Giving Compass' Take:

• Lauren Barack discusses the importance of developing self-regulation at a young age and explains how project-based learning is helping youths foster core competencies.

• How do teachers influence the growth and mindsets of students? What advantages do project-based learning models provide for students? 

• Read more on project-based learning and improvements in student success.

Teachers can help students learn self-regulation by integrating strategies to the classroom environment, special education teacher Nina Parrish wrote in an Edutopia article.

Self-regulation is a core competency all children need to learn. It’s hard to handle disappointments and be successful without managing emotions and behavior. And for students who have psychological and learning issues, or who have suffered from a traumatic life event, it's even harder to keep emotions in check. A lack of self-regulation can make it harder to get things done in the classroom, so it's crucial to teach students about it, Parrish wrote.

Students who are taught social and emotional learning (SEL) tools, including the ability to regulate their emotions, show a boost in their emotional and academic success, notes a 2017 study published in the International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy.

The earlier students learn these skills, the more likely they develop into “…more self-confident, trusting, empathic, intellectually inquisitive, competent in using language to communicate, and better capable of relating well with others,” noted author Donna Housman.

Curriculum designers can turn to project-based learning programs to foster self-regulation. Learning how to negotiate steps and stay on track — the ability to self-manage — is of course core to PBL, along with social, emotional and academic success.

Read the full article about project-based learning by Lauren Barack at Education Dive.