Social-Emotional Distance Learning Ideas

How can we keep students focused on learning in the midst of so many things that cause them anxiety and stress? Kids need to feel emotionally connected and socially included in order to be academically strong. This post gives practical social-emotional distance learning ideas for teachers and parents to implement now.


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Why is Social-Emotional Distance Learning So Essential Right Now?


“I’m NEVER going to finish this! I hate online learning.”

Even though his words had an angry tone, I could tell they were actually coming from a place a deep sadness.

My son is what many would call a “social butterfly!”

He thrives on interaction with friends, hands-on tactile learning, and face-to-face connection.

So when schools suddenly closed this year due to COVID-19, I knew he would need lots of grace to navigate his new learning landscape.

And it’s not just my kid who has this need!

There’s no way any kid is going to effectively learn academic content if his or her emotions are haywire and their friendships feel torn to shreds.

This is why intentional social-emotional teaching and learning is the key!


What is Social-Emotional Learning?


As a teacher and mom, I firmly believe that all learning is social-emotional. But in order to be intentional, we need to unpack exactly what it is.

Social-emotional learning includes five main areas for student success:

  • Social Awareness
  • Self-Management
  • Relationship Skills
  • Responsible Decision-Making
  • Self-Awareness

This video offers greater detail to help answer the question: What is Social-Emotional Learning?



Our kids aren’t just learning new subject content. They are also having to figure out how to use different online platforms. And they are doing this while still in the midst of a global pandemic…

  • …while surrounded by a necessary resurgent racial Civil Rights Movement
  • with new and different routines
  • with parents/caregivers possibly facing economic instability!

Yeah, that’s a lot!

Social-emotional learning is the process of helping students grow stronger academically by growing stronger in the five main areas listed above.

In this post, I’ll share practical ideas and activities related to each of those areas!


General SEL Activities Teachers Can Incorporate Into Their Virtual Learning


Regardless of what grade level you teach, your students need an inclusive online learning experience with you.

So here are three easy-to-implement activities that will help your students thrive during distance learning:

  • Help families get to know you through phone calls, Zoom/Google Meet sessions, text messages, etc.

    Since so many important non-verbal communication cues are lost through screens, just typing messages by email won’t be enough.
  • Host virtual social activities that allow you and your students to just connect outside of academic teaching.

    For example, my son’s teacher did a Disney Family Trivia night through Zoom. She found an already made Kahoot trivia about Disney movies and invited students to dress up in a Disney theme if they wanted!

    Activities like this build classroom community.
  • Provide opportunities for students to check-in with you emotionally. Google Forms makes it easy to set-up a few check-in questions that help you connect with students.

Each of these ideas goes beyond just teaching academic content, but each one will heavily impact your students’ academic progress.


How Teachers Can Efficiently Provide Consistent Feedback to Students


Many teachers are not only engaging in online learning with their students, but they are also helping their own kids at home navigate virtual learning as well.

So even though we want to incorporate all the social-emotional distance learning ideas, time is a huge concern.

communicating with students during distance learning


One easy way to save time giving students consistent feedback involves using printable and digital feedback templates.

These already-made notes work like a charm!

Moreover, they allow you to give feedback quickly and consistently.


Tips for Helping Students Develop Social Skills for Distance Learning


In the classroom, proper social skills need to be explicitly taught. Online learning spaces are no different.

The first tip for helping students develop online social skills is to use digital graphic organizers.

These can be used to teach character traits and specific behaviors.

back to school digital graphic organizers
These digital graphic organizers are included as a FREE BONUS in my read-aloud activity set. Click HERE or click the image for more details!



These digital graphic organizers will help your students develop social awareness, which will lead them to more responsible decision making. Making wise decisions will then improve their relationships with their classmates!

See how all these social-emotional components connect to each other!?

Another tip for helping students with distance learning social skills is to continue using read-alouds and novels that highlight good character traits.

My favorite mentor text to begin this is Do Unto Otters by Laurie Keller.

The book models specific behaviors that promote kindness, respect, empathy, and community. All of these are essential characteristics for a socially-emotionally healthy classroom!


You can also see way more read-alouds to use from this post:

Socio-Emotional Read-Alouds for Kids



Model New Ways to Socialize in the Classroom

For schools that have reopened, keeping kids at least 6-feet apart presents so many challenges.

