The National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) explains SEL as “a wide range of skills, attitudes, and behaviors that can affect a student’s success in school and life.” NCSL goes on to say, “critical thinking, managing emotions, working through conflicts, decision making, and teamwork — all of these are the kind of skills that are not necessarily measured by tests but which round out a student’s education and impact his/her academic success, employability, self-esteem, relationships, as well as civic and community engagement.”
In short, SEL is the skill set that teaches children to be productive members of society. Most teachers can easily list a set of traits or qualities that they hope to see their students exhibit. These include qualities such as independent thinking, self-motivated, inquisitive and persistent. Thrively takes these skills even further and combines them with students’ interests and strengths to encourage the student’s whole self-development.
Finally, teachers have a method to actually teach these desired skill sets in a way that motivates students to learn and achieve them.
What does the research say?
Thrively is backed by lots of science and research. It utilizes several assessments in order to compile a profile and design an individualized instructional path for each student. The assessments include the THOMAS and MIDAS, in conjunction with their own independently developed Strength Assessment.
The THOMAS assessment is based on the Habits of Mind, which is part of the previously mentioned science and research. The Habits of Mind are an identified set of 16 problem solving, life-related skills, necessary to effectively operate in society and promote strategic reasoning, insightfulness, perseverance, creativity and craftsmanship. The understanding and application of these 16 Habits of Mind serve to provide the individual with skills to work through real-life situations that equip that person to respond using awareness (cues), thought, and intentional strategy in order to gain a positive outcome.
The THOMAS Assessment builds a personality profile of the test taker and combines the 16 Habits of Mind into four main traits, Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Compliance. These traits are known as the DISC personality types.
Alicia Verweij has written an in-depth article; read more https://www.edgeucating.com/help-students-thrive-with
