1. Promoting Social Emotional Competence PROMOTING CHILDREN’S SUCCESS: ENHANCING EMOTIONAL LITERACY

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3. What is Emotional Literacy? Emotional literacy is the ability to identify, understand, and express emotions in a healthy way. 3

4. Emotional Literacy Skills Labeling feelings in self and others Understanding gradations of feelings Recognizing facial and physiological signs Modulating response Understanding that feelings can change Developing coping strategies Demonstrating empathy 4

5. Children with a Strong Foundation in Emotional Literacy: tolerate frustration better get into fewer fights engage in less destructive behavior are healthier are less lonely are less impulsive are more focused have greater academic achievement 5

6. Activity: Emotion Words What emotion or feeling words are important to teach young children? 6

7. How Can I Teach Emotional Literacy? Indirect Teaching Direct Teaching Songs & Games Discussion Checking in… Feelings Dice/Wheel Creative Play Activities Children’s Literature Writing prompts or journals Handout 1 7

8. Indirect Teaching Provide emotional labels as children experience various affective states “Tamika and Tanya seem really happy to be playing together! They keep hugging each other!” 8

9. Direct Teaching of Feeling Vocabulary 9

10. Activity: Direct Teaching Practice How could you use these pictures to teach emotional literacy? 10

11. Classroom Examples 11

12. Checking In Teachers and children can “check in” each morning Children can be encouraged to change their feeling faces throughout the day as their feelings change. 12 How do you feel today? Use as a writing prompt or journal activity!

13. Songs Use existing song and have children create new “feelings” lyrics and motions to go along with the new song: “If you’re happy and you know it” If you’re sad & you know it, cry a tear: “Boo-hoo” If you’re mad & you know it, use your words: “I’m mad” If you’re scared & you know it ask for help: “Help me” If you’re happy & you know it, hug a friend If you’re tired and you know it, give a yawn 13

14. Games 14 Make a _____ face. Emotion Charades Use as a writing prompt or journal activity!

15. On Monday When it Rained Glad Monster Sad Monster Hands Are Not for Hitting Book Nooks http://www.csefel.uiuc.edu/practical-ideas.html

16. Discussion: There’s No Time! 16 “I don’t have time to teach all of these things. I’m already busy teaching literacy, science, health, math and completing portfolios, and other assessments!”

17. Activity: Action Planning Consider the following ideas when developing this month’s action plan: Explain how you will introduce these emotions during large group time. How will you teach children to recognize these emotions in themselves? In others? What books will you use to help teach about these emotions? How will you help children explore these emotions in center time? Design an art activity around these emotions. 17

18. Questions? 18