Becoming a 21st Century School
  • Blog
    • 21st Century Schools site
    • LinkedIn Group
    • Curriculum
  • Schools
    • Schools
    • Inner Harbour
    • The Zoo School
    • Anne Frank Inspire Academy
  • 21st Century Schools
  • 21st Century Schools International
  • Global Collaborative Classrooms
  • Subscribe eNews

Exploring the Possibilities!

The purpose of the blog is to provide additional support to educators as well as parents and community members who wish to create schools which will provide children with the experiences needed to flourish!

​Anne Shaw, Director, 21st Century Schools

The Social/Emotional Environment

7/16/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture


​Learning is serious, but that doesn't mean it has to be grim!

A new school year is about to begin (in many countries). Despite the ongoing problems which plague education, educators are preparing, anticipating that this will be the best year yet in their classroom, on their campus or in their school district.  

While most agree that the purpose of schooling is for students to acquire academic content, we contend that schools have a greater purpose, which includes the academic.  We agree with John Dewey, who said that school is .  .
​ 
​“a place to gain content knowledge, but also a place to learn how to live. In his eyes, the purpose of education should not revolve around the acquisition of a pre-determined set of skills, but rather the realization of one's full potential and the ability to use those skills for the greater good.”[i] 

​Before we jump straight to focusing on the academics, we must prepare the learning environment.  This includes the physical environment - from facilities, to how we arrange classrooms, to schoolyards. Next, we must intentionally design the social/emotional environment.  Then, we are ready to prepare the academic environment - and that starts with high expectations.

This post will provide you with many tips on how to create the optimum social/emotional environment - starting with what to do on the first day of school!  Enjoy, and please add your ideas below!
​
Another excellent resource for the new year is this post, How daily meditation improves behavior - and increases creativity.

Click here to find your tips on creating the optimal social/emotional environment!


[1] John Dewey, Wikipedia
0 Comments
    Subscribe to eNews
    Tweet

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    21st Century Schools
    American History
    Art
    Building Community
    Building Design
    Children's Literature
    Classroom Management
    Creativity
    Curriculum
    Ecoliteracy
    Emotional/Social
    Facilities
    First Day Of School
    Global Competencies
    High Expectations
    Math
    Media Literacy
    MOVE IT
    New York City
    PBL
    Physical Environment
    Play
    Professional Development
    Project-based Learning
    Reform
    Regioal Institute
    Service Learning
    STEAM
    Sugata Mitra
    Workshop

    .

    Archives

    February 2018
    August 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    July 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    October 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    October 2013
    August 2013
    April 2013
    January 2013
    September 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    January 2012
    January 2011

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Blog
    • 21st Century Schools site
    • LinkedIn Group
    • Curriculum
  • Schools
    • Schools
    • Inner Harbour
    • The Zoo School
    • Anne Frank Inspire Academy
  • 21st Century Schools
  • 21st Century Schools International
  • Global Collaborative Classrooms
  • Subscribe eNews