How can emotional literacy help to foster synergy and relevance between school curriculum and real life?
Dr. Elias: I have a certain definition of learning. I feel that learning is knowledge that we acquire to put to use for good in the world. If we think of it that way, emotional literacy creates the synergy by allowing us to put the knowledge to use for good in the world. And there are three principles of emotional literacy that express the synergy. One is that caring relationships form the foundation for all learning. The second is that emotions affect how and what we learn — there is no denying that. The third is that goal setting and problem solving are what provide direction and energy for our learning. In order for information to actually turn into something useful, productive and exciting, it’s going to require that kids learn in the context of caring relationships with teachers, parents, coaches, supervisors, older classmates, and many others. It’s going to require them to channel and harness their emotions in productive and positive ways. It is also going to require them to set
