Helping kids reach their full potential starts here
Helping kids reach their full potential starts here
Empowering kids with skills that will transform them as much as education
In today’s challenging times, it’s critical to make sure our children are equipped with the social and emotional learning (SEL) skills to cope with the world around them. The WE Schools program brings SEL together with service-learning, helping children build key skills such as resilience, empathy, perseverance and problem-solving. With a strong foundation of SEL skills, children will be better able to understand and manage their emotions, feel and show empathy for others, establish positive relationships and make responsible decisions.
Whether you're an educator looking for ways to integrate SEL into your lesson planning, or a parent looking to support your child's learning at home, we have all the resources you need to get started.
The impact of social and emotional learning
employers say social and emotional skills are the most important for success, yet also the hardest skills to find
gain in grades and test scores when students' social and emotional development is supported
teachers want more support to address students' social and emotional development
Through WE Schools service-learning, students build key skills including:
Empathy
Students are more socially aware, building respect and understanding for others.
Communication
Students improve their ability to have positive, healthy relationships with others.
Collaboration
Students learn how to work as a group and build skills like conflict resolution.
Supporting student learning at home
WE Schools @home offers free weekly online lesson plans, tools and resources to help educators and parents engage students and complement and support learning at home. Curriculum-based, for Grades K - 12. Every Monday, access new lessons with an emphasis on social and emotional learning and fostering resiliency.
Here are some sample lessons: WE Show Kindness (Grades 4-6) Mindful Communication (Grades 9-12)
Find more lessons for every grade here:
For educators
Download the foundational module
Check out our 10 minute podcasts for teachers
For parents
Grade point average, test scores and report cards will always be an important part of education, but for kids to reach their full potential, learning needs to go beyond academics. Through WE Schools, kids build social and emotional skills like empathy and communication.
Watch the video and visit the resource links below to learn more about the positive impact of social and emotional learning and how you can support your child’s learning at home.
Help your teen build life skills that will help them be successful in the future
This guide, made possible by The Allstate Foundation, explores the 5 major areas of SEL (self-awareness, self-management, relationship skills, social awareness, responsible decision-making) and highlights ways parents can encourage kids to flex these muscles during their daily family life. Real-life lessons for learning will help teenagers get better at SEL skills, leading to a strong, more resilient sense of self. It takes time and practice (and patience), but it’s worth it – and critical as they navigate the difficult decisions, challenging homework, and emotions of the teen years.
Explore additional parent resources
How parents can help foster empathy in children
How to nurture compassion and moral responsibility in your children
Ten ways to help your kids build social and emotional skills at home
6 Teachers on the Importance of Learning Social and Emotional Skills at School
Practice mindfulness with Inner Explorer, a free app for families
The Allstate Foundation and WE are committed to giving teachers and families across America free resources to engage youth in service-learning and teach them the social and emotional skills they need to succeed in the future.
Volunteering: how and why it's so important for today's world
From empathy and compassion to teamwork and collaboration, volunteering and helping others is a great way for children to build social and emotional skills. Get started with WE Volunteer Now, a WE Schools program that empowers youth to make a difference in their local community. Whether it’s picking up essentials for an elderly neighbor or writing notes of thanks for health care workers, there are so many ways to give back, even when going out in the community isn’t possible.
Check out Global Classroom: Let’s Volunteer Now!, a free online event
Hosted by Spencer West, this exciting 50-minute event features educator and social and emotional learning (SEL) expert Dr. Amy Cranston and her bother, Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston, who speak about the importance of SEL development for young people during times of physical distancing. Hear from incredible WE Volunteer Now participants such as Jameson, who's making a difference with New York's frontline workers!
WE Volunteer Now in action - Meet Zeke
After being bullied at school, 16-year-old Zeke made a conscious decision to help others by spreading compassion and empathy to everyone around him. Through WE Volunteer Now, he's grown his passion for helping others through things like a “positivity takeover” at his school, where Zeke and classmates created banners and messaging promoting courage, respect, love and acceptance.
