Social Emotional Learning (SEL)

Why is Social and Emotional Learning Important?

A growing body of research suggests SEL skills are crucial for academic and life success. Students and teachers with strong SEL skills are able to work collaboratively and respectfully in diverse settings. Social and emotional learning helps teachers, administrators and parents create safe, positive and supportive learning environments for all students. Effective social and emotional learning programming promotes and improves students attitudes about themselves, their classmates and their education.

Social and Emotional Learning promotes a positive and productive learning environment for all students, supporting emotional and social growth. Students who participate in SEL programming have been shown to have improved academic achievement, improved emotional well-being, and graduate with important emotional intelligence skills that are increasingly valued in the workplace and community in our increasingly collaborative and diverse world.

Who Should Practice Social and Emotional Learning?

Social and Emotional Learning begins with adults modeling positive behavior. To achieve a positive and supportive school environment, adults need to model SEL skills for their students. Educators who develop their SEL skills in tandem with their students reap the rewards of improved mental health and more effective instruction. Outside the classroom, adults who practice SEL behaviors are more productive and have better, more collaborative relationships with their colleagues. 

5 Core Competencies for Social and Emotional Learning

Effective social and emotional learning programming involves coordinated classroom, schoolwide, family, and community practices that help students develop the following five key skills:

Self-Awareness

The ability to accurately recognize one’s emotions and thoughts and their influence on behavior. This includes accurately assessing one’s strengths and areas for growth and possessing a well-grounded sense of confidence and optimism.

Self-Management

The ability to regulate one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors effectively in different situations. This includes managing stress, controlling impulses, motivating oneself, and setting and working toward achieving personal and academic goals.

Social-Awareness

The ability to take the perspective of and empathize with others from diverse backgrounds and cultures, to understand social and ethical norms for behavior, and to recognize family, school, and community resources and supports.

Relationship Skills

The ability to establish and maintain healthy and rewarding relationships with diverse individuals and groups. This includes communicating clearly, listening actively, cooperating, resisting inappropriate social pressure, negotiating conflict constructively, and seeking and offering help when needed.

Responsible Decision Making

The ability to make constructive and respectful choices about personal behavior and social interactions based on consideration of ethical standards, safety concerns, social norms, the realistic evaluation of consequences of various actions and the well-being of self and others.