Mindfulness-based social-emotional learning is an approach to SEL that emphasizes daily mindfulness practice as the foundation. With continued daily practice, students use mindfulness to strengthen critical brain networks associated with learning.

Mindfulness teaches students how to recognize and accept their present thoughts and emotions. It can also help them cope with negative stressors in their life and become more self aware of their feelings. Mindfulness has a focus on self-awareness, one of SEL’s five core competencies. Using mindfulness as a complementary tool to SEL can help get students closer towards learning those important social and emotional skills.