’ responses. With significant
increase in challenge that negatively impact on both students and teachers, evidence shows that
key component to attain education goals for the is through development of strong social and
emotional skills. This necessitates development of strong social and emotional skills in school.
Implementation of SEL curriculum in Oklahoma aids educators to prepare to teach in
challenging environments. SEL approach supports five teachable concepts that help learners to
gain requisite skills and knowledge that are critical for successful academic performance. This
includes, self-awareness, social awareness, self-management, relationship building skills and
responsible decision-making.
Theoretical Rationale
Social and emotional learning addresses social and emotional skills, which is critical for
all learners. The social and emotional learning skills are developed to create attitudes and
behaviours that enhances social relationships, personal wellness and academic attainment. The
SEL technique is based on the ides that behaviours are influenced by specific risk factors and
positive student outcomes requires supportive relationships. Scholars recommend integration of
SEL programs to reduce negative social interactions at education institution. The SEL
curriculum maximizes learning by enhancing student strengths, which in turn helps to reduce
issues. According to Goleman, emotional intelligence is a human skill that helps individual to
manage their emotions and their feeling. Edutopia (2009) posits that people are born with general
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emotional intelligence that impact on their potential to learn emotional competencies. Thus,
Goleman argue that children that can manage e their feelings and empathize with their peers are
likely to concentrate and retain information compared to those who do not. He suggests that
competence is a learned ability that is dependent on emotional intelligence. Similarly, emotional
intelligence determines that potential to learn the practical skills bases on self-awareness,
motivation, self-regulation, being empathic and adeptness to relationships. Therefore,
implementation of SEL can aid children develop healthy behaviours by enhancing social and
emotional competence, which prevents them from engaging in maladaptive and unhealthy
behaviours.
Benefits of Social Emotional Learning in Oklahoma Public Schools
Today, public schools face difficulties associated with increased diversity, accountability
policies and students’ learning motivations. Although there has been significant increase in
cultural diversity in schools in recent years, majority of teachers are from the white population.
Therefore, they have to adapt and adopt cultural competence teach practices in order to ensure
connection that influences academic performance. Research indicate that student’s behavioural,
emotional and academic achievement is high influenced by evidence-based prevention and
intervention-based social-emotional learning components.
Therefore, SEL curriculum key components: self-awareness, self-management, social
awareness, relationship skills and better decision making contributed to individual, social and
better academic performance for students. Social emotional learning is helping learners develop
self-management and introspection. When students misbehave, educators want them to
experience and learn form negative effects of poor behaviours. Schools are starting to provide
increasing number of SEL programs, which teach students to manage their emotions while
learning other critical skills that enhances meaningful relationships. This in turn prevents
aggressive and disruptive behaviours like fighting among other unruly behaviours. Public
schools that promote an agenda for SEL encourages a family school culture. They adopt
practices that allow student development of skills that enhances positive engagement in learning
at school an ski

Teachers are trained to allows students experience and learn from poor behaviours
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