Students who have been out of the classroom since March may struggle staying away from their friends physically.

That’s why it’s important to model new ways for kids to socialize with one another.

These new habits allow kids to be social while still following the recommended 6-feet apart rule.

I absolutely love these social distancing classroom posters from Learning with Kiki on Teachers Pay Teachers.

Photo Courtesy of Learning with Kiki


Each poster shows students new ways that they can greet their classmates in a way that keeps everyone healthy and safe.

I also love how much racial diversity she includes with the characters on each poster because this also helps all students feel included.


How Parents Can Establish Social-Emotional Learning at Home


Parents and teachers must continue to work together in even more ways during this 2020-2021 school season.

With that in mind, here are powerful ways that parents can help their kids grow socially and emotionally to succeed with remote learning:

  • Firstly, set up a consistent learning schedule for your kids. Routines foster a sense of safety and help kids learn important self-management skills.

  • Secondly, teach kids how to say positive affirmations each day. In the example I used with my son at the beginning of this post, his negative words were only adding to his sense of helplessness with distance learning.

    So I sat beside him to come up with realistic, yet positive sayings that we put on sticky notes around our computer.

    When his frustration flares up again, then he’ll have visual reminders of encouraging words to use.
  • Thirdly, include mini-breaks and opportunities for movement in your learning from home routine. This helps your kids have a study/work balance.

  • Finally, speak positively about distance learning in front of your children. If you verbally bash schools, teachers, and distance learning, then your kids will feed off that negative energy and show resistance to learning online.


Most importantly, keep wide-open communication with your child’s teacher.

Let him or her know what’s going well or what’s not going well with your at-home learning experience.



More Distance Learning Tips for Parents

  • working-from-home-with-kids
  • partner with parents distance learning
  • how-parents-and-teachers-can-work-together-to-prevent-bullying
  • tips-for-homeschooling-middle-schoolers
  • motivate-teen-studying


Practical Ways to Survive Working From Home with Kids

Effective Ways to Partner with Parents for Smooth Distance Learning

How Parents and Teachers Can Work Together to Prevent Bullying

6 Tips to Motivate Teen Studying

Tips for Homeschooling Middle Schoolers



Customize Students Desk Nameplates for Relationship Building

A lot of the ideas shared so far revolve around virtual learning. Yet, there are many schools doing a hybrid model where students are broken into groups.

For example, Group A will come to school 2 days a week, while Group B has online learning for those days.

Then the groups switch. Both groups have online learning the final day of the week.

Regardless of your set-up, if you have students coming into your classroom at all, how do you build relationships with them?

One idea is to use special desk nameplates that helps boost social-emotional connections with your kids.

Grab these desk nameplates by clicking the image!



Normally, I like using desk nameplates with things like a multiplication table and other details as a study tool.

But this 2020 back to school season requires teachers and parents to incorporate as many social emotional distance learning ideas as possible!

So why waste that precious desk space? This is a great way to make connections and help students feel special each week.


The Most Important Thing You Can Do to Help Students Cope with Change


The 2020-2021 school year will definitely make the history books!

Why? Because this isn’t easy! Everything about teaching during a global pandemic presents challenges for everyone.

Before you can do anything to help your students/kids, you MUST take care of yourself!

I should have listed this one first because that’s how important it is.

Self-care isn’t just a clichΓ©, and it’s needed to provide a safe space for your students/kids!


Here are simple, yet powerful self-care activities for you:

  • Journal
  • Walk/Exercise
  • Vent to a Friend/Family Member
  • Find things that make you bust out laughing
  • Enjoy some delicious wine or chocolate!!
  • Go on virtual dates
  • Make a fun, nontraditional date night at home with your spouse/partner
  • Read a great book
  • Dance and listen to inspiring music
  • Light lots of candles and turn your bathroom into a spa
  • Try new foods at home
  • Draw/color/paint
  • Determine–in advance–set times that are NO WORK times
  • Take a fast from social media and the news
  • Pray/Meditate


You can do this! One step at a time.

As your own mental/emotional state remains balanced, your mind will see creative ways to help the kids around you.

The Butterfly Teacher

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