Teachers’influence on students’ socio-emotional skills

As human beings, we have the capacity to feel emotions. These emotions are intrinsic element of learning and life. Developing socio-emotional skills in early ages may result to improved academic achievement, educational attainment, employability, and reduced risky behaviors.

Hence, developing these skills is not only an outcome of learning, but also a way to improve learning.

Most people had teachers that created an impact in our lives. If we reflect carefully, the reason why these teachers had such an influence had something to do with the way they interrelate with us, the way they made us feel about learning and our self-esteem.

In line with this, most teachers motivate students by utilizing a language that stimulates effort and work or provides positive affirmation that will definitely help students to feel good about the things they can do and feel more courageous to face things that are out of their comfort zone. Teachers are also known to demonstrate fairness in the classroom as well as providing warmth and support to students which can improve teacher-student interaction.

When teachers encourage them to work in groups helps students to build their self-esteem and interpersonal skills with their classmates. In addition, effective classroom management contributes to greater student participation, fewer disruptive behaviors, joyful and safe classrooms, and a recognition that how students learn is equally important as what they learn.

With that being said, teachers will be able to model and teach socioemotional skills if they live and embody them.

But this doesn’t come to all teachers naturally. When teachers lack socioemotional skills, their behaviors and actions can produce negative learning outcomes. For that reason, it is necessary that education systems and schools inspire and train teachers to put in practice techniques and attitudes that contribute to students’socioemotional development.

***** - Teacher III

Northville Elementary School