Social-Emotional Needs and Support

Just like all students, 2e learners need universal instruction in the 5 core social emotional competencies identified by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL): self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. 

This includes: The ability to establish and maintain healthy and rewarding relationships with diverse individuals and groups. The ability to communicate clearly, listen well, cooperate with others, resist inappropriate social pressure, negotiate conflict constructively, and seek and offer help when needed.

• Communication
• Social engagement
• Relationship building
• Teamwork    (Credit: CASEL)

The 5 Competencies Explained

1) SELF-AWARENESS is the the ability to accurately recognize one’s own emotions, thoughts, and values and how they influence behavior. The ability to accurately assess one’s strengths and limitations, with a well-grounded sense of confidence, optimism, and a “growth mindset.”  Support for self-awareness is helping students

• Identify emotions
• Have an accurate self-perception
• Recognize strengths
• Build self-confidence
• Build self-efficacy 

2) SOCIAL AWARENESS is the ability to take the perspective of and empathize with others, including those from diverse backgrounds and cultures. The ability to understand social and ethical norms for behavior and to recognize family, school, and community resources and supports.  It includes:

• Perspective-taking
• Empathy
• Appreciating diversity
• Respect for others 

3) Self-management: The ability to regulate one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors effectively in different situations. This includes:

• Impulse control
• Stress management
• Self-discipline
• Self-motivation
• Goal setting
• Organizational skills  

One glance at the list of behavioral traits that are developed in this competency will help you see how a gifted student with ADHD will need more than universal support to develop self-management skills!

Self-motivation can also be diminished when a student blames herself for failure because a learning disability has not been identified.

Stress is an increasing problem for all children.  Research shows it is a common problem for gifted students and can be an even greater problem for a gifted student who is also struggling with a disability.

4) Relationship skills: The ability to establish and maintain healthy and rewarding relationships with diverse individuals and groups. This includes communicating clearly, listening actively, cooperating, resisting inappropriate social pressure, negotiating conflict constructively, and seeking and offering help when needed. 

Equally as problematic is finding teachers, coaches, and other adults who understand the unique combination of extreme strengths and limitations typical of gifted and 2e students.   

These are learners who need your understanding and skillful support!

5) Responsible decision-making: The ability to make constructive and respectful choices about personal behavior and social interactions based on consideration of ethical standards, safety concerns, social norms, the realistic evaluation of consequences of various actions, and the well-being of self and others.  This includes:

• Identifying problems
• Analyzing situations
• Solving problems
• Evaluating
• Reflecting
• Ethical responsibility

Credit for all information below: CASEL

2e Students