Social-emotional learning has firmly established itself in the country’s school curriculum after being formalized by the BNCC. In the context of social isolation and the pandemic, it has become even more essential to ensure the right conditions for teaching and learning activities.

Mental health is an urgent issue in education and a source of concern for many families. According to the WHO, in 2018, 1 in 5 adolescents was already facing mental health problems. This problem was exacerbated during the pandemic, the impact of which is still being assessed.

WELCOME PROGRAM FOR THE RETURN TO SCHOOL
Therefore, emotional preparation for the return to in-person classes cannot be overlooked. The Welcome Program, as a pedagogical strategy, strengthens the school’s relationship with the school community and can redefine socialization and ways of facing challenges.

The “Acolhimento” program allows students to share their dreams and expectations for the future, fostering bonds; it creates an environment less conducive to bullying; it develops self-awareness through educational support and interaction with the group; and it promotes learning that helps students better cope with fears and frustrations.

Any plan to resume in-person schooling will yield better results if those involved—educators, families, and students—are prepared to cultivate more empathetic, supportive, and welcoming attitudes. This is, therefore, an opportunity to set your school apart in the face of this situation, using the experience of the pandemic as a pedagogical tool for social-emotional learning.

ONLINE WORKSHOP ON WELCOMING
To promote this positive culture at school, we must invest in training, workshops, and recreational activities aimed at this goal—first with the staff, and then with the students.

Teaching strategies to support the return to school were the focus of an online workshop on Empathy and Welcoming Environments in Schools. A partnership between Bett Educar and KUAU, the event featured experts, educators, and teenagers applying simple, practical, and free tools to inspire schools during this challenging time.

Methodologies such as those discussed at the event—backed by research in the fields of Positive Psychology, Behavioral Psychopedagogy, and Neuroscience—encourage active listening, optimism, and social-emotional learning. This is important because it restores students’ ability to dream and think positively about the future, paving the way for them to build their Life Plans.

EMPATHY MAP
The Empathy Map is an essential starting point for welcoming and listening to those involved with the school, taking into account their emotional contexts, behavioral profiles, challenges, needs, and influences. It is an excellent example of a structured, optimistic, and proactive intervention.

The tool encourages the acceptance and management of emotions through active and collective listening, helping participants reframe their experiences and prompting reflection on ways to act. This is important because it goes beyond simply providing a space for collective venting, bringing a message of hope to the school.

Learn more: How to Use the Empathy Map at School: