Jen Karowe, Nederland.  Does your elementary school student have the skills employers are looking for: communication, conflict resolution and emotional regulation?

Ann Sherman and Althea Abruscato are TEENS, Inc. employees both on the cutting edge of social emotional learning and restorative practices and they are working together, with BVSD staff, to teach Nederland Elementary School (NES) students exactly these skills.

Sherman is the full-time Social Emotional Learning instructor at NES and the TEENS, Inc. Parenting Matters Coordinator. Abruscato is the NES Restorative Practices Coordinator and TEENS, Inc. Teen Center Director.

Sherman is teaching BrainWise, an evidence-based social emotional learning program for teaching critical thinking and decision-making skills.

BrainWise focuses on five basic principles: Self Awareness, Self Regulation, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills and Responsible Decision-making.
“Ann has polished the lessons to make BrainWise more engaging for kids and to really address the issues they are facing on the playground and in the classroom,” says Laurel Reckert, NES Principal.

Abruscato says her work teaching Restorative Practices helps shift a mindset of punishing misbehavior toward one of accountability. It’s a proactive approach to relationship building and cultivating empathy. She works with staff to create a safe space for students to work through conflict.

She is educating parents and teachers to view students’ immaturity as developmental versus behavioral.

“Althea is really helping our kids understand the impact their choices have on others,” says Reckert.

The BrainWise program began at NES almost three years ago. The Restorative Practice program began two years ago. Teachers are seeing it make a difference.

Katherine Ness, NES 2nd grade teacher says they “help promote a mindful, respectful, active and thoughtful community."

“I feel very lucky to teach in a school and district that truly supports the whole child, “Ness says. “The social emotional work is the most important work we do as a community.”

BrainWise, Restorative Practices and the morning’s Moment to PAWS meditation led by Patti Schrader, owner of Reboot Mindfulness, all use common language to help reinforce these important concepts.

“It’s permeating through the building,” says Reckert. “Kids are using the language. They are more self-aware and more willing to talk about how they’re feeling.”

Sherman says, “We hear students telling stories of teaching their parents how to manage stress.”

She also reports that NMSHS teachers have seen a dramatic difference in the last two years of incoming classes. They have been calmer, more thoughtful, kinder and more reflective.

Sherman and Abruscato have direct contact with students in classrooms, the cafeteria, at recess and on field trips. Their time is covered 100% through grants obtained by TEENs, Inc.

“It’s great to be able to partner with NES and BVSD to help increase social emotional learning opportunities for the youth at NES, “says Stephen LaFavier, TEENS, Inc. Executive Director. “We’re happy to share the knowledge we’ve gained over 20 years of working with youth in this community.”

Parenting Matters is collaborating with local counselors and the Nederland Communities That Care Coalition to provide parenting workshops. The next workshop is scheduled for November 13 and will cover stress management strategies for the whole family. Workshops are for parents of K-12 students.

They are free and include dinner and child care. For more information contact Ann at ann@teensinc.org or Althea at althea@teensinc.org.

Sherman writes a weekly blog which offers parents in the community specific tips for raising children with strong social emotional skills.

(http://parentingmattersinned.blogspot.com/)

Sherman and Abruscato are committed educators. Their work is fundamental to strong academic skills, as research has proven that the social climate of a school affects the ability to learn.

Ness says, “The skills our students learn through these practices will help them throughout their lives.”