Setting Goals for School Improvement: A Guide for Principals
April 22, 2025
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Math is more than just numbers and equations – it’s about problem-solving, critical thinking, and perseverance. By incorporating social-emotional learning in math, we can help students develop confidence, resilience, and a growth mindset. SEL strategies help students to manage emotions, work collaboratively, and see mistakes as opportunities for learning.
In this blog, we’ll explore effective social-emotional learning strategies that can transform how students engage with math. More specifically, you’ll discover how movement-based learning activities work as SEL strategies. Plus, you’ll find a free social-emotional learning worksheet and social-emotional learning math activities to bring to your classroom.
Social-emotional learning (SEL) in math is the process of developing emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills while learning math concepts. Integrating SEL into math instruction helps students develop the mindset, behaviors, and skills necessary to:
The five core competencies of SEL, as defined by the CASEL Framework, are:
Educators can adopt social-emotional learning strategies in math class that help students develop each of these skills, along with their number sense.
Self-awareness involves identifying and understanding one’s own emotions. To incorporate this component of SEL in math, educators can encourage students to express how they feel about a challenging math lesson.
Self-management is the ability to manage one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. One social-emotional learning strategy related to this skill is teaching students to take a deep breath when they feel overwhelmed. Encouraging students to take a break and move around before returning to a challenging task helps them develop perseverance to handle difficult problems.
Social awareness is the ability to recognize others’ perspectives. In math class, two students may solve a problem correctly using different methods. Having the students share their different problem-solving approaches helps them develop social awareness, effectively adding SEL in math.
Relationship skills involve making and maintaining healthy and supportive relationships with others. A simple way to incorporate this component of SEL in math is by assigning group work.
An individual with responsible decision-making skills makes choices that are logical and considerate of others. To develop this social-emotional learning component in math, have students solve real-world problems, such as questions involving budgeting or dividing items equally among people.
These five components of social-emotional learning are crucial to students’ overall development. Educators can enhance their lessons by considering these aspects in their social-emotional learning math activities.
Educators are not only teaching students how to be good mathematicians but also how to be good people. We want children to have problem-solving skills in all aspects of life, not just in math equations.
Adding social-emotional learning strategies to math considers the whole child, including their:
Here are the benefits of adding social-emotional learning math activities to your curriculum.
A 2020 meta-analysis published by the American Psychological Association revealed a correlation between higher emotional intelligence (the goal of SEL) and improved academic performance, including better standardized test scores and grades (MacCann et al., 2019).
Furthermore, a 2011 study revealed that students who participated in SEL programs saw an average academic achievement improvement of 11% (Durlak et al., 2011).
Did you know that 20-25% of children experience moderate or high levels of math anxiety? If math is stressful or difficult for students, they may begin to avoid it and lose confidence.
Couple this with unfinished learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and you likely have students who feel a lot of pressure to catch up and perform well in math. Working through these feelings of stress and anxiety with SEL strategies can help students succeed.
A 2011 meta-analysis found that students participating in SEL programs exhibited enhanced engagement in school activities and a positive attitude toward learning. When students are engaged in their learning, they are more likely to perform well academically!
There are many benefits to including social-emotional learning math activities in the classroom, and there are many easy ways to incorporate SEL strategies in every lesson.
Social-emotional learning strategies for elementary students do not have to be complicated! Here are some effective SEL strategies that teachers can incorporate into their school days.
A growth mindset is the belief that skills and intelligence can be developed with effort. Many people see their intelligence as an unchangeable part of themselves. Conversely, someone with a growth mindset believes that hard work and practice will improve skills.
We have an entire blog on how to develop this mindset in your students! Fostering a growth mindset goes hand in hand with social-emotional learning in math.
Nurturing confidence in math for your students can be done while fostering a growth mindset as well. When math is stressful or frustrating, students will avoid it. They avoid math because they fear failure.
First, educators can normalize struggles and making mistakes. Even famous mathematicians face challenges. For example, Thomas Edison and his team conducted approximately 1200 experiments and tested hundreds of materials before designing a functional lightbulb.
Emphasize the process, not the answer. Give partial credit for showing work or writing out formulas.
When students know it is okay to make mistakes, they are more willing to try. Knowing that wrong answers are okay can reduce math anxiety.
Moreover, educators can incorporate movement-based strategies into their lessons to reduce feelings of stress and frustration. Studies show that exercise can improve negative emotions such as anxiety and stress in children.
Math & Movement offers kinesthetic learning solutions for schools designed to boost physical activity, learning comprehension, and math mindsets.
There are lots of social-emotional learning strategies to help elementary students develop problem-solving skills.
Connecting math to real-world scenarios is a good way to start. When students can relate to math problems, they are more likely to stay engaged. They can also make meaning of lessons and see each concept’s purpose.
Group projects also help students develop problem-solving skills. While working in groups, students see how peers may solve problems differently.
Furthermore, educators should encourage unique and new ways to solve problems, including movement-based strategies. Children have a natural inclination to be physically active. Not to mention, up to 45% of your students could be kinesthetic learners!
In addition to reducing stress, kinesthetic activities improve learning comprehension and increase student engagement. With a better understanding of new math concepts and a stronger interest in lessons, students will subsequently improve their problem-solving skills!
Math & Movement makes learning by doing possible in any classroom!
Social-emotional learning math activities can be as simple as gamifying a lesson. During a game, students practice a wide variety of skills, including:
With any Math & Movement purchase, you’ll receive unlimited access to our online activity database. The database gives educators hundreds of ways to gamify their lessons using the Math & Movement materials that they have!
