Social-Emotional Learning

Social Learning is a school-wide program anchoring our work at Stanbridge. All students attend a class at least once weekly that focuses on a topic or skill related to self-regulation, relationship-building, and prosocial behaviors.

Based on the work of Michelle Garcia-Winner (Social Thinking) and Leah Kuypers (Zones of Regulations), Tricia, our speech therapist, and Mary and Emma, our counselors, create lessons that target each group's areas of need.  

High School students responded to a survey of their needs and requested more lessons about making friends, nurturing friendships, and starting conversations with people they do not know.  They also asked for lessons on Executive Functioning skills, such as studying for tests and keeping themselves organized.  Their other areas of interest included getting along with parents and dating and romance.

Our first lessons will focus on friendship: how to make friends, be a good friend, and use who-what-when-where-why-and-how questions to start conversations with new people. The high schoolers will have opportunities to practice these skills when they go on experiential trips this month and next. 
– Mary Stadler, Director of Counseling