What is Social Emotional Learning and Why is it Important?

 

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is very near and dear to my heart as a primary educator. I have seen how beneficial intentional SEL instruction can be in my own classroom and throughout the school community in which I am a part of. In the following post, I will explain SEL, why it is important, and how SEL instruction can benefit your classroom and students!

Social Emotional Learning is "the process through which children and adults understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions" (CASEL, n.d). SEL instruction focuses on teaching your kiddos to identify, recognize, and evaluate their own emotions, building crucial age-appropriate social skills, and encouraging self-awareness and responsibility for every student. 

Figure 1                                                                                    

CASEL Wheel of SEL Competencies                                                                             

 

One of the greatest impacts I have seen from this instruction in my classroom has been with how my students are able to regulate their own emotional responses over the course of SEL instruction. I have taught primarily young children (kindergarten and 1^st grade). Most of my teaching experience has been in significantly poverty-stricken schools with extremely high-risk student situations. Many of my kiddos come to school already operating in fight or flight survival mode simply due to the chaos of their home situation. Many of my students presented with behavioral challenges, learning difficulties or delays, and basic needs not being met on a regular basis at home. SEL instruction provided my students with the ability to identify their emotions, determine and explain why they were feeling that way, and provided them with actionable steps to manage their emotions in an appropriate way. Now this didn’t happen overnight, and it certainly wasn’t a cure-all for some of my most difficult behavioral challenges but it did provide all of my kiddos with the opportunity to learn and practice the life skills necessary to be happy, healthy, successful members of our human family. And while learning these skills is important for all students, for kids living in crisis it can be critical.

We, as teachers, know the importance of being able to collaborate with a team of diverse players and being able to effectively communicate with others. The National Association of Colleges and Employers also lists teamwork and collaboration has one of their career readiness competencies (n.d.). SEL instruction should absolutely strive to teach communication skills (listening and speaking) and relationship skills. Taking turns, active listening, and working through conflict are skills I work with my students from day 1. I have seen kindergartners who begin the year fighting over spots on the carpet and unable to listen to a partner for more than 5 seconds be able to negotiate conflicts independently and not only listen to their partner but then paraphrase what their partner said as well by the end of the year.

 

According to CASEL, students who received SEL instruction not only showed an increase in academic performance but also “showed improved classroom behavior, an increased ability to manage stress and depression, and better attitudes about themselves, others, and school” (n.d.). When students are given the opportunity to learn and practice these life-skills, the impact in the classroom will be tremendous. Students will be better able to regulate themselves and interact in their environment in appropriate ways. They will be able to work constructively with others and build relationships with their peers. Students will develop healthy attitudes towards themselves and towards others. I personally have seen how the overall feel of my classroom becomes more and more calm, safe, and productive as my students work through our SEL instruction. I truly believe SEL instruction is the ultimate game changer to classroom management and the MOST important gift I can give my students. 

Resources:

CASEL. (n.d.). What is SEL?  https://casel.org/what-is-SEL/

National Association for Colleges and Employers. (n.d.). Career Readiness Defined. 

    https://www.naceweb.org/career-readiness/competencies/career-readiness-defined/