Nowadays, our educational system gives more emphasis on transmitting knowledge, completing the required lessons in the curriculum guide and being obsess over statistics. We’ve seen how these trends affect the learners. Such narrow focus hinders the children to grow and learn in their relationships, identity and emotional understanding. Their entire psychological well-being is put at stake. We should be aware that children are whole persons and their development is complex and delicate.
Several researches in the field of neuroscience, developmental and learning sciences, education, sociology, and many other fields confirms that a it is necessary to ensure a wholistic approach in child’s development. Child’s brain capacity develops fully when they are motivated, engaged, encouraged and even challenged. In this way, the child can acquire more skills he/she needs in order to cope up with the changing world. Emotional quotient is also an important factor that we need to consider. Social, emotional and relational learning should be taught and guided well. Children needs to build skills and awareness where they can express themselves and relate to others. When they are hindered from expressing themselves or when they feel negative emotions and can’t process well their brain capacity tends to reduce. This can explain the phenomena when students who are emotionally affected by their family problem tends to do poorly in class.
What should we do to address these needs? First, as educators we need to create a positive classroom climate for our students. It is where they can feel secure, belonged and safe. A place where relationship is based on respect and love. We allow our students to freely express and communicate their thoughts and feelings without pre-judgement or rejections
Second is to create a meaningful and engaging lessons for the student’s development. This means that we should allow them to partake in their own learning and to find out what interest them the most. Instruction helps students grow in their understanding when it builds on students’ interests and learning styles.
Lastly, allow students to value social and emotional competence as equivalent to academic competence. Healthy emotions and self-care are also important as grades and accomplishments. We should inculcate to them that healthy dispositions are also an indicator of success and not just high grades and awards.
With all these, we should be reminded that there should be an additional support for the growing number of students who are experiencing poverty, broken family, food insecurity, homelessness, and lack of health care especially during this time of pandemic.
By: Emeliza M. Magdaraog | Teacher 1 | Kalalake Elementary School
