We know how busy life gets when the school bells stop ringing, but we also know how vital it is to keep our students' imaginations—and emotional wellbeing—growing over the break. Reading together is such a lovely way to keep young minds active while building character and connection during the summer.
This week, we are highlighting a key area of child development: emotional intelligence (EQ). We often talk about helping children identify their feelings, but EQ is far more than just naming emotions—it is a critical tool that helps students navigate the natural friction, frustration, and learning curves that come with tackling hard new subjects. Rather than protecting children from academic struggles, building emotional skills equips them to push through challenges with confidence!
A Little SPOT Series by Diane Alber
This is such an engaging and empowering collection! Through colorful, friendly "spots" representing different feelings—like anger, anxiety, peacefulness, and frustration—Diane Alber gives children practical, hands-on strategies to regulate big emotions when things get tough.
💡 Why EQ Helps Students Handle Hard Things (The Research)
Learning something new is inherently challenging, and managing that "learning struggle" directly fuels academic success.
According to a landmark meta-analysis published by the American Psychological Association (Psychological Bulletin) analyzing over 42,000 students, emotional intelligence is one of the single strongest non-academic predictors of a child's academic performance. Researchers found that developing EQ helps students directly in the classroom by:
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Managing Academic Frustration: Children who recognize and regulate emotions like anxiety or defeat don't shut down when a task gets hard—they stay engaged and persist through the learning curve.
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Transforming Setbacks into Growth: High emotional awareness helps students view mistakes as a normal part of learning rather than a personal failure.
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Navigating Classroom Rigor: Students with strong emotion regulation skills are better equipped to focus, ask for help when stuck, and handle the natural stress of new academic challenges.
(Reference: MacCann et al., 2020, APA Psychological Bulletin)
By reading these short, colorful stories aloud together this summer, parents can establish a common "feeling vocabulary" at home—preparing our students to face new academic challenges head-on and start the school year feeling resilient, capable, and ready to learn.
I hope you and your family find some quiet, cozy moments to curl up with these books this summer. Happy reading, and stay tuned for more teacher favorites coming soon!