Social-emotional learning strategies are all about helping students better understand their emotions. Encourage students to recognize their feelings throughout the school day, particularly during math lessons. Are they frustrated over a problem? Are they excited for a new lesson?
As has been noted, mathematics is not always an easy subject and can bring up some negative emotions. Providing a daily check-in for students is a way to stay in touch with how your students are feeling. We have the perfect free resource below!
How are your students feeling?
Provide a daily check-in for your students using our free social-emotional learning worksheet! This worksheet helps students describe and illustrate their feelings. Stay in touch with your students and know how to best support them each day!
Building a classroom community is an important social-emotional learning strategy. Every student should have a sense of belonging. A supportive community does wonders for mental and emotional health.
Normalizing mistakes and recognizing different problem-solving approaches is, again, important here. Group work is also a beneficial way for students to connect with each other.
Likewise, educators can assign job responsibilities to have students develop a sense of community. Some classroom jobs for math lessons may include:
Or, if you’re using Math & Movement floor mats, you can have a “Mat Roller”!
The Math & Movement program was created to help children become active, confident, and comfortable in learning. Our program uses a multi-sensory approach to math with an emphasis on physical activity. We create kinesthetic educational products, including heavy-duty floor mats and stickers, that students can move on during lessons.
Movement as a SEL strategy can help alleviate the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). ACEs can limit the release of small proteins, known as growth factors, in the brain. Growth factors maintain neural pathways in the brain.
Movement stimulates the release of a growth factor called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). BDNF improves the function of neurons and promotes their growth. As a result, learning is enhanced while moving! Moreover, increased BDNF levels make the brain less vulnerable to stress (Notara & van de Buuse, 2020).
Many of Math & Movement’s activities and materials incorporate positive affirmations. Positive affirmations are a great building block in social-emotional development. Short, quick statements can reduce stress, reshape negative thought patterns, and promote a positive self-image. Affirmations lead students to believe they can learn and do great things!
Our positive affirmation stickers make it easy to incorporate uplifting thoughts into your students’ daily lives.
Plus, our workbooks incorporate positive affirmations as a SEL strategy as well. Pages in our Jump & Learn Addition and Subtraction, Jump & Learn Multiplication, Jump & Learn Division, and Multiplication and Division in the Real-World workbooks include positive affirmation graphics and stickers!
We have a 1-hour webinar on trauma-informed teaching strategies for helping students with ACEs. In the Trauma and Math – Using Movement to Support Students with ACEs Webinar, educators will learn:
Discover the best social-emotional learning strategies for math in this virtual professional development session.
We’ve seen the materials in our Math Kits bring students together and completely transform classroom culture. A third-grade class in Sarasota, FL, saw a significant, positive change after completing a 10-day math intervention. The intervention used Math & Movement teaching strategies for multiplication.
The students made an average improvement of 89% across all multiples in just 10 school days using the Skip Counting Mats in our 3-5 Math Kit. The principal and teacher immediately noticed a change in the class’s behavior and interactions, too.
“Bridging the gap has created so much more harmony in my classroom and it’s fun to watch!” said Mr. Mills, the class’s teacher. “It makes my class way more well-rounded now. It’s only been not even two weeks and there’s already a shift in the dynamics of my class.”
“Classroom management and behavior management is so built-in to this entire program… Not only have we seen an increase in collaboration, teamwork, a little healthy competition, but there has absolutely been a decrease in students who feel the need to act out,” remarked Ms. Jenkins, the principal. “[Our students] want to be engaged.”
In conclusion, adding movement and social-emotional learning in math can make a huge difference in your classroom. Movement-based learning strategies can help your students with their academic, social, and emotional skills.
Prominently, Common Core State Standards “specify that students solve real-world and mathematical problems by working effectively with peers; formulating, communicating and critiquing arguments; and persevering through difficulty.” Movement can help educators meet this standard.
By making small tweaks to your instruction to add SEL in math, you’re helping students develop many soft skills required for jobs and successful adulthood, including teamwork, problem-solving, and good decision-making. With SEL strategies and movement-based learning, students can take ownership of their actions, understand themselves better, and feel a sense of belonging in the classroom.
Social-emotional learning is important because it helps young students develop essential life skills that contribute to personal well-being, positive relationships, and success in and beyond school. SEL improves academic achievement, reduces anxiety, and increases student engagement.
Educators can promote social-emotional learning in the classroom by:
A 2020 meta-analysis published by the American Psychological Association revealed a correlation between higher emotional intelligence (the goal of SEL) and improved academic performance, including better standardized test scores and grades (MacCann et al., 2019).
Furthermore, a 2011 study revealed that students who participated in SEL programs saw an average academic achievement improvement of 11% (Durlak et al., 2011).
Math & Movement integrates social-emotional learning and SEL strategies into their program with physical movement. Physical activity reduces stress and anxiety. Therefore, kinesthetic learning activities can help students approach academic concepts more positively and confidently.
Furthermore, movement-based activities promote collaboration and cooperation between students. Students focus on the movement required of them rather than competing academically against one another. Many of Math & Movement’s activities include working with other classmates to solve problems together.
The program also encourages regularly reciting positive affirmations.
Movement enhances social-emotional learning by providing an engaging way for students to develop their intrapersonal and interpersonal skills. Through activities that require teamwork, problem-solving, and communication, students learn to navigate social interactions, manage their emotions, and build confidence – all while being active.
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How are your students feeling?
Provide a daily check-in for your students using our free social-emotional learning worksheet!
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