STUDENT SUCCESS PROGRAMS
Social and Emotional Learning
A Safe Place Where Students Have a Voice
At Insight School of Kansas (ISKS), part of our approach to each student's success is our Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) program for grades 9–12 (with plans to expand to grades 7–8).
The SEL program provides a safe place where students who may feel like outsiders can discover the value of their individuality in a community as they develop life-changing skills that will help them be successful students, productive adults, and generous citizens.
Students attend twice-weekly advisory sessions in a live, online forum facilitated by a specially trained teacher. The program targets four key social and emotional areas necessary for thriving in school and life:
- Self-awareness
- Social awareness
- Relationship building
- Responsible decision-making
In the sessions, students discuss topics relevant to their lives, creating a strong sense of belonging and community among peers, as well as allowing the teacher to learn more about each student on a more personal level.
By sharing in a respectful environment where people listen to and value one another's views, the students discover a vital part of their personal identity—their own voice. And as their confidence and self-esteem grow, students begin to flourish in class and beyond.
Teachers Focus on Their Students' Well-Being
Our teachers, who are trained in SEL support and facilitation techniques, focus on their students' academic, social, and emotional well-being. For example, because of their deeper understanding of students' lives through group discussions, a teacher may learn a student has chronic health issues. After addressing this with the student, the teacher will notify the Family Support Team, who will help the student connect to needed services.
Our teachers are also adept at facilitating discussions that connect students' real-life world to their academic studies. A teacher may open the day's discussion about an instance of social injustice reported in the news, and then draw the group into a conversation about a book they're studying, such as Lord of the Flies.
