Introduction

Welcome to the introductory training module titled Skills of tomorrow’s well-being for the children of present. This introductory training material is the first core module of the four-module professional training program for in-service teachers, developed by the SPIRIT project. The other three modules will become really useful once you get familiar with this module, as they all focus on the practical development of the 10 transversal skills described in this module. All four training modules have been structured so that the face-to-face workshops are not about theory, but about thinking together and sharing experiences.

This document is intentionally more in-depth and reflective. It is designed to prepare you not only cognitively but professionally and personally for the dedicated training program.

The SPIRIT framework is grounded in a holistic understanding of education. Education is not limited to knowledge acquisition. It is a developmental process that integrates cognitive growth, emotional regulation, relational competence, ethical awareness, and identity formation. Transversal skills are the connective structure that allows these dimensions to interact coherently.

In this preparatory reading, you are invited to move beyond the question ‘What subject do I teach?’ and enter the deeper reflection: ‘Who are my students becoming through my teaching?’

What to Expect

This foundational module serves as the starting point for the entire training program, upon which further modules are directly built. A clear understanding and knowledge of the 10 SPIRIT transversal skills is essential for understanding the skill-building impact of the tools presented in the following modules – active learning techniques, developmental games, and STEAM projects – and for applying them in practice. This module provides a detailed overview of the 10 SPIRIT cross-curricular skills developed for children ages 6–10.

The following material, which we would like you to read before the workshop, introduces the theoretical, developmental, and pedagogical foundations of the ten SPIRIT transversal skills. It prepares you to engage actively and critically during the face-to-face training session.

• A conceptual clarification of transversal skills within contemporary educational theory.
• An analysis of why these competencies are central in the 21st century for future well-being.
• A detailed presentation of the ten SPIRIT skills with practical classroom examples.
• An exploration of developmental levels and behavioral indicators.
• A pedagogical connection to experiential learning theory (Kolb).
• Reflective prompts to analyze your own teaching practice.

You are encouraged to read actively. Underline ideas that resonate. Note questions. Identify areas where your practice already aligns with these principles and areas where growth may be possible.

We highly recommend watching the video discussion From the elementary classroom to the Future wellbeing – Bridging soft skills and neuroscience video discussion in which a neuropsychologist from our Italian partner talks with 34 practicing educators about what brain researchers believe regarding the age at which children can and should begin developing these SPIRIT skills.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this preparatory study, you will be able to:

• Define transversal skills within a theoretical educational framework.
• Explain why competence-based education is increasingly emphasized globally.
• Describe each of the ten SPIRIT transversal skills in depth.
• Identify observable behavioral indicators for each skill.
• Understand how skill development supports long-term well-being and life satisfaction.
• Apply Kolb’s experiential learning cycle to classroom situations.
• Critically reflect on your own role as a model of transversal competence.