Soft Skills for Hard Situations

by Thad Falkner

At Wilson we’re proud of our academically rigorous program.  When our students graduate, they are one-to-three years ahead of their peers in core subjects.  Their test scores and writing skills also set them apart from their secondary school classmates.  These are great accomplishments! We know, though, that our students’ success -- both in school and in life -- depends on more than excellent academic preparation.  Both experience and research show that our children also need to be socially and emotionally competent if they are going to make their way in the world.  

The need for “soft” skills often shows up in the hardest situations: Being able to regulate our emotions, communicate effectively, and advocate for ourselves under pressure can make all the difference between success and failure.  That is why Wilson is intentional about cultivating social-emotional competence in our students over the course of their time here.

Just a few examples of the way we do this include:

• The Peace Table in JK gives some of our youngest kids a dedicated space as well as an approach to work out difficulties and misunderstandings
  
• Students learn brain science and gain different techniques for thinking more clearly and feeling less anxious in difficult situations in mindfulness sessions with expert Meg Krejci
  
• Our primary and upper school students practice effective collaboration and cooperation in the Strong Students, Strong World program led by the experts who developed it, Dr. Tim and Anne Jordan, nationally-recognized experts in pediatric social-emotional development
  

Our size also ensures that students get plenty of chances to apply the skills they’ve learned in interactions with classmates and teachers.  Developing the courage and composure to have a difficult face-to-face conversation with a friend or adult are skills that will serve Wilson students well beyond their school years.