Social Emotional Development

At MADE Houston, our approach to helping our students is founded on the belief that students learn best -and more importantly are happier - when their differences are understood and accepted. This belief is represented and supported in all aspects of MADE Houston but especially in how we foster each student’s individual emotional and social development. At MADE Houston, we strive to build a school and community that serves as every students’ “safe place”, where they can again engage, work through struggles, and succeed in the process of learning. From day one, we work to help students find their voice again, so they can be heard and understood in school and beyond.

The staff works hand in hand with families (and outside treatment providers when applicable) to develop individual goals for students’ social and emotional development. Often this begins by identifying which class and teacher would be the best fit for a student. After students' initial two weeks at school, we meet with individual families to review initial observations and work on initial goals across academic, social, and emotional domains. Communication between family and staff is encouraged throughout the year to help address progress, concerns, and changes throughout the year. At school, the staff meets as a team on a regular basis to review progress and make timely adjustments for individual students and classrooms as needed. Students meet individually and in groups with the director of social-emotional development to further work on goals and concerns to support their development or address issues more in-depth.

The Director of Social-Emotional Development also runs weekly classes and as needed to work on topics related to Social-Emotional Learning (lower school), and Self-advocacy in (upper school). These classes are meant to cover social-emotional learning curriculum intended to address competencies in an age/developmentally appropriate manner. Competencies that are addressed in these classes include self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationships, and responsible decision-making. These classes are also meant to go further in-depth on various topics that may uniquely impact our student body.

At MADE Houston we have put a lot of thought into how each aspect of your child’s day can be used to help them develop socially and emotionally. We understand that not all learning  takes place in the classroom. In fact, a significant amount of development and learning will be supported through activities that challenge students in non-traditional ways.