Through my observations in a 1st grade classroom and my tutoring experience at a local elementary school, I’ve found that social-emotional learning should be implemented in the curriculum. Students without supportive families are at risk of being less motivated and less likely to succeed. I observed students who were very disruptive and hurtful towards one another. The teacher was very good at providing positive reinforcement and feedback, but the students clearly required more instruction geared towards behavior and social interactions. Teachers in high-risk schools need to focus on the social-emotional growth of their students. If schools can build curriculums around social-emotional growth, their students will have the foundation required for academic success.