A Reflective Journal
In today’s evolving educational realigning, strengthening the curriculum through life and career skills, fostering academic excellence alone is no longer enough. The development of social and emotional skills among learners has become just as essential. One of the most impactful approaches to promote this development is through student-teacher one-on-one accommodation, a method that not only supports individualized learning but also enhances the core competencies of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL).
Students and teachers interact and integrating SEL into day-to-day activities and decision making allows students to build a strong foundation for lifelong success, not only academically but personally and socially.
Understanding Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Social and Emotional Learning through student-teacher one-on-one accommodation becomes a powerful tool for Social and Emotional Learning in the following ways:
1. Establish, building trust and create positive relationships
Every day, I always encourage myself to do at least know 5 students in the campus through individual attention through one-on-one interactions, in the canteen, corridor or even in the court. It helped me build a foundation of trust. I begin to feel acknowledged, appreciated, and respected as a teacher-essential elements for fostering my emotional security. In this supportive setting, some students were more likely to take learning risks and express their feelings in a healthy way. Simple gestures like staying with them in their room after our class or seating near them during recess in the canteen and asking thoughtful questions such as “How are you doing?”, “What topics are you curious about so I can help guide you?”, “How has your day been?”, or even “Is there anything I can support you with aside from academics?”, “Can you teach me a skill that you are fascinated with?” to show genuine care and strengthen the emotional bond.
2. Feel and show empathy for others
Through active listening and empathetic dialogue, I have learned how value to care and respond sensitively to others’ emotions with a simple smile and nodding of the head slowly. Assisted some of my student’s anxiety while talking to them, placing a hands in front of the eye, as a symbol of pause and remove it to allow the student to remain at present. In return, students learn to replicate these behaviors in their peer relationships, improving their communication and social interaction skills.
3. Setting goals for personal growth, responsibility and improvement
For individual discussions and creative conversation of ideas related to my students their vision, curiosity and problem-solving skills which provided me space where as a teacher helped my students think through the relevance, weighing options, and make informed decisions. Over time, students become more capable of acting responsibly and solving problems constructively. Asking the students “How did you go over your decisions now, as compared to your patterns in decision making before?”.
4. Creating dreams and enhancing self-awareness and self-management one step at a time
During individual sessions, SEL taught me as a teacher to guide students in reflecting on their behaviors, strengths, and areas for improvement. These conversations help learners to understand their emotional triggers, set goals, and regulate their responses—core aspects of self-awareness and self-management, building confidence and make each mistake as a source of strength.
REFLECTION. “The Ripple Effect”
As a teacher, if consistently provide one-on-one accommodation grounded in empathy and understanding not only to some students but for the big group as general, this extends beyond teamwork but creating a safe space for growth. The classroom atmosphere becomes more inclusive, supportive, and emotionally intelligent. Students will feel emotionally connected to their teachers and other subject teachers are more likely to be engaged, resilient, and motivated to succeed because of this simple act of kindness and compassion.
Conclusion
Incorporating social and emotional learning through student-teacher one-on-one accommodation is not just an intervention strategy—it is a transformative teaching practice. By taking the time to understand and support each learner individually, educators lay the groundwork for confident, compassionate, and emotionally intelligent young people ready to thrive both inside and outside the classroom. Preparing for the future generation of excellent leaders.
