Hi! I’m Dana, the director of Content and Learning at Generous Classroom. As both a counselor and educator, I have seen firsthand how students struggle with emotions like anxiety, anger, and confusion. Without the right tools for identifying and regulating emotions, navigating challenges, and building strong relationships, many students felt trapped and isolated at school.
Looking for a meaningful way to encourage and connect with my students, I introduced a powerful tool in our classroom that helped them navigate life's difficulties. Implementing a Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum transformed my students' lives. SEL focuses on teaching essential skills like self-awareness, emotional regulation, social skills, and decision-making. These tools help students face challenges both inside and outside the classroom.
In my experience, SEL gave my students the tools to manage their emotions and thrive emotionally and spiritually. I watched gratitude become a powerful antidote to anxiety. My struggling students began to regain their peace and confidence. They began to develop healthier relationships with their peers and themselves.
Imagine a school where students walk in daily feeling seen, heard, and valued for their academic abilities and who they are as children of God. Picture a space where disruptive environments are a thing of the past. Students are given tools to learn to manage their emotions and face challenges with gratitude and grace. Think about a classroom where educators feel empowered to teach biblical SEL and have their and their student’s hearts transformed and renewed. This is a space where biblical SEL isn’t just a lesson — it’s a way of life that is deeply rooted in biblical truths. The school community shares a positive and empowering language at school and at home. Here, students aren’t just learning how to regulate their feelings — they’re learning how to be generous with their thoughts, words, and hearts, making choices that reflect the love and wisdom of Christ.
This type of school culture and classroom may seem idealistic, but it IS available by implementing a biblically immersed SEL curriculum. However, some Christian schools have yet to fully embrace social-emotional learning. Something often viewed as secular or separate from faith has made many cautious. What if, instead of viewing SEL as something secular or separate from faith, we saw it as an opportunity to deepen our students' understanding of how God designed them? Biblical SEL acknowledges that we are emotional beings because we’re made in the image of a relational and loving God.
Now, along with the partnership of Dr. Tyler Groves and Dr. Kenneth Coley, Christian schools can embrace biblical SEL in a way that aligns fully with their values. Dr. Tyler Groves, a leader in Christian education, specializes in integrating social-emotional learning with a biblical worldview, equipping schools to nurture the whole child. Dr. Kenneth Coley, a respected author and educator, brings decades of experience in developing faith-based educational strategies and training teachers for Christ-centered classrooms.
With their new book, Growing with One Another: Social & Emotional Learning in Christian Perspective, we can confidently move forward in teaching SEL, knowing that it’s compatible with our faith. This impactful tool can deepen our students’ relationship with God. This partnership provides a safe, biblically-rooted approach to SEL. This approach helps students grow emotionally, spiritually, and socially in a way that honors God and their unique, individual journeys.
Ready to learn more about biblical SEL? Download Chapter 1 of Growing with One Anything: Social & Emotional Learning in Christian Perspective by Dr. Tyler Groves and Dr. Kenneth Coley here!
Want to hear more about Generous Students and how we can transform the halls of your school? Reach out to our school partnership specialist for a quick demo!
Written By: Dana Brady ‧ Director of Content and Learning