Three elementary kids sitting on steps outside writing

SEL and Writing

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Writing activities to build SEL

Social-emotional learning (SEL) through writing can be a powerful tool for children in grades K-3 to develop their emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and communication skills. Here are some strategies and activities to incorporate SEL into writing lessons for young children:

Emotional word bank

Create a word bank with a range of emotions — joyful, sad, open-hearted, angry, anxious, optimistic — or anything in between. Discuss each emotion and help students understand what they mean. Encourage them to use these words in their writing to express how they feel. The Semantic Gradients strategy can help kids find precise, vivid words.

Personal journals

Provide students with personal journals where they can write about their daily experiences, thoughts, and feelings. Encourage them to reflect on positive moments, challenges they faced, or how they helped others. This helps them develop self-awareness and express their emotions in a safe space. See this article from Edutopia: How to Introduce Journaling to Young Children .

Empathy stories

Have students write stories from the perspective of different characters, focusing on understanding the emotions and experiences of others. This encourages empathy and perspective-taking skills. Discuss the stories as a class and explore how the characters’ emotions may differ.

Gratitude writing

Teach students about gratitude and its importance. Encourage them to write thank-you notes or letters expressing appreciation to classmates, teachers, family members, or community helpers. This activity fosters positive relationships, empathy, and gratitude.

Conflict resolution

Teach students how to express their feelings and resolve conflicts through writing. Have them write about a conflict they experienced and how they could find a peaceful resolution. Encourage them to consider the feelings and perspectives of others involved.

Collaborative writing

Engage students in collaborative writing projects where they work together to create stories or poems. This promotes teamwork, communication, and understanding others’ ideas and perspectives.

Character development

Have students create characters for their stories and develop their personalities, strengths, and weaknesses. Encourage them to explore emotions and show character growth throughout their narratives.

Mindfulness and reflection

Incorporate brief mindfulness exercises or reflection activities before or after writing sessions. This helps students connect with their emotions, focus their thoughts, and be present in the moment.

Peer feedback

Encourage students to provide constructive feedback to their peers’ writing. Teach them how to give positive comments and suggest improvements. This activity promotes active listening, empathy, and effective communication.

Celebrate diversity

Encourage students to write about their own cultural backgrounds, traditions, and experiences. This helps build a sense of belonging, promotes inclusivity, and encourages students to appreciate and respect diversity.

Final notes

Remember to provide age-appropriate prompts, scaffold the writing process, and offer support as needed. SEL through writing allows young children to explore their emotions, understand others, and develop essential social and emotional skills.

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Diverse group of elementary students working on writing project

Integrating SEL Into Writing Instruction

From Edutopia

elementary student arranging colorful sticky notes on a board

Classroom Strategy

Semantic Gradients

Focus:
Vocabulary, Writing
When:
Before reading, During reading, After reading
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