SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING

What is Social-Emotional Learning?

Social-emotional learning (SEL) is the process of developing the self-awareness,
self-control, and interpersonal skills that are vital for school, work, and life success.
People with strong social-emotional skills are better able to cope with everyday
challenges and benefit academically, professionally, and socially. From effective
problem-solving to self-discipline, from impulse control to emotion management and
more, SEL provides a foundation for positive, long-term effects on kids, adults, and
communities.
Children thrive. Schools win. Workplaces benefit. Society strengthens. All due to social-
emotional learning.
That’s important because people aren’t born knowing how to manage emotions, solve problems, and
get along with others. These kinds of skills have to be developed, and schools can help students learn
them. It’s also important to know that some students may need targeted supports to fully benefit from
SEL.

 Social-emotional learning (SEL) helps kids work on things like coping with feelings and
setting goals.
 It also helps with interpersonal skills like working in teams and resolving conflicts.
 SEL can help kids who learn and think differently talk about their challenges and build
self-esteem.

5 types of social-emotional learning skills

The leader in the field of SEL instruction is CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and
Emotional Learning). It focuses on five key areas that make up SEL:

 Self-awareness, like identifying emotions, recognizing strengths and needs, and

developing a growth mindset
 Self-management, like managing emotions, controlling impulses, and setting goals
 Social awareness, like seeing things from other people’s perspective, showing
empathy, and appreciating diversity
 Relationship skills, like communication, cooperation, and conflict resolution
 Responsible decision-making, including thinking about the consequences of
personal behavior

How social-emotional learning helps kids

More and more research points to social and emotional skills — like cooperating and
helping others — as the foundation for thriving in life. Research shows that SEL
instruction can lead to:
 Less emotional distress
 Fewer disciplinary incidents
 Increases in school attendance
 Improved test scores and grades
One study started tracking a group of students in kindergarten and followed them for
nearly two decades. It found that young kids with strong SEL skills were more likely to
graduate from high school and get a full-time job. 

Teaching social-emotional learning in school

SEL can be taught in many ways. But there are some common SEL programs or
approaches. These include:
 Responsive Classroom
 Open Circle 
 RULER (which stands for recognizing, understanding, labeling, expressing, and
regulating emotion)
SEL instruction isn’t limited to a lesson a day. Teachers can help kids practice SEL
skills throughout the day in any classroom. SEL is often part of schoolwide efforts to
promote positive behavior. 

Examples of social-emotional learning activities

Social and emotional skills can be taught to students of all ages. The younger kids are
when they start learning how to build these skills, the better. But research shows that
working on them during adolescence can also help. The key is to meet students where
they are.
Here are examples of how SEL can be woven into traditional lesson plans at different
ages:
Preschool: Show students how to work in pairs, like reading a book together. Point out
how to center the book between two students and how to take turns flipping the pages.
This helps kids learn about sharing and think about the needs of others.
Grade school: Ask students to identify their strengths and weaknesses as part of math
instruction. Encourage students to fill in part of a grid or a pie chart to show how strong
they feel at a particular skill.
Middle school: Show students how to make the classroom a safe space where
everyone can express themselves, like saying whether their weekend was good or bad.
For example, the class can agree that there’s no teasing allowed.
High school: Help teens practice taking the perspectives of other people. Have them
define and use the word empathy and break into small groups to reflect on how and why
someone fought for justice and equality.

Supporting kids who learn and think differently in school

Kids who learn and think differently often struggle with self-regulation and other SEL
skills. They may also struggle with anxiety and low self-esteem. But targeted supports
can help them fully participate in SEL. 
Here are some ways teachers can support struggling students:
Talk about your own challenges. Make clear that everyone has specific areas in which
they struggle. This can help kids see that they aren’t the only ones who have trouble.
Guide kids through the process of self-reflection. Try SEL activities that use yoga or
other kinds of movement. This can help kids slow down and think, especially if they
struggle with executive function challenges or impulse control.
Give all kids equal opportunities to succeed. Offer more than one way for kids to access
SEL material and show what they know. 

Next steps
The ultimate goal of SEL is to teach kids to understand and respect themselves and
others. 
When kids get the help they need to understand themselves and one another, SEL can
lead to positive outcomes in school and beyond.
Families: Get tips on how to help kids build emotional intelligence. 
Learn about different kinds of self-control in kids. 
Download self-awareness worksheets to help kids understand their strengths and
challenges.