Life Skills
Education news, analysis, and opinion about non-cognitive skills and soft skills
Early Childhood
The State of Teaching, 2024 Edition
Young Kids Are Struggling With Skills Like Listening, Sharing, and Using Scissors
Teachers say basic skills and tasks are more challenging for young students now than they were five years ago.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Opinion
Farewell: Ask a Psychologist Says Goodbye
Angela Duckworth announces the sunsetting of the Character Lab and the Education Week Opinion blog.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Opinion
Tests Often Stress Students. These Tips Can Calm Their Nerves
It's normal for students to feel anxious about tests and presentations. Here's what the research says can help them.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Can SEL Help Students Curb Their Own Cellphone Use?
Experts say that a combination of SEL skills and better school policies would help curb student cellphone use.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Opinion
4 Steps Students Can Take to Help Make Tough Decisions
When students feel stuck, they can harness the power of the nonconscious mind to help them move forward.
Student Well-Being & Movement
How Teaching Kids 'Digital Agency' Can Make Social Media a Positive Place for Them
Digital agency includes a set of skills educators can teach to help students avoid social media "thinking traps."
Student Well-Being & Movement
Opinion
Nobody Wants to Look Stupid: Resources for Teaching About Executive Functions
Executive functioning is a learned skill, explains an educational therapist. Here’s how to teach it to your students—and yourself.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Opinion
An Easy Way to Help Students Develop Better Judgment
To help students think critically, ask them these three questions.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Opinion
Students Like Easy Work. Here's How to Break That
Don’t assume students avoid effort because they’re lazy. They may be confusing effort with failure to make progress.
Curriculum
A Few Years Ago, 8 States Required Personal Finance Education. Now It's Up to Half
Advocates say the pandemic has accelerated the push to require high schoolers to take a financial literacy course.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Opinion
Emotional Intelligence and AI Together Can Help Lessen the Student Mental Health Crisis
Six out of 10 adolescents feel lonely and isolated. Here's how one large district is trying to combat the issue.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Opinion
3 Questions to Uncover Students' Hidden Potential
Students often struggle to distinguish between what they should do and what they want to do. Here’s how to help them.
College & Workforce Readiness
Gen Z Lacks Job-Readiness Skills, Survey Shows
Prospective employers say Gen Z'ers aren't job ready. Here's what's behind it, and how to adapt.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Opinion
Students Are Stressed Out. Here’s How to Help Them
Students might think that doing less is the solution to stress. But this activity could be more useful.