Emotional Learning
Nurturing The Whole Student.
Focusing on the whole student—who each child is outside of the classroom as well as inside—encourages them to build relationships, understand themselves, and grow independently.
Mental Health
Maintaining The Right Balance
Stronger mental health means our students can learn better and are more likely to realize their full potential.
In our programs, we aim to:
- Recognize early warning signs
- Offer flexibility to account for bandwidth
- Provide opportunities for open discussion
- Teach the student, not the subject
Social Learning
Our students learn how to empathize with people from different backgrounds and cultures while building an understanding of ethics in the community, school, and home.
They practice listening and communicating with others, building and maintaining healthy relationships, and asking for or offering help.
Emotional Well-Being.
Our educational methodology helps students of all ages understand their emotions deeply, cope with them in a healthy way, and practice empathy.
With these essential skills, students are better able to make positive and responsible decisions that can help them achieve academic, professional, and personal goals.
The Benefits of Social and Emotional Learning.
Improved grades and test scores.
Development of positive relationships.
Reduced criminal behavior.
Self-empathy and understanding.
Decrease in emotional stress.
Better ability to handle conflict.
Increased likelihood of graduation.
You’ve Got Questions, We’ve Got Answers.
Since all academics are virtual at online school, it’s important for children to have a way to connect with other students through social activities and extracurricular clubs. K12-powered schools are unique in the number and diversity of social opportunities offered for enrolled students and other learners to connect with their peers.
Social opportunities include extracurricular activities and clubs for all grade levels, national competitions and contests, summer camps, and enrichment programs. Students can explore their passions and interests while developing meaningful friendships within a safe online learning environment at K12-powered schools.
Many experts believe online students have abundant opportunities to participate in meaningful social activities both online and in-person. Homeschooled children and children who attend online schools are not confined to their homes. Rather, they’re encouraged to participate in various outdoor activities and interact with friends and peers. This could include field trips to the zoo, a play, or a museum; playing a sport; engaging in an artistic activity; or otherwise participating in their communities.
The social component of learning does not disappear when school takes place online, but it does look different. Students participate in group projects through breakout sessions. They may also collaborate on assignments to solve problems and overcome challenges. Students are encouraged to treat the online classroom as a traditional experience, leaving cameras and microphones on to connect more effectively.
Outside the classroom, students gather for online clubs, contests, field trips, workshops, and other extracurricular activities. These tools can be especially helpful for shy students, who may already have something in common with the others in the club, thereby easing initial connections.
We haven’t forgotten that adults need a social network, too! We have resources and activities for parents and guardians, including our Learning Coach Community. You’ll have many opportunities to connect with other parents and Learning Coaches and find opportunities for your child to be more social. Some of the K12 enrichment programs also have sessions for adults.
We encourage you to draw support from our community. To start, we recommend the Behind the Scenes Facebook group. Some schools also have a Learning Coach Community built right in the K12 App—check to see if your school is one of them! Also, many K12-powered schools have Facebook pages to connect with local families. In addition, you can attend one of many events and activities where you can meet other families and teachers.
