This is a pandemic invention. Virtual schooling had begun and we were beginning to see how each grade was adapting to learning from home.
Observations:
- It was quite a challenge to have our youngest learners be engaged in a virtual class.
- The need to express verbally became important because it was what was needed to connect virtually.
- Learning letters wasn't exciting enough.
- Accurate identification and labeling of constructs such as: anger, frustration, jealousy and embarrassment, enables children to understand and successfully manage situations in which such feelings arise. (Elia M.J., 2014)
- Only through interaction SEL skills emerge, grow and change over time. This development can begin in its earliest years continuing throughout childhood and adolescence. (Jones, S.M. & Kahn,J., 2017)
- Integrating SEL with academics is foundational to the success of young people. (Jones, S.M. & Kahn,J., 2017)
The resource is a set of alphabetical flashcards. For each letter there is an associated SEL word (chosen with the expertise and insights shared by educators and parents). It captures a range of feelings. Each word is defined in a child-friendly manner, accompanied by an illustration of a relatable situation, and a reflective prompt to facilitate a discussion between the adult and child.
We launched our product in October 2021. In 6 months, we have sold 120 boxes to parents, donated 25 boxes to under-resourced schools and trained 500 teachers through our product trainings.
You can reach out to us at drishti@journeymatters and we will help you with the process. :)
