The Romans called the fourth calendar month Aprilis, a name some scholars deduce came from the Latin word aperire which means to open and one possibly chosen as a reference to the plants which open and bloom during this time (William Hosch, Britannica). No matter the word’s origin, the month of April has become symbolic of renewal and rejuvenation, that time when things that became dormant during the cold winter months begin to spring back into life. Hal Borland, American author, journalist, and naturalist once said, “No Winter lasts forever, no Spring skips its turn. April is a promise that May is bound to keep, and we know it.”
Just as April signals the plants and flowers to peek out from under their winter cover, earlier sunrises, longer days, and warming temperatures invite us to explore, reconnect and rejuvenate in fresh, new ways. Studies have shown that exposure to sunlight increases serotonin in the brain helping us feel happier. Better yet, studies have also shown that increased exposure to sunlight reduces the amount of melatonin in the body during the day but releases it at night to help us sleep! (M.N. Mead, National Library of Medicine) All of these combine to make April an optimal time to focus on relationship skills, one of the five core competencies stemming from Social and Emotional Learning. Using the VBCPS SEL Framework, Compass to 2025 Strategic Framework, and Graduate Profile as our guiding documents, let’s spring into that journey together.
In this issue:
Three Key Messages About SEL
The Value of Academic and Relational Conversation Skills
Kim Scott’s Philosophy of Being Radically Candid
Virginia Beach Middle’s Marbled Bandana Challenge
Professional Learning Opportunities
Action for Happiness April Well-Being Calendar
The SEL competency focus for April is Relationship Skills. VBCPS defines this as, “Establishing and maintaining healthy and rewarding connections with individuals and groups through communicating, listening, and collaborating.” The aligned skills for this competency are:
Develop positive relationships
Work interdependently while collaborating and problem-solving
Listen actively and communicate clearly for a variety of audiences
Resolve conflict constructively
The Value of Academic and Relational Conversation Skills
Mark Twain once said, “Relationships are at the heart of schooling.” Relationship skills allow students to make healthy connections with others. These skills are not only developed through opportunities to communicate, listen and collaborate, they are also essential to communicating and collaborating effectively, skills found in the Graduate Profile. The first key message in the VBCPS SEL Framework focuses on helping students develop the essential skills they need to succeed in school and life. Helping students develop strong relational skills, one of VBCP’s core SEL competencies, increases their ability to problem solve, navigate challenges and resolve conflict constructively.
As humans, we are social creatures, but effective relational skills take practice. Building and supporting good relational skills in the classroom can increase students’ self-confidence and help students develop empathy and kindness; these conditions, in turn, can increase engagement, learning, and growth. A 2021 article in Edutopia entitled “How to Embed SEL Into Your Instruction: Careful explanation of the ‘why’ behind social and emotional learning can prime students to build their communication and collaboration skills” suggests that teachers should be clear on the purpose of activities; let students know when activities have been selected to help develop communication, collaboration, and relationship skills. Students can refine relationship skills through the use of activities from the SEL Stockpile like “Talk Moves,” a strategy that creates a structure for students to engage with one another, communicate effectively, and collaborate to solve problems.
