Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is the process through we acquire the knowledge, attitudes, and skills needed to: recognize and manage emotions; demonstrate caring and concern for others; establish positive relationships; make responsible decisions; and handle challenging situations constructively. The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has adopted the Illinois Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Standards. The 10 SEL standards include: 

1A Identify and manage one’s emotions and behavior.

1B Recognize personal qualities and external supports.

1C Demonstrate skills related to achieving personal and academic goals.

2A Recognize the feelings and perspectives of others.

2B Recognize individual and group similarities and differences.

2C Use communication and social skills to interact effectively with others.

2D Demonstrate an ability to prevent, manage, and resolve interpersonal conflicts in constructive ways.

3A Consider ethical, safety, and societal factors in making decisions.

3B Apply decision-making skills to deal responsibly with daily academic and social situations.

3C Contribute to the well-being of one’s school and community.

The standards also have three accompanying SEL goals. The three SEL goals are: 

Goal 1: Develop self-awareness and self-management skills to achieve school and life success.

Goal 2: Use social-awareness and interpersonal skills to establish and maintain positive relationships.

Goal 3: Demonstrate decision-making skills and responsible behaviors in personal, school, and community contexts.

Each standard also has age-appropriate benchmarks and performance descriptors. The goals  and Performance Descriptors outlined by the ISBE describe the specific abilities expected of students at all grade levels. Below you will find the standards, related goals, and performance descriptors for students in early elementary grades through middle school.