An important part of teaching the curriculum in any classroom is having a positive and safe learning environment. Social and emotional learning (SEL) provides the foundation for this environment. EISD has chosen to highlight relationship skills as our SEL focus for the first nine weeks. Using Second Step as our curriculum, teachers are helping students develop the skills necessary to develop healthy relationships with others.

As our partners in education, we encourage you to support our efforts in this area. The Parent Toolkit is a resource for parents that was developed by NBC News Education Nation and is supported by Pearson. The Toolkit provides parents a wealth of information, in English and Spanish, on social and emotional development in addition to academics, health & wellness, financial literacy, and college & career.

According to the Parent Toolkit one way to help your elementary school student learn social skills and nurture relationship-building abilities is to teach the “sandwich” technique. “In basic terms, this method involves ‘sandwiching’ the feedback or problem between a compliment and a positive conclusion.” If your child feels a friend is being unkind, teach your child how to handle the problem by starting with a positive, sharing the concern, and ending with another positive. For example, “I am glad we are friends, and I want to be friends. At lunch yesterday, you yelled at me and made me sad. I want to be friends so next time, could you tell me if I’m doing something you don’t like.”

• 3rd Grade Relationship Skills Tips: How to practice social skills and nurture relationship-building abilities with your child in 3rd grade.