tuning in to teens

Emotional Intelligence

Claudia Johnson

Assistant Principal

Throughout Term 1, teachers, parents and students accessed learning on emotional intelligence – how to recognise, manage and communicate about emotions. These sessions were aimed at promoting healthy emotional communication within our school community to foster strong relationships and emotional wellbeing. 

The Tuning in to Teens program teaches parents and teachers a communication style (emotion coaching) that has been found optimal for adolescents’ social and emotional functioning. The classroom learning helps students identify feelings in themselves and others, how to work out what these feelings are telling us, and strategies to handle these emotions.  

The feedback  has been overwhelmingly positive. Parents have reported improved communication and relationships with their children. Students report being engaged with the learning and better able to cope with anger, anxiety and other strong emotions. Teachers use of emotion coaching with students has promoted greater emotional awareness and acceptance and stronger relationships with their students. The benefits of this learning have been significant and obvious, and we expect to build on this success with more social and emotional learning in our Home Group programs. 

Later in the year,  Brunswick Secondary College staff will participate in more Tuning in to Teens professional learning -  another example of the school's commitment to continuous learning and improvemment across all members of our community. The school also hopes to repeat the Tuning in to Teens  Parent Sessions in 2020 - so if you could not attend the course you may have another opportunity.  The BSC Year 8 Home Group curriculum will continue to include emotional intelligence learning each year during Semester 1.