The Comprehensive Guide to Social-Emotional Character Development (SECD)
Introduction to Social-Emotional Character Development
You might be asking, “What is social-emotional character development?” or “Why should I be integrating it to my classroom’s curriculum?”
Introduction to Social-Emotional Character Development
You might be asking, “What is social-emotional character development?” or “Why should I be integrating it to my classroom’s curriculum?” You’ve landed on the right page.
Social-emotional character development teaches competencies that help students develop the skills needed to overcome social and emotional challenges. Those challenges will continue after graduation, so teaching these skills in elementary and middle school gives students a fighting chance to succeed in school and life.
Friendzy’s social-emotional character development program focuses on building healthy school climates that enable students to unlock their greatest potential. When you partner with us, you receive everything you need to make a lasting change in your classroom, including professional development that allows you to grow alongside your students.
In this hub, you'll find everything you need to know about social-emotional character development, from core competencies to social-emotional character development benefits, resources, and studies. Start making a difference in your student's lives, and use SECD in your classroom today!
Core Competencies of Social-Emotional Character Development
Social-emotional character development explores five core competencies that work synergistically to help students improve their well-being. Here is a brief overview of the core competencies of social-emotional character development.
Self-Awareness — Recognizing one's emotions, values, strengths, and limitations.
Self-Management — Managing behaviors in order to set goals and achieve desired outcomes.
Responsible Decision-Making — Using social cues and personal understanding to make constructive choices to the benefit of everyone.
Social-Awareness — Showing deep understanding and empathy for others in a variety of situations.
Relationships Skills — Forming healthy relationships, strong partnerships, working in teams, and overcoming conflict effectively.
When students learn these competencies, they know how to interact respectfully with others. Friendzy's SECD program focuses on teaching these skills practically, creating a relationally centered classroom.
Benefits of SECD
According to the Department of Education, learning environments that focus on teaching social-emotional skills are more likely to see life-long benefits. Those benefits include things like:
Increased self-awareness, self-control, and self-management
Improved academic performance and achievement
Positive behavior inside and outside of the classroom
More healthy relationships with adults and peers
Improved decision-making and problem-solving skills
Did you know that social-emotional character development isn't new? Families, communities, and schools have been teaching these essential skills for a long time! We're simply optimizing the approach to social-emotional character development by using precise language, data, and engaging activities to nurture social-emotional growth.
For most parents, the ultimate goal is to instill kindness and decency in their children, which is precisely what SECD attempts to do!
Equipping children with the necessary skills to blossom into compassionate and well-rounded adults offers students a strong foundation for future success.
Implementing SECD in Schools
SECD instruction is vital to every child's development, from elementary school to adulthood. Check out a few of our favorite Friendzy freebies to help you integrate SECD instruction into your daily classroom rhythms.
SECD Resources and Tools
While Friendzy has plenty of freebies that allow you to implement SECD practices in your classroom, we have additional resources and tools to benefit learners across your school district. These resources include:
Free Monthly Webinars
Friendzy supports your journey of implementing social-emotional character development through professional development, age-appropriate tools, and expert support. With these key elements in place, you will maximize the retention of the skills learned in these lessons.
SECD Research and Studies
Critical assessments of the effectiveness of SECD programs continue to find massive benefits for young people. Research shows that social-emotional character development improved everything from mindfulness, mental health, and academic success.
Friendzy’s fast facts page highlights the results of teaching comprehensive social-emotional character development throughout the school year:
4 in 5 teachers want more support to address students’ social and emotional development.
8 in 10 employers say social and emotional skills are the most important yet hardest skills to find.
Supporting social and emotional development produces an average 11% increase in grades and standardized test scores.
Additionally, the Department of Education noted long-term benefits, like a 9% decrease in conduct problems in the classroom and a 10% decrease in emotional distress, such as depression, anxiety, or self-harm.
Friendzy’s SECD Program is the Missing Piece Educators Need
Since the pandemic, the need for SECD skills have grown in importance as school climates have struggled to adjust to new social norms. Relationship skills are at an all-time low, and young people struggle to form meaningful partnerships with teachers, which results in poor academic performance.
Incorporating SECD into your curriculum makes the school day more enjoyable and teaches students crucial abilities that benefit them for life. Let Friendzy help you make a lasting impact on your students with the tools, education, and support you need to make a most significant shift in your school's culture!