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Using Brilliant Star to Support Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) in Schools

By Brilliant Star Team
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Implementing social and emotional learning (SEL) programs in schools can support and encourage student success while fostering a positive school climate. Around the world, schools implement SEL and other character education programs to augment kids' academic learning with their development of virtues. For example, SEL involves acquiring and applying the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to manage emotions, achieve goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions.

SEL can help students develop more trusting and collaborative relationships in their classrooms, families, schools, and communities. It can also help to address inequity and empower kids and adults to help create thriving schools and safe, healthy, and just communities. Studies show that students who participate in SEL programs have stronger academic performance; improved attitudes toward themselves, others, and school; greater motivation to learn; better classroom behavior; and increased ability to manage stress, depression, and anxiety.
 

SEL can be delineated by five broad, interrelated areas of competence:
 

  • Self-awareness: Ability to recognize emotions and thoughts; understand how they influence behavior; assess personal strengths and limitations; develop confidence and optimism.
     
  • Self-management: Ability to regulate emotions, thoughts, and behaviors; manage stress; control impulses; and work toward personal and academic goals.
     
  • Social awareness: Ability to empathize with diverse people; understand social and ethical norms for behavior; and recognize family, school, and community support resources.
     
  • Relationship skills: Ability to maintain healthy relationships with diverse people; communicate clearly; listen actively; cooperate; resist unwanted social pressure; resolve conflict; and seek and offer help when needed.
     
  • Responsible decision making: Ability to make constructive behavior choices, considering ethical and social norms, safety, consequences, and the well-being of others.
     

Brilliant Star complements SEL programs, especially for grades 3-8, with a wide range of compelling stories, activities, games, puzzles, comics, interviews, and art. Social and emotional challenges faced by children are addressed with respect for their age, development, and capacity. A variety of approaches foster children’s skills in language, logical reasoning, visual processing, critical thinking, creativity, problem solving, and more.  

We encourage children to see themselves as leaders, to use their virtues to be of service to their families and communities, and to become engaged world citizens. Our content helps kids to develop self-awareness, emotional management, empathy for others, positive relationships, and effective decision making. We promote universal ethical values, such as kindness, courage, trustworthiness, respect, fairness, helpfulness, and responsibility. The tone of our content is positive and uplifting, reinforcing children’s curosity, love of learning, and introspection.

Inspired by teachings of peace and unity from the Bahá’í Faith, Brilliant Star offers an imaginative, inclusive world where children of all faiths and backgrounds can explore their talents and goals. We reinforce concepts such as respect for nature, appreciation for cultural and racial diversity, peace among all people, the equality of women and men, and the elimination of prejudices. Published six times per year by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States, Brilliant Star is an award-winning print publication and website with readers across the globe from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and faiths.

 

Feedback from Our Readers


“The magazine makes me feel happy and spiritual. It helps me learn my virtues in a fun way so I can memorize them. Some of the things Brilliant Star has taught me are patience, forgiveness, and honesty.”
—Rafaella V., age 12, California


“It’s really fun to read the activities and stuff. It makes me feel happy ... and it helps me calm down. I learned to never give up on my art. And I learned to be brave to figure our stuff.”
—Vida G., age 7, Oregon


“I like that it teaches virtues and important life lessons to people ... It helps me by reminding me how I should take action and try to be a better person overall. I have learned many important virtues, such as kindness and service. It has affected the way I treat myself and others.”
—Lela M. age 12, Massachusetts


“I love how there are so many different pages in Brilliant Star with different activities, so we can go through each page and try each fun new activity. The magazine gives me many fun challenges and puzzles ...”
—Chadman N., age 12, Iceland

 

Examples of Brilliant Star Content on Key Topics:

 

Kindness

 


Family and Sibling Relationships       

 


Communication and Consultation      



Friendship and Bullying  



Handling Challenges and Being Grateful

 


Respect and Appreciating Diversity

 


Justice and Ending Prejudice and Racism    

 


Teamwork and Cooperation     

 

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Nature and Caring for Earth       

 

 

You can find many more Brilliant Star activities and stories on these and other subjects by using our Search feature at the top of each page on the website. Just type in related search terms to see PDF and online content. If you have any questions or feedback about using Brilliant Star in schools or community groups, please contact Amy Renshaw at brilliant@usbnc.org or visit our Facebook or Instagram platforms. 
 

 

Resources for Further Reading

 

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Updated on 4.13.23

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