It may not be written into every curriculum, but social emotional learning (SEL) is something teachers incorporate into their lessons everyday. Self-management, self awareness, decision making and other aspects of the self don’t come naturally to each child and they may need a little extra help. One way teachers can incorporate this into their lessons is through SEL books they can read and discuss as a class. Here are three SEL books that can be indispensable tools within any classroom.
The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig
The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig follows a young boy named Brian who feels he goes unnoticed by everyone. His teacher only pays attention to the kids who are disruptive, his classmates don’t pick him for games, and he never gets invited to parties. Then, one day, a new boy named Justin transfers to his school and Brian slowly starts to realize he’s not as invisible as he originally thought.
Many students may believe themselves to be invisible to their parents, teachers and classmates and that no one will ever take notice of them. This book shows that it only takes one moment of putting themselves out there and offering acceptance to show them that they are seen. This act of acceptance also teaches kids that everyone has their own unique differences that need to be respected whether it's the type of food they eat or their artistic expression. Students will also feel a sense of success when reading due to the interpretations of the book's illustrations as well as the complexity of the story.
Don’t Think About Purple Elephants by Susanne Merritt
Don’t Think About Purple Elephants by Susanne Merritt follows a little girl named Sophie. Sophie loves going to school and playing with her friends, she also loves being at home and spending time with her family. When bedtime comes around, however, Sophie is plagued with thoughts about anything and everything that can go wrong during the night and the next day. Unsure what to do, Sophie goes to her mother for advice who tells her that no matter what she does, don’t think about purple elephants.
Anxiety isn’t something a lot of kids discuss with each other or with their parents because it’s unlikely they understand what it is. All they know is they feel scared and nervous, and they don’t know how to make those emotions go away, a concept many adults struggle with as well. This book helps children grow by showing them these feelings are normal and they can ask for help when dealing with them while also giving them a silly solution.
Maybe a student realizes the things they worry about aren’t the same as what Sophie worries about in the story, or maybe they do. Maybe a student realizes they have the same nervous feelings, however, they feel those feelings at school and throughout the day instead of just at night. In this way, each student will come to understand they are different from one another in their anxieties. Realizing the connections they can make from the book to their own lives can leave each student feeling a sense of accomplishment after reading this book.
If anyone would like to listen to this story for themselves, then they can do so by clicking the link below:
After the Fall: How Humpty Got Back Up Again by Dan Santat
Most people know the story of Humpty Dumpty and his fall off the wall, what most don’t know is what happened afterwards. After the King’s men put Humpty back together, he developed a terrible fear of heights, and he could no longer do his favorite hobby: watching the birds high up in the sky. Eventually, Humpty finds a new favorite thing to do, which is flying a paper airplane he made himself. Then, one day, his airplane flies too high and gets stuck on the same wall Humpty fell off of. Will he be able to conquer his fears to save it?
Every child has something different they are afraid of and, unfortunately, many of those fears were developed from accidents or bad experiences. This story helps kids understand that accidents are unavoidable and it’s okay to be afraid afterwards but, no matter their fear, they are capable of getting back up and trying again.
Anyone who is interested in knowing how this tale ends can listen to the story through the link below:
Citations
Ludwig, T. (2013). The Invisible Boy. Knopf Books for Young Readers.
Merritt, S. (2017. Don’t Think About Purple Elephants. EK Books.
Santat, D. (2017). After the fall: how Humpty Dumpty got back up again. First edition. New York, New York,
Roaring Brook Press.
