Social And Emotional Learning

Strong Resilient NYC

Social-emotional skills are vital for student success inside and outside of school. Research has consistently shown that SEL supports:

Academic Achievement
Student Well-being
Success in School and Life
Positive Social Behavior

To support our students in developing these essential skills, NYCDOE is implementing an SEL screener and intervention program that will help in providing targeted, highly responsive support to each individual student. We will build on each student's strengths while identifying skills they need to further develop.

This year, a student in your care will be assessed by their teacher or counselor using the DESSA, a suite of research-based screening tools and assessments used with students K-12 created by Aperture Education.

The DESSA will measure your student’s grasp of important skills that will help them succeed during their school years and even after they graduate from high school. These skills are known as social and emotional skills and include taking responsibility for their actions, and working well with others.

The 8 skills measured by the DESSA can easily be taught and learned by students of all ages.

Family Resources to develop SEL skills: Strong Resilient NYC Family Resources

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6th Grade – Confidence: Engage with real life scenarios and practice confidence (Vignette: The Builder); Engage with real life scenarios and practice confidence (Vignette: Let’s Score)

7th Grade – Forgiveness: Create a unique activity based on the characters; Evaluate students’ understanding of forgiveness

8th Grade – Patience: Explore patience in long-term projects; Evaluate students’ understanding of patience

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6th Grade – Compassion: Discuss the role of compassion in various scenarios; celebrate the learning and practice of compassion

7th Grade – Determination: Express understanding of determination creatively; reflect on and present learning about determination

8th Grade – Individuality: Express understanding of individuality in the workplace; reflect on the importance of individuality

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6th Grade – Compassion: Synthesize learning in an academic context; Measure student growth and understanding of compassion

7th Grade – Determination: Understand determination in sports; Apply determination in the workplace

8th Grade – Individuality: Engage with real-life scenarios and practice individuality (Vignette: ‘Custom Ink’); Create a visual representation of individuality

Social Emotional Focus Week 28:

6th Grade – Compassion: Engage with the vignette “Ice Cream Cone” and practice compassion; Evaluate students’

understanding of compassion

7th Grade – Determination: Apply determination in a project; Relate determination to academic success

8th Grade – Individuality: Engage with real-life scenarios and practice individuality; Read the vignettes “The Uniform”

and “Sandwich Artistry”

Social Emotional Focus Week 27:

6th Grade – Compassion: Engage with the vignette “Helping Hand” and practice compassion; engage with the vignette “New Boss” and practice compassion

7th Grade – Determination: Understand determination in sports; evaluate students’ understanding of determination

8th Grade – Individuality: Engage with real-life scenarios and practice individuality (vignette: “Fashion Friends”); engage with real-life scenarios and practice individuality (vignette: “Athlete and Actor”)

Social Emotional Focus Week 26:

6th Grade – Compassion: Engage with the vignette of ‘The Dance’ and practice compassion; Engage with the vignette ‘Making Peace’ and practice compassion

7th Grade – Determination: Apply determination in real-life scenarios; Explore determination in different contexts

8th Grade – Individuality: Engage with real-life scenarios and practice individuality; Evaluate students’ understanding of individuality

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