What is Social and Emotional Learning?

Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to 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, 2017)

5 Domains of Social and Emotional Learning

• Self-Awareness: knowledge of emotions, thoughts and their impact on behaviors; cognizance of strengths and weaknesses

• Self-Management: regulation of emotions, behaviors, and thoughts across circumstances

• Responsible Decision Making: ability to make positive decisions about behaviors and socialization based on ethics, values, norms

• Relationship Skills: ability to establish and maintain diverse healthy relationships

• Social Awareness: empathy for others; appreciating

Benefits of SEL Instruction

• Increase students' academic performance by 11 percentile points

• 50% more likely to graduate high school

• Twice as likely to earn a college degree

• Improved positive attitude toward self-and others while reducing aggression and emotional distress

• Increase helping behaviors in school