Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is the key to successfully navigating life and here at Ivy Academia, a tuition-free TK-8 public school in Woodland Hills, California, it’s at the heart of all we do. Our small and engaged school prepares students for their next steps in life - both academically and socially - and as a result, we incorporate SEL every day.

What is SEL

Rather than just hope that students pick up positive social behavior as they grow,  Ivy Academia explicitly teaches SEL through authentic learning engagements. At the school level, it means our teachers incorporate strategies that are good practice for developing the whole child. 

Research has shown that positive social behavior is one of the greatest predictors of academic success. The better our connections are with each other, the more we will thrive in other areas of our life. Social and Emotional Learning is essentially building great character through: 

• acquiring skills to manage emotions (self-management)
• nurturing positive relationships (relationship skills)
• making informed choices (responsible decision-making)
• feeling and exhibiting empathy (self & social awareness)

What does SEL look like at Ivy Academia?

For our TK-8 students - who are in a period of rapid social growth and change - Ivy Academia uses the Character Strong program to support student development. Character Strong promotes engagement, belonging, and well-being. Ivy Academia has used this program since 2021 as we saw the isolating effects of the pandemic and wanted a way to build social connection and relationships during this difficult time. We love how Character Strong teaches conflict resolution, compassion, executive functioning, and wellness strategies so our students are set up for success.

Because our small school is committed to making social and emotional connections every day, it’s easy for us to tell if a student seems to be having a hard time. Our entire staff is one big cheerleading team for our students and we are here to help in good times and challenging moments. 

If a conflict arises, our devoted staff support students with coaching and guidance aimed at a win-win solution. Learning conflict resolution skills and ways to manage peer pressure can significantly reduce social stress. We care about you!

Give your child a supportive academic environment where kindness counts: connect with our Ivy Academia Puma family and enroll today!

About Ivy Academia