Supporting social and emotional growth at Miriam School

Katie Stalter

February 10, 2025

At Miriam students in grades K-8 explore the forces of magnets not only for science but also as a hands-on way to understand social interactions.

Miriam Lower/Middle School Counselor Janene Allen teaches students that depending on their behavior, others might be drawn to you - or they may want to stay away.

“As we talk about a behavior that draws others to them, students literally feel the click of the magnets attracting,” Allen said. “As we discuss a behavior that pushes others away, they can hold the magnets together as tightly as they want, but they still feel the resistance and see them shoot away from each other as they release the pressure.”

This is just one lesson in the new counseling curriculum for lower/middle school students. Allen developed the curriculum over the past three years, working closely with Head of School Mary Cognata to determine the needs of the Miriam population and identify primary areas of growth.

The curriculum has a three-year format: Year 1 focuses on self-awareness. Year 2 emphasizes relationships with others. Year 3 builds leadership skills by applying these concepts in real-world situations.

During all three years, students strive to achieve the following goals:

Understanding yourself as an individual and member of the Miriam School community
Building healthy and rewarding interpersonal relationships
Establishing healthy boundaries.

The curriculum is structured to help students at every developmental stage navigate their emotions, relationships and responsibilities.

“You are in charge of yourself and your behavior, and you can appropriately let others know what you are thinking and how you feel,” Allen said. “When you understand yourself and others, you can adapt to and enjoy relationships with others. Boundaries keep you and others safe and comfortable in relationships.”

Allen adapts the curriculum for different age groups. For younger students, the lessons are hands-on and kinesthetic, allowing them to physically interact with abstract concepts. As students progress, they engage in more discussions and interactive activities that match their developmental needs, helping them build deeper connections with their peers. She uses concrete, tangible methods - like the magnets - to present abstract ideas.

Allen said her students enjoy the curriculum and remain active participants throughout the lessons. Parents have told her that their children have become more expressive about their feelings, and they’ve been able to solve problems with discussion.

“Building a unique Miriam School social skills curriculum to supplement our Social Thinking curriculum has given our students the opportunity to apply learned skills from both programs to real life scenarios presented in Mrs. Allen's social skills classes” Cognata said. “The melding of both programs has been highly beneficial for our students, giving them not only different approaches to support their understanding of key social skills, but also more instruction and practice.”

Cognata went on to say, “Mrs. Allen's approach is warm, kind and thoughtful as she is able to help our kids feel understood, while also being challenged in situations within the school day where they are struggling. She is a resource and support not only to our kids, but also to parents and staff as we work to support our unique learners.”

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