Educational practice and emotional intelligence in the school context

1st cycle Portuguese Basic Education students

Abstract

Emotional intelligence is a key aspect in education. We carried out a mixed methodology study (case study modality) with exploratory, cross-sectional, descriptive, analytical and interpretative content, addressing the theme of emotional intelligence and socio-emotional skills, in a school context, applied to a 4th grade class of Portuguese Basic Education, having taken place in 2022. We used the following data collection techniques: participant observation; Sociometric Friendship Test and Emotional Skills Questionnaire (Pre and Post phases); Emotional Intelligence Program with 18 sessions with material from the ‘‘International Cross-Border Project - Emotional Intelligence Program for 1st Cycle Basic Education students, in the Castelo Branco region’ (period from 2012 to 2018), under the Protocol between the Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco/Portugal and the University of Extremadura - Faculty of Education (Badajoz/Spain), with the opinion of the Ethics Committee and compliance with ethical-legal procedures; semi-structured interview with the teacher; ‘focus group’; field notes. We were guided by the following objectives: to know the value of emotions in the school context; to analyse whether students identify, control and deal with their emotions and those of their peers; to develop socio-emotional skills through the Program; to identify interpersonal relationships of friendship in students; to raise teachers’ awareness of the education of emotions in educational practice. The results showed how the students' practices significantly influenced their emotional intelligence and these in their performance and classroom climate (coexistence). The Test and Questionnaire proved (post-test phase) that the program was useful for the students, improving the daily coexistence of the class, the educational environment and school coexistence. This evidence was clearly expressed in the friendship relationships (sociogram) and in the scores obtained in the questionnaire (post-program application phase). The effectiveness of the program allowed for an increase in interpersonal relationships, development of social skills and an improvement in self-esteem/empathy and management and control of emotions by the students.