In response to the emotional challenges faced by both teachers and students during the pandemic, the partnership aimed to achieve specific objectives: 1) Provide 70 teachers with coaching and SEL competencies through a blended train-the-trainer course followed by training 140 SEL team coaches. 2) Implement structured SEL interventions to help students identify and manage emotions, foster inclusive behaviors, strengthen attachment to school, and mitigate antisocial actions, especially among disadvantaged students. 3) Deliver relevant resources and tools for remote learning, utilizing online platforms for teacher-student interaction, material collection, showcasing results, and promoting apps like Moodmeter by Yale University. 4) Train educators and students in stress management through mindfulness practices, including exercises to maintain focus, quiet the mind, promote inclusion, patience, and reduce negative perceptions of others.
The T.E.A.M.I. project stemmed from the urgent needs outlined in the European Commission's Action Plan on Integration and Inclusion 2021-2027 and the Annual Sustainable Growth Strategy 2021. These documents stress empowering individuals facing disadvantages, fostering unity, and promoting resilience amid challenges like COVID-19. T.E.A.M.I., involving institutions from seven countries, aims to equip educators and students with socio- emotional skills. With heightened awareness of emotions, especially amid the pandemic, the project addresses critical needs in educational institutions. Prior experiences in coaching-based Erasmus+ projects highlight the effectiveness of emotion-based approaches in education. By training teachers as SEL coaches, the project directly impacts educators and students, with broader benefits for the education system.