Boost Social-Emotional Learning with Let’s Go Learn

The ultimate goal of our educational system is to provide students with equitable school experiences that integrate academics, positive behavior, and community collaboration. But just a quick look at the graphic below from 2019 NASBE survey findings illustrates the conundrum that all teachers face – too many priorities and too little time (NASBE, 2019).

The evolution of emotional intelligence to Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) has re-ignited hope in our education system as we struggle to deal with the challenges of equitability, the pandemic and unfinished learning, and issues that impede the progress of diverse students with and without disabilities. For example, the 2011 meta-analysis of 213 K-12 SEL programs found that: “Compared to controls, SEL participants demonstrated significantly improved social and emotional skills, attitudes, behavior, and academic performance that reflected an 11-percentile-point gain in achievement (Durlak et al, 2011). LGL’s online math and ELA/reading assessments and curriculum are designed with SEL in mind.

Let’s Go Learn’s assessment and curriculum design provides multiple embedded SEL-characteristics:

• Assessments that adapt to student performance thus reducing anxiety and building confidence
• Mastery of foundational math and ELA/Reading concepts through intelligent scaffolding, problem solving, and ongoing progress monitoring
• Engagement with direct instruction that combines music and lyrics, animation, characters that represent diversity and cultural relevance
• Personalized learning paths based on diagnostics and formative assessment
• Instruction that occurs at each student’s Zone of Proximal Development
• Digital experience that set the same high expectations for every student
• Preparation for the requirements of college and career

LGL’s adaptive diagnostic assessments are online and reside on our AI system. In general, if the assessment is taken in one sitting, it would take between 1 and 2 hours. However, students can take assessments at their own pace so that teachers have a clear idea of strengths and gaps. Our diagnostics break standards apart, identify student learning gaps, and then automatically create each student’s learning path.Our design approach recognizes that schools and districts may eliminate time limits for certain student groups. Our assessments bookmark where a student leaves off, so teachers can elect to have students do the assessments in sections or classroom periods. Teachers can review reports with students and discuss goals and steps towards these goals, offering student choice and increasing intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.

The zone of proximal development is the ideal place to teach new knowledge to students, allowing them to comprehend the subject matter, thrive, and then develop their own expertise and higher-level thinking. The best way to find a student’s ZPD is to assess a student’s level of knowledge and understanding before teaching begins, and to continue assessing periodically to make sure the student is on track with what is being taught. Imagine how having instruction designed for a student’s personal ZPD changes their educational experience.