Social and Emotional Learning:

Guidance for Authors

11/3/2021 1
 What is Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)?
Social and emotional learning
(SEL) refers to the processes by
which children acquire the skills,
knowledge, and attitudes that help
them
develop healthy relationships
and behaviors,
manage their emotions,
set and achieve goals, and
make responsible decisions
(CASEL, 2021).

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 Frameworks to Understand Multiple Aspects of SEL
Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL):
https://casel.org/sel-framework/

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 Why is SEL important?
• SEL can help children:
– find effective ways of dealing with the
challenges in their world,
– actively seek and secure assistance
when they need it,
– build strong and supportive social
networks (Burde et al. 2015; Diaz
Varela, et al., 2013), and
– manage their schoolwork and succeed
both at school and into adulthood
(Durlak et al., 2011; Weissberg et al.,
2015; Aber et al., 2016).
• SEL is especially important in contexts
where children face environmental or
health crises, conflict, and/or discrimination
in their everyday lives. In the era of
COVID-19, SEL is more important than
ever! (Bub et al., 2020)
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 How Children’s Books Can Promote SEL
Teachers and head teachers play a critical Children’s books are
role in nurturing SEL through the overall another valuable resource
school culture, classroom climate, and daily for reinforcing and
instruction. extending key SEL lessons.
For example, children’s
books:
• model for students how
these skills play out in
relatable and engaging
scenarios, and
• serve as a springboard
for reflection and
discussion.
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 Five Key Competencies
SELF-AWARENESS includes :
• Understanding your own emotions,
thoughts, and values;
• Recognizing both your strengths and
limitations with a well-grounded sense
of confidence and purpose;
• Building a positive sense of your own
identity;
• Developing your interests;
• Having a growth mindset and sense of
self-efficacy;
• Etc.

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 Sample Children’s Books with SEL Themes: Self-Awareness

The Story of Ferdinand, by Munro Leaf

Bulls are supposed to fight, right? Not
Ferdinand. A peaceful and calm bull in
the bull-fighting rings of Spain, Ferdinand
remains true to himself despite the
pressures to change.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vr
Ok2OlBQfg
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 Sample Children’s Books with SEL Themes: Self-Awareness

The Girl Who Never Makes Mistakes by

Mark Pett and Gary Rubinstein
Beatrice is very proud that she never,
ever makes mistakes. But one day when
she makes a big mistake in front of
everyone, Beatrice learns that it’s okay to
not be perfect all the time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXI0i
PBrO-w
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 Five Key Competencies
SELF-MANAGEMENT includes :
• Managing your emotions, thoughts, and
behaviors effectively;
• Setting and achieving goals;
• Managing stress;
• Showing courage to take initiative;
• Demonstrating agency;
• Exhibiting self-control and delaying
gratification;
• Demonstrating perseverance and
resilience;
• Etc.

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 Sample Children’s Books with SEL Themes: Self-Management
Llama, Llama Mad at Mama,
by Anne Dewdney
Baby llama has to learn to
manage his negative
emotions when life’s
frustrations start to get him
down.
https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=Ka-tznfolzE

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 Sample Children’s Books with SEL Themes: Self-Management

Lacey Walker, Nonstop Talker, by

Christianne Jones
Lacey Walker loves to talk. She talks all
day, and sometimes all night. But when
she loses her voice, Lacey learns the
importance of listening.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oq
d3V4pL55I
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 Sample Children’s Books with SEL Themes: Self-Management

Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall

Jabari is so excited to jump off the diving
board! But when his moment actually comes,
he continues to find reasons not to climb up.
With the support of his patient and
understanding father, Jabari learns to
overcome his fear and achieve his goal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwXKM7c
yYGM

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 Five Key Competencies
RESPONSIBLE DECISION-
MAKING includes :
• Making good choices in diverse
situations;
• Making reasoned judgments after
analyzing facts and data;
• Anticipating and evaluating the
consequences of your actions;
• Using critical thinking skills and solving
problems;
• Reflecting on your role to promote
personal, family, and community well-
being;
• Etc.
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 Sample Children’s Books with SEL Themes: Responsible
Decision-Making

If Everybody Did by Jo Ann Stover

A cautionary tale using humor to
describe the terrible
consequences if everyone acted
irresponsibly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=GMESXYcW6Io

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 Sample Children’s Books with SEL Themes: Responsible
Decision-Making

Ruthie and the (Not So) Teeny Tiny Lie, by Laura

Rankin
Ruthie loves little things – the smaller the
better. So when she finds a teeny tiny camera
on the school playground one afternoon, she
can hardly believe her luck. She really, really
wants to keep the camera, but there’s one little
problem: It isn’t hers. Ruthie has to decide
what to do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrxibsccgKI

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 Five Key Competencies
RELATIONSHIP SKILLS include:
• Developing positive relationships;
• Making friends and getting along with
others, including diverse groups;
• Listening actively and communicating
clearly;
• Seeking or offering help when needed;
• Cooperating, collaborating, and
practicing teamwork;
• Resolving conflicts constructively;
• Resisting negative social pressure;
• Etc.

