PNC Prioritizes Social-Emotional Learning for Early Learners
The PNC Foundation understands the necessity of social-emotional learning (SEL) in the classroom. Their focus is to enable underserved communities to improve the education of early learners. With support from their generous award of $5,000, Crayons to Classrooms (C2C) will ensure that early learners at our partner schools have access to SEL tools throughout the 2024-2025 school year. PreK and childcare students at C2C’s partner schools will be able to build SEL skills early on, to create a lifetime of balanced mental health.
It’s common knowledge that C2C provides core school supplies like notebooks, backpacks, paper, and crayons. What may not be so well known is that C2C also provides specialized learning tools that teachers at partner schools have expressed are needed. Some of these items might not be so obvious, such as financial literacy kits so students can learn to manage their own money, holiday décor so classes can participate in community celebrations, or socks and underwear for students who may not have enough at home, to feel safe and comfortable at school.
Many teachers request SEL tools for use in the classroom. Especially post-pandemic, children today struggle with anxiety, depression, stress, and other mental health problems more than ever before. Teachers know that a student who can be aware of emotions in oneself and others, identify specific feelings, and process them in a healthy and constructive way are better equipped for learning. This is especially true for students who may be dealing with serious life struggles at a young age, due to poverty and its related effects. SEL is not just a buzzword, it’s a real classroom need that must be addressed so all students can achieve academic success.
C2C has worked hard to source appropriate tools for SEL since the pandemic shone a light on these issues. Popular items include journals and markers so students can write or draw about their feelings to build awareness, empathy, and healthy coping strategies. Another item teachers love are the “pocket hugs” volunteers send us from around the country. These are soft fidget toys that help students self-regulate, and because they’re made of fabric and stuffing, don’t make any noise, and don’t hurt anyone if they get tossed around the classroom. A unique item that you can only find at C2C is the “emotion slider,” also entirely handmade by dedicated volunteers. A pipe cleaner with an attached bead is affixed to a piece of paper with cartoon faces showing different emotions. A student can discreetly show a teacher how they are feeling by sliding the bead to the corresponding face. This helps teachers become more aware of which students may need some extra attention to create a healthy class environment, and can also help students to acknowledge the feelings of others.
The PNC Foundation prioritizes giving early learners the opportunity to practice SEL learning, knowing that its benefits will show beyond the classroom walls.
