Social and Emotional Dimensions of Teaching and Learning.
Indicative Syllabus
Introduction to the social and emotional dimension of learning and teaching
The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) framework of social and emotional learning
Early Experiences: The impact that parenting and attachment in the early years may have on relationships and the ability to learn at school
Social dimension of learning: The influence of parents and teachers on the individual student and their relationships
Teacher-pupil relationships
Approaches to social and emotional learning intervention in schools and at home
Problem Based Learning Activities: Case study of child or adolescent who displays social, emotional and/or behavioural difficulties
Tutorials and essay preparation support
The assessment is an analytical commentary of two case studies. Using the problem-based learning approach you will have the opportunity to support each other to analyse case studies and then to write your own reflective commentary.
An analytic commentary is a succinct evaluative piece of writing which draws out the main issues in a piece of practice/case study and relates this in an analytical manner to theory. You are requested to provide an analytical commentary of 1500 words for each case study below. The commentary of each case study will be organised around three questions which you will have to answer. To support your answers, you need to use the literature. Support on relevant literature.
Case study 1 (DfEE, 2001)
Shantelle is 14 and attends her local comprehensive school. Shantelle has always appeared to be a popular child, however recently she has become isolated from her peers within her form group, and has been mixing with much older girls. Her form teacher has noticed that Shantelle is sometimes aggressive with her peers, and is very quick to lose her temper. At other times, she appears to be withdrawn and anxious. Her attendance at school is becoming increasingly erratic, and the standard of her work is noticeably deterioriating. Shantelle has a number of cuts on her arm, but on questioned about these insists that ‘they are nothing’. Shantelle’s parents have recently separated, and she is currently living with her mother and visiting her father at weekends. (1500 words)
Case study 2 (DfEE, 2001)
Yasmine is 8 and has recently started at a new primary school. Her mother has started a relationship with a new boyfriend and has moved into the area with Yasmine and her four stepbrothers and sisters in order to live with him. He has two children by a previous relationship, who occasionally visit at weekends. Yasmine initially appears to be a quiet, shy and anxious child. She is very small for her age. However, she is quick to lose her temper, and can on occasion be very aggressive with other children in the class. Yasmine has problems with reading and writing, which are not helped by the difficulties that she has in concentrating for any length of time. Yasmine’s attendance at school is erratic, as is that of her stepbrothers and sisters, two of whom are at the same school. After being at the school for a term, it is clear that Yasmine’s behaviour is deteriorating. Her attendance is more erratic than ever – and she is increasingly isolated from other children in the class. She regularly gets into fights with other children – and is occasionally rude to school staff. Her behaviour is causing great concern for her class teacher. (1500 words)
Use the structure below to develop your analytic commentary for each one of your case studies:
Brief introduction (between 100 – 150 words): Summarise the case study for the reader.
Use the CASEL framework of social and emotional learning to comment analytically on the child’s social and emotional profile.
The analysis of your commentary should focus on identifying some areas of social and emotional learning that the child is experiencing difficulties with. You will use the CASEL framework to identify those areas. Once you identify the areas, provide some brief information about each one of them. (400-450 words)
Comment on some of the factors that have potentially contributed to the child’s social and emotional learning difficulties (400-450) words):
First, identify one or two factors, for instance family, parenting, teacher-child relationship. Once you identify the factors, use the literature to explain why and how these factors could have contributed to the child’s social and emotional learning.
Comment on what type of intervention approach or strategy would benefit the child and why (400-450 words):
To answer this question, you can consider the following questions: What are some ways to support the social and emotional learning of the child? What type of intervention or teaching strategy could benefit the child and why, for instance, targeted, universal, parenting support? Support your choice with evidence/literature.
Essential Reading
Humphrey, N. (2013) Social and emotional learning: A critical appraisal. London: SAGE
Durlak, J.A. (2015) Handbook of social and emotional learning: Research and practice. New York: Guilford Publications.
Glazzard, J., Stokoe, J., Hughes, A., Netherwood, A. and Neve, L. (2015) Teaching and supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities in primary schools. London: Sage.
Cline, T. and Frederickson, N. (2015) Special educational needs, inclusion and diversity. (3rd edn.) Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill Education.
