Social Emotional Learning

& Counseling

MIS has both a Social Emotional Learning (SEL) coach and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) available for its students. The SEL coach deepens the positive school climate and culture by helping teachers and students understand and manage emotions. They help set and achieve positive goals, like feeling and showing empathy for others, and help establish and maintain positive relationships with classmates.

Our mental health counselor provides opportunities for our students, families, and staff to receive mental health services at school at no additional cost. Our LCPC is able to assist with general mental health issues as well as the management of mental health disorders, and acts a liaison between providers and MIS.

Meet Our Team

Emily

Emily Musco is at MIS three days a week, as a part-time SEL Coach. She’s an experienced educator, having worked with inner city adolescents and other children in therapeutic settings. She has a long-time connection to our school as the mom of three MIS students. Emily brings an innate sense of joy to the school and helps us build and maintain a positive school climate.

Joey

Joey Moore, M.A., LCPC. Each week, Joey brings his expertise in childhood trauma, positive discipline, and other common mental health issues to our students, parents, and staff. He applies a holistic, strength-based, and non-pathological approach to mental health wellness.

What is SEL?

In the past several decades, schools have begun recognizing the importance of self-awareness and self-management skills in young children. Social and emotional learning (SEL) coaches are joining school counselors to help with social awareness and interpersonal skills - like - how to maintain positive relationships, how to establish sound decision-making skills and learning about responsible behaviors in all contexts.

Why is it important?

Children experience stress and anxiety just as adults do. MIS aims to help our students develop a strong sense of self and focus on social skills like inclusivity and acceptance, which will hopefully help them be better prepared for all the challenges growing up presents.

SEL Competencies

  • Self-Awareness/Self-control managing emotions, mindfulness

  • Self-Management/Assertiveness perseverance in the face of challenges, standing up for ideas without hurting others

  • Social Awareness/Empathy recognizing others’ emotions/states of mind, openness to new ideas

  • Cooperation/Relationship Skills

  • Responsibility/Responsible Decision-making define problem, consider consequences, choose positive solution, Kelso’s choices, etc.

What does it entail?

There are many ways we actively engage a child’s curiosity and creativity while developing their social and emotional skills. Using the IB framework, the SEL coach:

  • builds students’ skills to become more aware of themselves & others

  • supports students who need help resetting and returning to class, one-on-one

  • works in groups and pairs to further cooperation and communication

  • engages with a variety of open-ended learning materials

  • fosters an environment that invites students to explore their emotions

  • develops and implements behavior plans with parents and teachers

Learn more about the history of SEL.

SEL Resources for Families

How MIS imbeds SEL in it’s classrooms:

Used as a tool for our preschool through 5th grades, Kelso’s Choice teaches young children skills in conflict resolution. It is a tool to prevent bullying, build important life skills and increase confidence.

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Kelso’s Choice

Multiage Classrooms

We emphasize a multiage classroom, but we also encourage connection across all grade levels. Every year, children are placed in a familia which they meet with in groups throughout the year. We also pair together reading buddies in which older students pair up and read to our younger students.

These connections help the young children learn from the older ones and the older ones learn leadership skills.

Responsive Classroom

To further build community in our classrooms, MIS utilizes a social and emotional curriculum called Responsive Classroom. This approach provides a common experience across all grades and is guided by a set of principles that highlight how SEL transforms a child and the classroom:

  • SEL is as important as academic growth

  • understanding how children learn (individually, culturally & developmentally) & knowing them and their families is important

  • interaction supports growth

  • academic & social success are supported by a set of skills: cooperation, assertiveness, responsibility, empathy & self-control

  • it starts with working together as an adult community

Middle School Advisory

In middle school, we include an advisory program which we feel prepares students to become independent learners and helps them feel connected to themselves and their community.  Advisories help students really get to know their fellow advisory peers, and learn how to support each other in a small group. The goal is to create supportive, caring and constructive relationships with their peers, adults and community.