Social and Emotional Learning in the LIbrary
Anything that's human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary. The people we trust with that important talk can help us know that we are not alone. — Fred Rogers
What is Social and Emotional Learning And why does it matter in the school library?
In these complicated times, the school library is more important than ever. It's a place where students learn how to learn. The library presents them with choices: which materials will they borrow or browse? Will they play a game? Harness their creativity to make something at the Maker Space? Will they decide to read? Talk to their friends? Study for a test?
Researchers have proven that school is stressful for students (Currie et al., 2002; Lohaus and Ball, 2006; Card and Hodges, 2008). And sadly, “American youths now rank in the bottom quarter among developed nations in well-being and life satisfaction," according to a report by UNICEF. In fact, "research shows that our youths have stress levels that surpass those of adults….More than half of college students experience overwhelming anxiety, and a third report intense depression. And over the last two decades, there has been a 28 percent increase in our suicide rate.” (Brackett, Permission to Feel).
Students, bustling around all day, shouldering the burden of tremendous anxiety, come to the library and find a soft place to land. The school library offers students freedom, agency, opportunity. The library is the heart of the school, the place where community is built and there are authentic chances to grow.
Teaching Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) skills is not the primary curricular goal of the school librarian. However, teaching these skills is the responsibility of EVERY educator, including school librarians. That's because social and emotional competencies are not “soft skills.” They are the foundation for all other skills. As Common Sense Media states, "social and emotional learning skills aren't core content, but they're the core of all content." If we want to create a tolerant society, "we need to teach the skills that create that society—the social and emotional [skills]." (U.S. Representative Tim Ryan, as cited in CASEL, n.d.a, para. 7)
Who is this site for?
This site is for anyone who can use it, though its intended audience is school librarians, teachers and administrators, specifically those working with 6th-12th grade students. In doing my research, most of the resources discussed SEL skills for Pre-K-5th grade students. (In fact, this is true nationally--there are few states with PreK-12 SEL standards) I felt this important work has a place in the middle and high school settings.
I hope that you will be able to use this site's resources to bring some of these crucial social and emotional skills to your school library or classroom.
What can you find here?
The core of this site is four pages that describe key SEL skills (Empathy & Friendship, Mindfulness, Grit & Persistence, and Self-Advocacy). Each skill page includes class activities, bulletin board display ideas, and relevant book titles for middle grades and high school students. There is also a more extensive book list, resources for remote learning, broader resources for librarians and classroom teachers, resources for parents and tips for responding to the unique challenges of 2020.
