Emotional Intelligence and Learning: Emotions Matter

The support of the NYC DOE for paperwork, observation reports, scores, quality reviews, curriculum and lesson plans, etc, leave little room for a teacher to be creative, empathize with student needs and abilities, and support differences in abilities. The procedures required in many NYC schools disable the pedagogy of even the best teachers. Empathy and compassion are important to effective teaching and supportive learning.

Yale University's RULER and their focus on emotional intelligence, wholesome and supportive relationships in the classroom, are important to the reform of public education. See below.

Betsy Combier

The Feeling Words Curriculum

How often do students need to share how they feel but can’t find the right words? When the right words are not available, communication breaks down. Students’ feelings become confused, suppressed, or even displaced onto others. The Feeling Words Curriculum empowers students and teachers to describe the full range of human emotions. Developmentally appropriate lessons are mapped directly onto the core curriculum and align with the Common Core State Standards.
Students hone their emotional intelligence skills, enhance their writing and critical thinking skills, and develop the creativity, empathy, and advanced perspective-taking abilities they need to build mutually supportive relationships and make healthy decisions.

RULER - Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence
LINK
Emotions drive learning, decision-making, creativity, relationships, and health.

The Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence uses the power of emotions to create a more effective
and compassionate society. The Center conducts research and teaches people of all ages how to develop their emotional intelligence.

Emotions Matter

RULER Overview

How RULER Becomes an Integral and Enduring Part of Your School or
District

RULER is an acronym that stands for Recognizing, Understanding, Labeling, Expressing and Regulating emotions.

 

Phase 1 (1 year)* – The Anchors of Emotional Intelligence
This first phase grounds teachers, staff, students, and families in the Anchors of Emotional Intelligence. These fundamental RULER tools enhance individuals’ ability to understand and regulate their own emotions and to consider and empathize with how others are feeling. The Anchors also foster the kind of healthy emotional climate essential to personal growth.
Phase 2 (1 year)* – The Feeling Words Curriculum
The second phase enables teachers to integrate RULER into a wide range of subject areas, ensuring that emotional intelligence is woven into the content of every class and throughout each student’s school day. The Feeling Words Curriculum that teachers learn to use is tailored to specific grade levels and aligned with the Common Core.
Phase 3 (ongoing) — Lasting results
RULER creates a self-perpetuating program by training teachers and other staff to become RULER Trainers who then teach the rest of the school what they’ve learned. As teachers are trained, they in turn teach their students, and as new teachers arrive, RULER Trainers teach them.
To ensure lasting success, RULER also supports RULER Trainers with ongoing feedback, advanced training, and an online community where participants from around the world compare notes, participate in webinars, watch videos, and stay up-to-date on the latest program enhancements.
* Budgetary and/or time constraints sometimes mean the process takes longer. Please contact us if you would like to discuss other options for bringing RULER to your school.

Why Emotional Learning May Be As Important As The ABCs