Supporting Student Social-Emotional Health and Wellness
Abstract
Military-connected students face unique instructional and social-emotional challenges. Fairfax County Public Schools’ (FCPS) military-connected students consistently score lower than their peers in district and state standardized assessments in both mathematics and science; and gaps in academic performance are often manifested in disruptive behavior through a lack of emotional readiness to learn. To address and remedy this concern, FCPS proposes the creation of Project OWL (“Outdoors While Learning”), a program targeted to support the FCPS military-connected students at Fort Belvoir Primary Elementary School, Fort Belvoir Upper Elementary School, and their feeder middle school, Whitman Middle School. Through the creation and implementation of informative and engaging science-based outdoor learning environments, after-school and summer instruction and activities, including environmentally themed immersive field trips, students will develop an enhanced comprehension of and excitement for science and mathematics, as measured by increased performance on standardized academic tests. Additionally, Project OWL teachers will engage in professional development centered around evidenced-based social-emotional learning in order to identify and support the unique behavioral needs of military-connected students. In this way, increased performance is reinforced by the positive behaviors and healthy coping strategies that lead to future academic achievement and successful futures for our military-connected students.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jul 08, 2021
- Source ID
- HE12542010022
Entities
People
- Nancy Rowland
Organizations
- Department of Defense Education Activity
- United States Department of Defense