Social and Emotional Learning

At Bancroft School, we embrace the belief that education extends beyond academic achievement; it encompasses the holistic development of each child. We are committed to fostering a nurturing environment where every student not only learns but also thrives emotionally and socially.

Drawing from the CASEL framework, which emphasizes self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making, we integrate Social and Emotional Learning into every facet of our curriculum. Through intentional practices and supportive structures, we aim to equip our students with essential life skills that empower them to navigate challenges, build meaningful relationships, and contribute positively to their communities.

Our approach to SEL is rooted in the understanding that emotional well-being is foundational to academic success. By fostering a safe and inclusive school culture, we create opportunities for students to develop empathy, resilience, and a deep sense of respect for themselves and others. Through explicit instruction, modeling, and real-world applications, we encourage our students to reflect on their emotions, manage conflicts constructively, and make thoughtful choices that align with their values.

Furthermore, we recognize the importance of collaboration among educators, families, and the broader community in supporting SEL. By forging strong partnerships and providing ongoing professional development, we ensure that our staff are equipped with the knowledge and skills to effectively integrate SEL into daily instruction and address the diverse needs of our students.

At Bancroft, the Lower School follows the Second Step curriculum, a research-based social-emotional learning program designed to improve children’s social-emotional skills. Second Step skills and concepts are designed to help children both in and out of school.

In each grade level, students are introduced to four different units over the course of the school year. In the PreK curriculum, there are five units. Each unit has a series of lessons and multimedia activities that engage students in authentic SEL learning.

Units in the Second Step Program

Growth Mindset & Goal Setting: Children learn how to pay attention and manage distractions, develop a growth mindset, and apply goal-setting strategies to their social and academic lives.
Emotion Management: Children learn how to identify and label emotions and use emotion-management strategies, including stress management for older students, to calm strong feelings.
Empathy & Kindness: Children learn how to recognize kindness and act kindly, have empathy for others, consider others’ perspectives, and recognize kindness and empathy as important elements of building and maintaining relationships.
Problem-Solving: Children learn how to identify and state a problem, recognize whether a problem is an accident, and use the STEP problem-solving method: Say the problem, Think of solutions, Explore the outcomes, and Pick a solution.