Early Childhood Social-Emotional Learning Approach Given ‘Highest Quality’ Designation
School Specialty, home of the 21st Century Safe School™ and leading provider of innovative solutions that support integrated learning environments for improved student social, emotional, mental and physical well-being, announced the Circle of Education®, a social-emotional wellness program for early childhood educators, has been endorsed by the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL), the world’s leading organization advancing social-emotional learning.
Circle of Education and Social-Emotional Learning
“A child isn’t ready or able to learn if they don’t feel safe and secure,” said Joseph M. Yorio, School Specialty’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “The Circle of Education program equips early childhood educators, parents and care-givers with the tools and techniques to effectively integrate academic development and behavioral health, so our littlest learners can move through their educational journeys with the social and emotional skills needed to succeed in school, in their careers, and in their communities.”
More and more education systems recognize the importance of social emotional skills to the learning process and students’ academic performance. Growing numbers of states require programs and materials that enhance the development of social-emotional skills in an educational environment. Many districts and schools need to find an appropriate social-emotional learning (SEL) program and CASEL provides a vital service by carefully reviewing and recognizing such programs. Importantly, the Circle of Education program is aligned with all 50 US states and Head Start Early Childhood Standards for ages birth to six.
21st Century Safe School: A Focus on Student Well-being in All Learning Environments
“School Specialty is especially proud to be offering this innovative program to educators, not only because it has been endorsed by CASEL but because it aligns with our 21st Century Safe School initiative to find, foster and advance programs that support the physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being in all learning environments to create better student outcomes,” Yorio said. CASEL has designated the Circle of Education a SELect program, its highest recognition, as it has demonstrated a positive impact on behavioral or academic performance in a learning environment in which it was employed.
The Circle of Education encourages learning readiness skills and social emotional wellness to inspire children to learn, communicate, collaborate, be creative, and problem solve. It is designed to be used with children from birth to eight years-old. It was created by Dr. Shulamit Ritblatt, a leading expert in social-emotional development and founder of delibrainy, developer of the program.
To be designated a CASEL SELect program, the Circle of Education met or exceeded the following design, implementation and evaluation criteria:
- Be a well-designed school-based program that intentionally and comprehensively promotes students’ social and emotional learning skills;
- Provides quality professional development and training to support implementation; and,
- Shows evidence of effectiveness.
“School Specialty is committed to bringing to market innovative educational products and programs that are evidence-based and can help to foster the true 21st Century Safe School environment. The Circle of Education® is just one of the many vital solutions we offer to educators,” said Soren Sofhauser, Director of Early Childhood Sales.
Read More: Circle of Education
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