2019 Promising Practices for Improving Youth Social-Emotional Learning
Background
Student Success Network formed in 2011 when a group of 15 nonprofit leaders in NYC decided it was time to shift their focus beyond traditional academic skills to include social-emotional learning (SEL) skills they knew were critically important for student success. After two years of exploration, influenced by collective impact approaches, these leaders created an SEL measurement tool so they could compare results across all their programs and identify promising practices. Their vision was that all organizations could serve more students more effectively by working together.Flash forward to today, and SSN is a self-governing community of 65 member organizations collectively closing the opportunity gap for youth. Together, members address challenges related to post secondary access and persistence, focusing on SEL as a primary lever.The original measurement tool members created five years ago has evolved over the years based on the needs of the Network and today the Student Success Network Survey explores seven SEL competencies.
What are Promising Practices?
Each year, the Research Alliance for NYC Schools at NYU uses Network SEL Survey data to identify Bright Spot Sites -- sites where participants experience greater growth in at least one SEL factor compared to similar young people across the Network. Practitioners at Bright Spot sites then share Promising Practices that they hypothesize improve their participants’ SEL.
Throughout August, SSN staff and youth have been conducting interviews with the 20 Bright Spot Sites with hopes of highlighting Network Members' expertise. Participants in each interview collaboratively document the Promising Practices to share across the network and they will be published here and on the Resource Library as they are documented.
We are so excited to share the findings with you - stay tuned for themes that emerged across interviews and more Promising Practices as we continue the process!
2019 Promising Practices
Life Lines Community Arts Project
Karla Herrera, Elizabeth Jones
Growth Mindset
Middle School Students
After School Learning Choice to Build and Sustain Growth Mindset
During after school academic time, instead of only having the option to do homework, students can pick an academically-inclined “Learning Choice” activity from a consistent menu of options. Staff facilitate the activities while building relationships, modeling enthusiasm, and giving prizes to students who return to the activity each week.
Harlem Lacrosse coach asks student athletes to brainstorm values that they wanted to see in a team, chose values that recurred in students' responses, and consistently reinforces those values throughout the year through activities and printed materials.
360I, Carat, Google Tuesdays
Evin Robinson
Belonging and Self-Advocacy
High School Students
Empowering Youth to Establish Team Values
Harlem Lacrosse coach asks student athletes to brainstorm values that they wanted to see in a team, chose values that recurred in students’ responses, and consistently reinforces those values throughout the year through activities and printed materials.
S.T.A.R. Middle School at Erasmus
Rebekah Severe, Megan Butch, Diamond Gordon
Academic Self-Efficacy and Self-Advocacy
Middle School Students
Infusing Program with Self-Reflection, Positive Affirmation, and Recognition
At the Brooklyn College Community Partnership (BCCP), students work on projects that build their STEAM and social-emotional skills. BCCP staff recognize that middle school can be a difficult time in a young person’s identity development. In response, teaching artists start sessions with self-reflection, give students a platform to practice positive affirmation, and recognize the strengths of individual students.
Port Richmond High School
Meghan Duffy
Self-Advocacy
High School Students
Infusing Program with Self-Reflection, Positive Affirmation, and Recognition
At the Brooklyn College Community Partnership (BCCP), students work on projects that build their STEAM and social-emotional skills. BCCP staff recognize that middle school can be a difficult time in a young person’s identity development. In response, teaching artists start sessions with self-reflection, give students a platform to practice positive affirmation, and recognize the strengths of individual students.
YMCA Y Scholars at IS 126Q
LaChanda Williams, Julia Defeo
Belonging, Interpersonal Skills
Middle School Students
Teen Talk
YMCA staff at IS 126Q facilitate “Teen Talk” sessions– structured group discussions that teach communication and coping skills, while fostering connections and trust between counselors and youth and among students. Counselors facilitate single-gender groups of students discussing topics relevant to middle schoolers like bullying, self-love, and self-expression.
YMCA Leaders Club at Prospect Park Y
Joseph Satoo, Jasmine Rosa
Academic Self-Efficacy, Belonging, Growth Mindset,
Interpersonal Skills, Problem Solving and
Self-Regulation (Academic Behaviors)
High School Students
Teen Committee
Staff and teens at Prospect Park YMCA share program decision-making power through a Teen Committee. Committee members gather input from other teen participants to make decisions about program like activities and trips. Teens seek adults for support and advice.
Options Center
Amy Kirschenbaum, Monica Ortiz, Gustavo Aguilar, Juana Alejandro
Academic Self-Efficacy
High School Students
"Wish I Had Known" Panels
During “Wish I Had Known” Panels, college students in the Success program return to share what they’ve learned with high school seniors in the Access program. Goddard staff step out of the room to leave space for students to ask and answer questions they might not be comfortable discussing in front of staff.