Program promotes social, emotional learning
Groups collaborate to bring PATHS program to third-grade classes
The Caron Foundation is now presenting the PATHS (Promoting Alternative Thinking Strate- gies) Program to the third grade classes at Gilbertsville Elementary School.
PATHS focuses on social and emotional learning to help children resolve conflicts peacefully, handle emotions in a positive way, empathize, and make responsible decisions.
Lessons are taught once a week for six to eight week; the duration of each lesion is about 30-45 min- utes. Each lesson will focus on a different topic. The topics include feelings, coping skills when mad, stress/how to relax, friendship lesson, bullying and anti-bullying strategies, uniqueness, and jealousy/how to be happy.
Elaine Royko of the Caron Foundation is leading the program at Gilbertsville Elementary School. During the lesson, Royko spoke candidly to students about feelings and gave students the opportunity to share their own feelings.
“I really wanted to reinforce coping skills,” said Royko as she explained the program. “Having the children discuss their feelings and learn coping strategies is what PATHS is all about, really. We don’t get a lot of time in the normal curriculum to discuss feelings. So I feel it’s very impor- tant, and so does Boyertown.”
“It’s teaching good community skills and life lessons they can use anywhere, not just in the classroom,” Tessi Melchior, Executive Director of the Foundation for Boyertown Education.
This is the second year in a row the program has been brought to Boyertown Area School District. It is designed to improve student
behavior, reduce classroom disruptions, and increase academic engagement and achievement.
Melchior said the Foundation for Boyertown Education funded the program for third grade this year and the Home & School Association is funding the program for fourth grade.