What is SEL?

Social-emotional learning, commonly referred to by its acronym, SEL, is a method of promoting holistic child development by teaching students skills such as self-regulation, persistence, empathy, self-awareness, and mindfulness.

Why are schools teaching social-emotional learning?

Social-emotional learning has practical benefits for the classroom by teaching students to regulate their emotions, pay attention, and work well with their peers. But it does a lot more than that: SEL has been shown to boost students’ test scores and grades, promote on-time graduation and college enrollment, increase students’ financial earnings as adults, and support their mental and physical well-being.

What specific skills should students learn?

SEL researchers and leaders agree on three areas:

Cognitive — Executive-function skills that help students manage themselves by regulating their own behavior, paying attention, remembering lessons, and organizing tasks.

Social — Skills that help students get along with others by teaching compassion, collaboration, communication, listening, conflict resolution, and social cue recognition.

Emotional — Skills that help students manage feelings like anger, frustration, and sadness, and teach them to recognize these emotions in others.

The 5 Core SEL Competencies:

1. Self-Awareness.

2. Self-Management.

3. Social Awareness.

4. Relationship Skills.

5. Responsible Decision-Making.

What are the three pillars of social and emotional learning?

Three Pillars: Culture, Adult Skills, Curriculum. A culture where social emotional learning can thrive is one that provides a safe and healthy place for children to learn and grow.

Why is social and emotional learning important?

SEL can help students better understand and identify their emotions; it can help them develop empathy, increase self-control and manage stress. It also helps them build better relationships and interpersonal skills that will serve them in school and beyond, helping them succeed as adults.