Twin Cities schools add social-emotional learning to the 3 R's

When eighth-graders rush into Seth Brown’s math class at Wayzata West Middle School in a week, they’ll drill into finicky equations, but they’ll also learn how to focus before lessons, tweak their attitudes and accept their mistakes.

They are not just students of math, but of “social-emotional learning,” an approach to education that is gathering support around the country and in Twin Cities classrooms.

Social and emotional learning balances academic achievement with “softer” skills: self-control, self and social awareness, relationship building and decisionmaking. Supporters say it’s a necessary antidote to the pressures schools put on children.

http://www.startribune.com/social-emotional-learning-is-combining-with-the-3-r-s-in-twin-cities/391560651/