On August 30 and 31, We the People and the Six Seconds Emotional Intelligence Network teamed up in Nassau to offer a two day training for approximately fifty teachers and administrators of grades 5, 8, and 11. The two day training, entitled the “EQ Educator Certification” instructs teachers in emotional intelligence (EQ), how to use it in the classroom, and how teach students lessons imbued with social and emotional learning. This intensive and interactive course is designed to enable teachers to deliver the crucial skills of EQ to school children around the world. Six Seconds has taught this course in many countries, and it has proven to be an effective mechanism for delivering EQ skills to those in primary and secondary school. Research has shown that kids who have higher EQ are less likely to engage in risky behaviors, have higher grades, better self esteem, and do better in their future careers.
Self Science, the process used by Six Seconds to help students develop their emotional intelligence and learn about their social and emotional needs, was developed by Karen McCown and Anabel Jensen in the 70’s. In Daniel Goleman’s best-selling book on emotional intelligence, Self-Science is described as “a model program.” Self-Science’s unique combination of feeling and thinking creates a powerful set of tools for students to resolve conflict, self-motivate, communicate, and build pro-social behaviors. Self Science equips children with the tools they need to navigate through their lives and become confident, caring, resourceful young people and adults who are able to advocate for themselves and make their way through an ever-increasingly complicated world. Research has shown that adults with high EQ are, almost without exception, the top performers in their workplaces. The combination of IQ and EQ allows for unprecedented success and personal achievement, as well as a sense of balance.
The training session was the first part of a yearlong pilot program comprised of 80+ teachers and administrators and 2000+ students in New Providence. The students’ EQ will be measured using the SEI-YV – an internationally normed EQ assessment that measures eight EQ competencies that are both measurable and learnable. Over the course of the year, students will be assessed several times and will be taught the skills of emotional intelligence weekly in their classrooms.
Dr. Susan Stillman, Six Seconds’ Global Director of Education; Alex Russell, Six Seconds Program Manager; and Dr. Barbara Fatum, Director of Assessment for Six Seconds’ lab school, Synapse, experienced educators and consultants, taught the two day course.
We The People
