Maurice J. Elias, professor of psychology at Rutgers University and vice-chair of the leadership team of the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning writes:

Social-emotional learning is sometimes called the missing piece, because it represents a part of education that links academic knowledge with a specific set of skills important to success in schools, families, communities, workplaces and life in general. As recent world events have taught, there is a danger to each of us locally and globally when children grow up with knowledge but without social-emotional skills and a strong moral compass. Hence, a combination of academic and social-emotional learning is the true standard for effective education in the world today and for the foreseeable future.

Task:

Write an essay (suggested length of 2-3 pages) which describes common social needs of children. Incorporate the following aspects:

A. Describe at least three skills or personal capabilities that contribute to positive social development in a wide range of life’s social roles and responsibilities.

B. Describe at least two qualities of a family environment that contribute to the development of the skills or capabilities you identified in A.

C. Describe at least one quality of a family environment that may inhibit the development of the skills or capabilities you identified in A.

D. Describe at least two qualities of a classroom environment that contribute to the development of the skills or capabilities you identified in A.

E. Describe at least one quality of a classroom environment that may inhibit the development of the skills or capabilities you identified in A.

F. Incorporate supportive evidence from the theory of Erik Erickson, Abraham Maslow, Maurice Elias, or another social development theorist.

G. Provide in-text citations of at least two resources in APA format.