One of the benefits of choosing an independent school is the unique and enriching community that sits at the heart of life and learning at each school.
Hillbrook School’s community is a proven magnet – and creating a safe, supportive community in which each child reaches their highest potential is one of our highest priorities.
What is social emotional learning (SEL)?
“In order to be successful in and out of school, students need to learn a set of social and emotional competencies—cooperation, assertiveness, responsibility, empathy, and self-control—and a set of academic competencies— academic mindset, perseverance, learning strategies, and academic behaviors.”
Source: Responsive Classroom – About SEL
With a strong, clear, a cohesive approach to social emotional learning (SEL), students develop and strengthen their emotional intelligence (EQ), improving their chances for long-term success. Hillbrook teaches and reinforces self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management. The school has consistent and constructive ways of giving students in JK-8th grade the tools to manage conflicts and issues that arise as children navigate each developmental milestone. All members of our community—including teachers, students, and parents—share a common vocabulary and are aware of how we resolve problems, whether on the playground or in the classroom.
Hillbrook uses Responsive Classroom in the Lower School and Developmental Designs in the Middle School. These two programs, created to work together seamlessly, create an educational experience that helps our students to live out our Core Values, Be Kind. Be Curious. Take Risks.—and especially—Be Your Best.
“Responsive Classroom is an evidence-based approach to teaching and discipline that focuses on engaging academics, positive community, effective management, and developmental awareness. [Its] professional development, books, and resources help elementary and middle school educators to create safe, joyful, and engaging classrooms and school communities where students develop strong social and academic skills and every student can thrive.”
Source: Responsive Classroom online
“The Developmental Designs approach offers a teaching and learning framework that helps you hear and respond effectively to the needs of adolescents. Students feel connected, empowered, and safe to take academic risks, so they engage more with each other and your curriculum. Students actively construct their own understanding and meaning. Schools become communities of problem-solving principals, teachers, and students. Rule-breaking becomes an occasion for helping students learn from their mistakes, fix the problems, return to learning, and succeed.”
Source: Developmental Designs, Middle School
Further Reading: Want to learn more about what SEL can look like at Hillbrook?
- See How Block Dolls in the Junior Kindergarten Classroom Teach Social Emotional Learning
- Why an Independent Middle School Might Be the Best Choice for Your Middle School Student
Parent Resources:
