Social and Emotional Learning
Our devotion to the whole child means that we are deeply committed to social emotional learning. Social and Emotional learning involves the direct instruction and scaffolding of the processes through which children acquire the skills necessary to understand and regulate emotions, obtain goals, establish relationships, manage conflict and resolution, and make responsible decisions.
Research demonstrates that these skills promote and enhance students’ connection to school, positive behavior and academic achievement. In addition, stress and poor regulation of impulses interferes with attention and memory. At The Cooper School, we believe the formation and regulation of positive relationships is crucial to learning. Learning is a naturally a social and interactive process. It involves collaboration with one’s teachers, peers, and family. The opportunity to learn and master social and emotional skills impacts both preparation for learning and the ability to benefit from learning opportunities.
All children are taught through modeling and coaching the skills of curiosity, gratitude, mindfulness, creativity, flexibility, perseverance, accuracy and grit. In addition, students receive direct instruction and practice around conflict resolution strategies. The Peace Wheel is a conflict resolution tool that empowers children to solve social conflict independently. Students are taught to initiate mediation, articulate wants and needs, develop active listening skills, collaborate on solutions and move forward with peaceful resolutions.
Middle School
The Cooper School is unwavering in its commitment to robust and developmentally appropriate social emotional learning. Our approach is multi-faceted and includes:
- Advisory
- Life Skills and Human Sexuality
- Leadership Opportunities
- Reflective Practice
Advisory
As intellectual challenges and academic demands expand and increase in complexity, we continue to have a responsibility to care for and meet the social and emotional needs of our students. Each middle school student is part of a small advisory group of peers facilitated by an advisor. Advisory groups meet briefly each morning and for a longer period once a week.
Your student’s advisor will serve as your student’s advocate and will be the primary liaison between school and home for parents. Advisors will review all grades and report cards, participate in parent teacher conferences, help students set goals, give advice about academic and social issues and manage direct SEL instruction.
The advisor’s overall responsibility is to advocate for and support the best interests of the student.
Life Skills and Human Sexuality
Life Skills and Human Sexuality competencies are built upon the most current research findings and trends in adolescent health and development.
Grade 6
Cultivating Identity: Students develop cultural competence by exploring identity and community, growth and development, sexual orientation and healthy communication.
Grade 7
Human Sexuality: Students develop a concept of sexuality as a complex component of personality. There is an introduction to factual content and to the process involved in clarifying one’s values, personal decisions and expression.
Grade 8
Advocacy: Students participate in work around emotional regulation, diversity and equity, identity, sexual health, intimacy, boundaries, consent and social media survival