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 Sample Children’s Books with SEL Themes: Relationship Skills

Do Unto Otters by Laurie Keller

Rabbit has to learn how to get
along with his interesting new
neighbors, the otters.

https://www.youtube.com/watc
h?v=O8Oq3vfw224

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 Sample Children’s Books with SEL Themes: Relationship Skills

The Giant Jam Sandwich, by

John Vernon Lord
When wasps threaten a town,
the townspeople work
together to make a giant jam
sandwich to trap the wasps.

https://www.youtube.com/wat
ch?v=2-HjO3P_IXs
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 Sample Children’s Books with SEL Themes: Relationship Skills

The Juice Box Bully, by Bob Sornson and

Maria Dismondy
The new kid in school is quite the bully.
But he is surprised to discover that the
kids in this school stand up for one other,
and even refuse to be mean to him in
return. Through this, he realizes that he
would be happier as their friend than as a
bully.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7qWx
Jgbvog
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 Five Key Competencies
SOCIAL AWARENESS includes :
• Understanding the perspectives of
others, including those from diverse
backgrounds;
• Recognizing strengths in others;
• Demonstrating respect, empathy,
compassion, and concern for the
feelings of others;
• Showing kindness;
• Expressing gratitude;
• Celebrating diversity;
• Etc.

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 Sample Children’s Books with SEL Themes: Social Awareness

How Do I Stand in Your Shoes, by

Susan DeBell
A girl has no patience for the other
students in her class until she learns
to see things from their point of
view.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
HP2AR_VX90Y
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 Sample Children’s Books with SEL Themes: Social Awareness

Strictly No Elephants, by Lisa Mantchev

The Pet Club doesn’t understand that
pets come in all shapes and sizes, just
like friends. Now it is time for a boy
and his tiny pet elephant to show them
what it means to be welcoming to
everyone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0y
JOKdvRrg
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 Sample Children’s Books with SEL Themes: Social Awareness

The Invisible Boy by Trudy Lugwig

Nobody ever notices Brian. He is never
included or invited by the other
students until one day a new student,
Justin, arrives. Justin is kind to Brian and
shows us that it just takes one
friendship to change a person’s life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byH
GU_DaVQs
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 Your Turn!

Speak Up, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell

Listen to the story and see how many
different SEL themes you can identify!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=FLJlkwZUT0o
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 DepEd and SEL

• Though the terminology may vary, SEL is not new to the

Philippines education system, especially in the elementary
schools.
• DepEd has laid a strong foundation for incorporating SEL into all aspects of
the school life through its child protection policy, values education curriculum,
teacher professional standards, school head leadership framework, and in
other ways.
– For example, the Values Education Performance Standards for Kindergarten
and Grades1-3 set expectations for students to develop respect and love
for themselves and others and to develop connection to their family,
school, and community.
– In addition, SEL is deeply embedded into DepEd’s Learning Resource
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Materials Evaluation Framework! 25
 LRMDS Evaluation Checklist and the CASEL Framework
Examples from “Guidelines and Processes for LRMDS Assessment &
Evaluation” (p44+) (https://lrmds.deped.gov.ph/docs/LRMDSGuidelines.pdf):

Checklist Item Related SEL Competencies

6. “Assists the learner with identifying and
differentiating between different points of view and
perspectives presented”
21. “Resource does not confront or embarrass
learners in any or all of the following ways: …
- unfavorably compare learners’ learning
performance with learners’ identity
- unfavorably or stereotypically compare family or
community characteristics with learners’ identity“
Social Awareness (taking
others’ perspectives)
Self-Awareness (having a growth
mindset and sense of self-efficacy;
building a positive sense of
identity; recognizing strengths and
limitations with a well-grounded
sense of confidence and purpose)

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 Guidelines for Embedding SEL in a children’s story
• In stories, characters have a problem to solve or a goal to achieve.
• To embed SEL, make SE skills part of the way that they resolve their problem or achieve their
goal. For example:
– They may stumble in the beginning & not apply the necessary skill well, but then they learn
from that experience and take a different approach;
– Or you can show different characters taking different approaches to handle their
problems (some with SE skills, some not), and those with SE skills have the best outcomes
– Or you can make the lack of SE skills what caused the whole problem in the first place,
and overcoming the problem requires learning to apply the skill
• If you already have a story plot in mind, think: What SE skills do your characters need in order
to resolve their problem or achieve their goal? How can you highlight the development or
application of these skills as your characters move through the story to its resolution?
• If you do not already have a story plot in mind, see the Guiding Questions for Brainstorming
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SEL Content. 27
 Guiding Questions for Brainstorming SEL Content
Scenario: You are assigned to write a story that supports SEL. You
have the freedom to choose any SE skill and build any story around it,
but it must support SEL.
1. Refer again to the descriptions of the SE skill and pick one.
2. Ask yourself:
a. What situations do children encounter where they need this skill?
b. What common struggles or challenges do children have in developing or applying this skill?
c. What happens in those situations when children apply versus don’t apply this skill?
d. How can you build a story around a child developing and applying this skill?
e. How can you show an environment that welcomes and supports this skill development?
f. Brainstorm your story plot: What is the main character’s problem? In what ways do they
attempt to resolve their problem (maybe unsuccessfully at first)? How do they resolve it in
the end? What SE lesson do they learn in the process?
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For More Information
Thank you, and good luck!

For comments or questions, please contact:

Karon Harden
kharden@rti.org

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